appropriate head gear for hot weather?...

[JonNo]

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

[RachelTurner]

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

[Eric Williams]

One of my long time favourite plants. Cheers

[JonNo]

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

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

[Ross M]

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

[JonNo]

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?

[juster]

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.

[JonNo]

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...

[Chris L]

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.

[juster]

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!