lophophora-blog - Tumblr blog

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It's winter in Denmark and the cacti growing outdoors on my balcony are covered in snow.

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I was considering to shelter the peyote plants I grow outdoors from the coming rain when I noticed one of them is setting a flower. This is a very late-flowering peyote indeed (mid-September in the northern hemisphere)

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I have been growing winter-hardy cacti in open air beds at my summerhouse in the northwestern part of Denmark for several years. Lately I have neglected the beds and now they are almost taken over by Leymus and other grasses. This blog post describes day 2 of reclaiming the main cactus bed from the rampant grasses.

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I have been growing winter-hardy cacti in open air beds at my summerhouse in the northwestern part of Denmark for several years. Lately I have neglected the beds and now they are almost taken over by Leymus and other grasses. This blog post describes day 1 of reclaiming the main cactus bed from the rampant grasses.

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I'm experimenting with growing peyote and other cacti in window flower boxes on my balcony. The cactus plants have been doing great outside but a few were recently maimed by a bird (probably a blackbird or a pigeon) that just had to taste some of the peyotes>

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An aphid parasitoid is at play in a population of aphids living in plants growing on my balcony. The parasitoid controls the population brutally but effectively by laying eggs within the aphids that are eaten by the developing larvae. Aphid parasitoids are also used commercially - e.g. Aphidius matricariae are released in many greenhouses for controlling aphids

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All members of the Cactus family belong to the group of dicotyledons. Once in a while seedlings turn out as polycotyledons, i.e. they have more than the habitual two seed leafs. This post features tricotyledon Echinocactus polycephalus and Opuntia polyacantha var. hystricina seedlings displaying three embryonic leaves

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A description of growing Echinocactus polycephalus and Echinocactus horizonthalonius from seed. Seedling pictures of regular seedlings, seedlings in the process of damping off, and slightly etiolated seedlings. The seeds are started in clear plastic bags outdoors on my balcony

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Notes on planting window flower boxes with peyote (Lophophora williamsii), Acharagma aguirreana, Acharagma roseana, Echinocereus reichenbachii, Mammillaria grahamii, and Mammillaria senilis; plus discussions on what soil mix to use for the cactus flower boxes. The window flower boxes are located outdoors on a balcony in Denmark

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Cacti are sunburned when suddenly exposed to excessive levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight. This post shows a sunburned San Pedro cactus (Trichocereus pachanoi)

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Trypophobia poll

I recently learned that one of my images (of a lotus seed head) caused anxiety in some people - a condition called trypophobia. I've set up a poll to get a better understanding of how widespread this condition is, and would be much obliged if you would take the time to answer the poll.

You can find more details at the Lophophora Blog.

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Trypophobia is not a recognized phobia (as of yet). Look at the official list of phobias, and this is not on there. It is however a very real and natural reaction in some people. Their discomfort (e.g. skin crawling, shivering, nausea, etc.) is an automatic reaction of the sympathetic nervous system known as horripilation. This, like goosebumps, are a legacy genetic trait that serve to protect us as a ‘fight-or-flight’ response to imminent threat.

Answer my poll on trypophobia.

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David Marbain, longtime roadman with the Native American Church got his peyote seized during a raid on his house. Now he fights to get his peyote returned.

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Huicholes: The Last Peyote Guardians, Hernan Vilchez' documentary about the Wixárika People and their struggle to preserve the sacred territory of Wirikuta - the destination of their annual peyote pilgrimage - is due for release April 2013

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Some of my coldhouse grown peyote seedlings have turned purple - a sign of extreme growing conditions. Interestingly, but entirely unrelated, “Peyote Purple” is apparently also the name of a Cannabis strain. 

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A midwinter status report on my coldhouse grown peyote, Ariocarpi, and Normanbokea cactus plants. Will they survive the cold or succumb to the frost?

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Trichocereus pachanoi, the San Pedro cactus, is a fast-growing columnar cactus native to the Andes Mountains of Ecuador and Peru between 2000–3000 m in altitude. It is also found in Argentina, Bolivia and Chile, and is cultivated in many other parts of the world because of its high contents of mescaline. This post mainly focuses on its beautiful flowers