Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Caudiciform Aloinopsis

I swear these are the last plants I'll buy this year. :D It's really difficult to restrain yourself if you're visiting a cactus nursery, and I wanted to have these Aloinopsis plants anyway. I even went for the most compact ones. And what a surprise it was to find a large caudex on the Aloinopsis rubrolineata while transplanting today. I could't make myself put it under the ground again so here it is for all to see. :)
Aloinopses schooneesii (with a flower coming up) has a thick root as well but I've hidden it for now.
PS: Luckily neither Neohenricia nor Avonia have opened their flowers while I was away. Photos soon~

11 comments:

  1. They all do the caudex thing! Nice plants by the way! Good luck with those, they can become a real "pride" to you! LT

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    1. Thanks :)
      I've read Aloinopsis do that with time but haven't expected such roots from a small plant like this. I'm proud of it already :)
      I've chosen the smallest one - the bigger plants with more branches must have had great things going on under the ground!

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    2. Some of the most interesting mesembs for sure. Lots to offer.

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    3. Hope you had a great weekend!

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    4. Thanks, I really did :) The weather didn't play along but I had a great time all the same!

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    5. @LT: Can I ask you something? I'm not used to caudiciforms. Can you tell me how they "work"? Is it okay to raise the caudex or does the plant stop growing this way? Do I need to keep something in mind watering it?

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    6. Not really, still just a thickened root that hold moisture for the bad times. Problem is that it usually is underground and therefore a little sun sensitive, initially. I have seen some big caudexes, so you should be ok. Some guys leave them underground for a few years to become big and then lift them, it should actually be better to lift them, because the sensitive region between leaves and root is much better ventilated, to my mind. Less chance of rot. My thoughts on it, but I am no expert. LT

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    7. Thank you LT, this sounds logical. I've inspected the roots and the ones actually doing the "root" work are way down at the bottom of the thinkened part so there's no much need having the caudex underground and getting it unnecessary wet. I'll keep it this way for now and see how it goes. Thanks again for you help! :)

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    8. I've been scouring the net for info on the think root raising. It seems the caudex experts keep the root underground until it's "really big" and then lift it very slowly. Hm maybe I should bury it after all... There's really not much info around.

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    9. Yes that was what I was eluding to, this is not only for these but other caudex plants as well - they plant them in garden (C. juttae for instance) and then after 3 years pot them again with great big caudex, others that have underground "caudex" are left for a few years to increase in size and then lifted. It depends on yourself, a .5 cm lift would save the sensitive area, but leaves 80% under soil. LT

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    10. I see. I think I will put it back under the ground in a while. Until then I'll wait and see how it goes..

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