Kykeion's Return from Hibernation

[Kykeion]

Hi there cactus family!  I'm happy to be back after a brief hiatus. Back in February my greenhouse experienced a fatal freeze one night.  I'm not sure of the exact cause, since I had not had any trouble all winter up to that point. My best guess is that it was a combination of an extremely cold night (not the lowest this winter though) and a lack of insulating snow (most of this seasons snow had melted at this point), and my little heater just couldn't compensate.  I don't know the exact temperature that the greenhouse dropped to (my remote thermometer is not super accurate) but I estimate somewhere in the mid to low 20s F.  There was a fair bit of damage and a few complete losses which broke my spirit a bit and resulted in my taking a break from active care and activity (daily visits with my collection, visiting forums, looking at cacuts pron, etc.).  Visiting the greenhouse was just too depressing.

About a month later I was able to work up the motivation to do a little triage in the GH and take inventory of damage and losses. Thankfully total losses were minimal and most are replaceable, but I did loose one of my favorite TBMs which is not likely replaceable, and a few other hybrids that are not common.  I would have returned to the forums at this time too, but work got really busy and I couldn't really find the time.  I did get to see some really cool cacti while I was out in the field for work though, and I'll share those pictures as soon as I can.

There is good news from the GH though! Looks like I will soon be treated to my first Trichocereus flowers! I found buds on my T shaferi monstrose, T pachanoi, T/E hybrids.  I'm really excited about these, and have my fingers crossed that they don't abort.

[Evil Genius]

Hey Kykeion, been there done that. Had a total loss in a greenhouse many years ago and it broke my heart. Stopped growing cacti for at least two years, but became a much better grower because of that. So yeah, glad to see you are back. Setbacks are normal and you will be glad you didnt let that accident keep you from growing cacti! bye Eg

[zelly]

 but I did loose one of my favorite TBMs which is not likely replaceable

 

 

text me mate, we'll work it out

 

 

[Kykeion]

And we have flowers!!!!!!

[zelly]

I sure hope you collected & saved the pollen !!!

 

Feel free to hit me up if you need any for future buds, I've a growing collection of pollen lol.  

 

[Kykeion]

I did, since my other flowers are not nearly ready to bloom. If the bud on that TSM (T. shaferi monstrose) does not abort I may want to get something interesting from you to pollinate it with.