Howdy all...
I had a couple of nice cacti when the kids were little, but after popping 20 or more pool toys, and one of our friends kids grabbed the 'cute' looking one and got 1000 tiny spines in their hand I got rid of most of them... 15yrs later I reclaimed the West facing spot in the backyard and started with a few small $6 cactuses from Bunnings... and then I got kinda hooked. I'm not right into the botanical names or propagation or anything like that - I just like the weird and nasty shapes and spines - and then some of them come out with absolutely amazing flowers. Unfortunately, the flowers usually last for 2-3 days then shrivel.
Below is my cacti garden and a couple of photos of them in flower. If anyone in Perth knows were to get some 'collector' type cacti larger than the $6 - $12 ones from Bunnings please let me know. I know the Marangaroo flea markets have quite a good selection... and have seen a few for sale on GumTree - but I am after somewhere that has good stock and variety. Thanks.
There's normally a few specimens at karrinyup swapmeet. I go there hunting seashells, it's real hit and miss. The one at wanneroo showgrounds is ok too but there's more stalls and stuff than what your probably looking for.
Epic little garden too
This is why I love Seabreeze
1 minute its pitch forks and sharks followed by boobies from the usual's and now I'm starting to like cacti.. Cool...
Select to expand quotebusterwa said..
I have a sore neck.
Sorry Buster - when I checked them on the editing programme they were the right way up - as I photo'd them - Bloody iPhone! 
just lay your laptop or monitor on its side, no more sore neck. 
Nice caticés'sses 
remind me not to get drunk and fall over in your back yard.
Had such an amazing experience today, went to the Cactus & Succulent Society display and plant sale........ It is interesting what can be done with so little water, hardly a drop seems to have been used for months.
Upon entering the hall the smell hit you..... wow.
Just like the saying that 'people look like their dogs' it seems the same could be said for the succulent loving people, yes your plants don't need much water but PLEASE as humans we DO need to use water daily to wash clothes and the BO away!!!!!!!
Anyone remember the TV add for that special soap 'Don't wait to be told.... you need to use Palmolive Gold'
Anyone thinking of attending next year (we won't) avail yourselves of a gas mask, snorkel or a very large oxygen cylinder but if you don't have those a liberal application of Vicks under your nose might get you thru......just sayin!!!
It did cross my mind for just a brief moment to fight the cancer patient for their oxygen bottle.....
Nice work GPA. What's your secret for keeping them so healthy? It's not as easy as people might think!
Select to expand quoteneedsalt said..
Nice work GPA. What's your secret for keeping them so healthy? It's not as easy as people might think!
Thanks. A little bit of trial and error - that spot gets about 3.5hrs direct sunlight in the afternoon... and it's under the eave to protect from the hail and heavy rain and gives a little bit of warmth in the cold of winter. You'll notice that I keep most of them in terracotta pots. This allows them to dry out fully. Cacti do need water, not a lot, but cannot be left sitting in it - so no saucers underneath the pots - good draining potting mix and a little bit of diluted Seasol for a feed in the growing season (now). Pebbles on top to protect the roots from too much heat.
And thanks Razz for the tips - will definitely have to check them out.
Sorry to all those with a sore neck Hope this is better... seems I was too late to edit the original post...
My grand pa had a cacti garden when I was very young. I can tell you that kids and cacti don't match really well 
Select to expand quoteRPM said..
will a cactus grow in a cupboard?
UV lights are your friend Can grow a good crop of "tomatoes" in a ceiling space or cupboard, so a cactus should be no problem.
Select to expand quoteRPM said..
will a cactus grow in a cupboard?
But if there is no one in the cupboard to see it, then how do you know it grew?
1 cactus, octopus
Many, cacti, octopi
I have no idea why I felt I needed to share that. But it's done, can't take it back
Select to expand quoteRazzonater said..
1 cactus, octopus
Many, cacti, octopi
I have no idea why I felt I needed to share that. But it's done, can't take it back
Octopuses and cactuses are equally acceptable plural forms too 
Select to expand quoteGreen Cherub said...Razzonater said..
1 cactus, octopus
Many, cacti, octopi
I have no idea why I felt I needed to share that. But it's done, can't take it back
Octopuses and cactuses are equally acceptable plural forms too
I did not know that, awesome I'm a learned english talker but seriously cheers
Select to expand quoteMastbender said..
No peyote? Those are the best!
No - I've never seen them, so had to Google them... seems that they are edible?
Just added five more 'smalls' to my collection - pretty decent range of juvenile cacti plants at The Gardener's Nursery, including some I had not seen before.
These are not hard to find. Spent quite a long time watching a didgeridoo trying to make out with a broom after imbibing.
my sister has a collection of cuctuses, dunno about the flowers though,
every time I have seen them - there is a lot that have grown into, ummm....
"embarrassing shapes"
stephen
That white Bald Hedgehog Cactus flower has already wilted... what a strange waste of effort - it grows the flower bud for about 2 weeks until it's about 20cm long, opens an impressive flower late one afternoon - gone the next....
Don't know what they're called, but the red one is awesome when it does this. Spikes must have poison or something in them though, nasty.
