mysterious cacti question

[guthrie]

My partner acquired these two a few years ago and with some re-potting them have grown quite well, those are 3in pots. The question is, is it normal for them to be so top heavy, or is that an artefact of being on a windowsill with less light that they grew towards (Previous house) and is it possible to cover them with soil a bit so that they sit better in the pot, like burying an inch of the stem.

I also wonder if they might flower at some point.

[ralphrmartin]

You might do better to cut them off at the base of the good growth, leave them for a week, and restart them as top cuttings.

You could well get away with planting them deeper in a deeper pot, but that will pose problems as they get older...

[Stuart]

I'd leave them as they are but prop them up with a wooden coffee stirrer cut in half and placed at the far side so it doesn't show. They should offset in time and the offsets may cover the narrow neck. Aim for plenty of sun and 'a little neglect' - not too much water.

Stuart

[Acid John]

Guthrie, that is a nice use of a Sylvac cactus planter

[guthrie]

Ralph, I'm not so keen on that but my partner would be happy no doubt to cut them up. What sort of problems happens as they get older?

Stuart, if htey offset that would be helpful, but I don't know what sort of cactus they are so who knows.

John, I have never heard of a Sylvac cactus planter, but it does seem the right size to take two of them.

[rodsmith]

They appear to be species of echinopsis. These variants of E. eysiesii and multiplex hybridise readily and should flower when large enough, if kept in a warm and bright position. These plants would not lean naturally and it could be that they have leaned towards the light in the past. They appear to be a bit etiolated , due probably to the previous low light conditions

[el48tel]

I agree with Rod. I have several like this. Lollipop sticks work sometimes. Or I top the dressing up higher.