See further down the thread for the fruits (17th Sept)
Over the last 18 months I have reduced the height of my O. robusta from the eaves down to waist height! Last year's pads have rewarded me with a fine array of flower buds (first photo from last week) with the first flowers opening today (second photo below). At least I don't need a step ladder to photograph them this year. There will be lots of tasty "prickly pears" to eat too in a few months time - the only drawback is that each fruit also has about 500 seeds within the pulp.
[attachment 18213 Robusta_05May2009.jpg]
Robusta_05May2009.jpg (42.38 KiB) Viewed 2732 times
Last edited by Tony R on Sun Jun 06, 2010 12:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Tony Roberts
Treasurer, Haworthia Society
Chairman, Tephrocactus Study Group
Moderator, BCSS Forum
Kent
(Gasteria, Mammillaria, small Opuntia, Cleistocactus and Sempervivum are my current special interests)
Last edited by Tony R on Sun Jun 06, 2010 12:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Tony Roberts
Treasurer, Haworthia Society
Chairman, Tephrocactus Study Group
Moderator, BCSS Forum
Kent
(Gasteria, Mammillaria, small Opuntia, Cleistocactus and Sempervivum are my current special interests)
Hi Tony
Looking good and I can see new pads in the background
Chris
BCSS MEMBER SINCE 2000 (NATIONAL SHOW)
FORUM MEMBER SINCE JUNE 2006
Interested in - TURBINICARPUS (Always looking for plants I don't have)
TEPHROCACTUS AND RELATED SPECIES http://www.leeds.bcss.org.uk/http://www.zone3.bcss.org.uk/
Bruce, Here is a photo of the same plant taken in August 2005, together with a "human" to show you the scale. Phil, Note the "tree ties" around some of the joints which were wired to parts of the greenhouse to keep the plant rigid and upright!
[attachment 18229 OrobustaAug2005.jpg]
8QAHwAAAQUBAQEBAQE (95.47 KiB) Viewed 2732 times
Last edited by Tony R on Sun Jun 06, 2010 12:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Tony Roberts
Treasurer, Haworthia Society
Chairman, Tephrocactus Study Group
Moderator, BCSS Forum
Kent
(Gasteria, Mammillaria, small Opuntia, Cleistocactus and Sempervivum are my current special interests)
Great blooms and wow, what a big'un for inside a greenhouse
O. robusta certainly lives up to it's name and as Phil mentioned, it forms mounds of floppy tree like stems if not kept in check. Pads are too big and heavy to stay upright. (without some help )
The O. cochenillifera next to it is giving it a run for it's money in height Even the O. microdasys (v. rufida?) is getting some size!
"Chris in Leeds" above spotted new pads in the background, so here is a wider-angle shot taken today showing more of the new pads. These are increasing in size by about 1.5-2 inches each day! They stay darker green whilst they get bigger then "turn blue" from the base almost overnight when they reach full size. As always, some grow out sideways in the way of the path, so they will get the chop for rooting up in due course.
[attachment 18314 O_robusta_14May2009.jpg]
8QAHwAAAQUBAQEBAQE (92.33 KiB) Viewed 2732 times
Last edited by Tony R on Sun Jun 06, 2010 12:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Tony Roberts
Treasurer, Haworthia Society
Chairman, Tephrocactus Study Group
Moderator, BCSS Forum
Kent
(Gasteria, Mammillaria, small Opuntia, Cleistocactus and Sempervivum are my current special interests)
)
Even the O. microdasys (v. rufida?) is getting some size!
