#astrophytum

[cactguy]

Desert Garden, The Huntington: Ferocactus, Astrophytum, Echinos & more

[ruthbancroftgarden]

Astrophytum capricorne

This curly-spined cactus comes from northeastern Mexico, and its large yellow flowers have a contrasting red throat. The plant body has white speckles, but this is somewhat obscured in the photo by the interlaced spines.

-Brian

[poop-me-a-flower]

Very cute astrophytum asterias I grabbed at a local shop. I love astros; I’ll probably end up with a couple if this one goes well.

[a-nana-petite]

When I first started researching how to grow cactus by seed, there were so many complicated directions and I was intimidated

But really all I do is throw them on some soaking wet regular cactus soil, stick it in a plastic bag for humidity, and place them on a seed heating pad. Then I leave an extra aquarium light I had laying around on for 12 hours on and 12 off

It’s worked very well for me so far

[greenycacteable]

Potted these TINY babies, those are 6 months old astrophytum asterias !

[vicroag]

[ooopswoodyy]

Astrophytum myriostigma quadricostatum

[creativecommonsplants]

Bishop’s Cap Cactus by Jose Nicdao on Flickr.

This work is licensed under CC BY 2.0. 

[fixaidea]

Plant haul

[crudlynaturephotos]

[jaozinho]

💛🌵

[cactguy]

Mammillaria albilanata ssp. Albilanata, The Huntington

Mammillaria albilanata is endemic to Mexico. The states in which it is found include Chiapas, Colima, Guerrero, and Oaxaca. The type subspecies, subsp. albilanata, is native to Guerrero, where it is found at altitudes ranging from 500 to 2,200 meters.

Also pictured: Stapelia, Opuntia moelleri, Astrophytum, Ferocactus, Agave.

[ike-43]

良い色に。

[catenary-chad]

Stex characters and what plants I think they’d like

Choo choos (and Porter): 300+ year old ancient ones like horsetails, clubmosses, and early trees, especially when heavily compressed, AKA COAL

Greaseball: the plastic kind

Electra: I’m torn between something weird and unintuitive but deceptively easy like orchids or airplants, or being one of those intense African violet/general gesneriad fans who preach about how actually cool and deceptively easy they are.  I can see them being great at keeping bizarre mutant versions of “fussy Grandma plants” like gloxinias alive despite rarely touching grass.

COACHES

Pearl: String of Pearls is an obvious one.  Probably cute pink/purple succulents in general.  

Dinah: anything edible.  From normal herbs and veggies to pereskioid cacti.  

Buffy: anything produced via atomic gardening.  She sticks props and seedlings in repurposed food containers.

Ashley: wants to believe the plants praised for air filtering abilities actually work.  Leans into her very 70s interior design preferences anyways.  

Carrie: I think she’s fascinated by the logistics of plant smuggling more than anything

Belle (OLC)- Cast iron plant, VERY durable, very old school, very low light. Can also see poppies (wizard of oz lol) or roses. 

Tassita: plants are quiet enough in general, I don’t think he has a preference

Belle (Bar)- still patiently waiting for her agave to grow enough to make tequila… it’s gonna be a while

Belle(Wembley)- balloon flowers and campanulas in general.  No strong reasons besides aesthetics and vibes

FREIGHT

Dustin- anything called a “living rock”.  I think he’d be very good at keeping even the too-hardy-for-their-own-good ones alive

Flat-Top- dandelions.  Any kind of sidewalk crack weeds.  He will defend their honor with his life.

Rockies/Hoppers- Sempervivums.  There’s lots of them and they come in many colors and grow in rock gardens.  

Caboose- Castor bean plant.  Anything horribly toxic you’re allowed to just casually grow.

Slick- corn, maybe sunflowers.  Yellow oil-bearing plants.  Also probably plastic plants in general

Lumber- oh come on isn’t it obvious?

Hydra- BIONIC.  DUCKWEED.  maybe aquatic plants in general.

COMPONENTS

Volta- cold hardy cacti because she’s vaguely associated with the southwest US.  If they can’t survive the winter, they are not worthy.  

Joule- anything that looks like it has teeth.  Can’t keep any of them alive.

Krupp- caudex plants that are dormant half the year.  All meticulously labelled.  He still loves them when they look like lumps.  

Purse- Silver dollar vine.  High value dischidia and hoyas, which he sells snip snips of to enthusiasts under the table

Wrench- Aloes

Killerwatt- stripey things like zebra plants and tradescantia

NATIONALS

Shinkansen- I’ll go with astrophytum cacti because they’re specifically popular in Japan.  Also the obvious cherry blossoms.  

Ruhrgold- I feel like Germany is disproportionately into “jungle cacti” like rhipsalis and epiphyllums.  All meticulously labelled because that was a consistant theme at botanical gardens there.  

British engine- anything that flowers in fall or winter.  Christmas/Easter cacti that flower out of season.  Better late than never.  Maybe English ivy.  

Bobo- likes autumn leaves because they’re ORANGE.  Any brightass orange flowers in general

Coco- coconut trees because they bonk people on the head and fucking kill them 

Expresso- Tomato plants and olive trees. 

Turnov- Conifers, taiga trees and plants in general

(Not into Wembley enough to have stuff for their champion engines)

[a-nana-petite]

I don’t know what’s going on with this particular astrophytum seedling but it looks exciting

[plantanarchy]

My little astrophytum cactus flowered!