BCSS - Forum

Echinocereus Rigidissimus Rubispinus appears to be trying to grow a hat...

It does seem a little warm to be wearing a bobble hat!

One of my long time favourite plants. Cheers

RachelTurner wrote: ↑Sat Aug 06, 2022 4:31 pm

It does seem a little warm to be wearing a bobble hat!

My thoughts exactly! Or perhaps its meant to be a boater?...

Did it go from a plastic to clay pot? If so, it could be the result in a change of moisture supply

Thanks Ross, interesting theory but not in this case, it has been in the same clay pot since I first acquired it and potted it up. I have however in recent weeks taken to watering it from above rather than my usual method of watering from below, so maybe that has something to do with it?

Plants do strange things when the growing point has been damaged, but this one seems to be re-growing from the growing point. I had this happen a couple of years ago with an Espostoa, I couldn't work out why, but it rather spoiled the look of the plant. I guess it's due to a check in the growth for some reason.

Thanks Juster. Is your Espostoa still going?

It is a puzzle. So far as I'm aware, I haven't done anything to damage the growing point, and the plant has had the best loving care and attention I can muster since I've had it. It hasn't even been re-potted so I can't blame that. It is true to say that prior to this it hadn't done a lot. The only things that have changed are that, as mentioned earlier, I have been watering it from above rather than the usual from below for the last few weeks, plus of course the extremely hot weather. The only other thing I can think of is that maybe I've over fed it?

As you say, it does rather spoil the look of the plant. I guess I'll just have to hope the new growth expands its girth over time to match that of the original growth, but I won't hold my breath...

Could be change of light levels.

Saying that, I've had a Gymnocalycium do that and also an Oreocereus. Those I expect were damaged growing points.

Sorry to say that my Espostoa died last winter, but I don't think it was anything to do with the unusual growth. I think it's interesting that the plant hadn't done a lot, so perhaps there was a problem, which has now been overcome by growing in this way. I shouldn't think you've overfed it, unless you went completely mad!