Those Lobivia arachnacanthas are a favourite of mine. I have ones with red, orange, lemon yellow, purple and white flowers - as well as the gold flowered one shown.

Peter, thanks for your reply. I can see you have at least tried! :) Peter Turner Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Give'em free membership for a year! We always let prospective new members come to their first few meetings to see if they like it first before we ask them...

Peter Turner Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Nobody should criticise branch secretaries for doing a thankless task, but I do feel that branches should >do a little more 'marketing' in order to keep interest and attendances flourishing. Let me show the other side of t...

I don't sterilise them. But all my pots get a good wash in the dishwasher before re-use. I don't know how effective it is, but it seems OK.

Hob

this is a very common problem with C. straussii.

Another difference is that N. mammulosus / submammulosus seem to have flattened spines, whereas N. muller melchersi does not, if I remember correctly.

Excellent! Nice to see a large South American plant for a change as opposed to all the Ferocacti and Echinocacti!

I'd be pretty sure this is not Noto concinnus which has rather softer wavy spines.

It might be Noto muller melchersi.

Hob

good to hear they are budding up. They are a bit behind my main collection plants, as my swaps live on the greenhouse floor (in winter) and it's a bit shadier down there. Still, give it a couple more weeks, and the swaps will go out in the garden with plenty of light and fresh air.

Hob

your Rebutias are well in advance of mine here in Cardiff!