Hiatus is Over...and so is 2017 (almost)

These are all of the monstrose cacti in my collection currently.

Despite a long hiatus to handle certain issues, LITFM is back, and I hope you are ready for a new year’s worth of new content unlike any prior content we posted here before. For those of you who are new to this blog I had trouble posting regular content in 2017 due to the death in my family and the subsequent need to divert time and attention to handling the issues of estate and property which can be quite problematic. Fortunately, I am for the most part out of the woods on that matter so I can bring you reasonably regular updates on this blog.  Today’s topic has to do with a specific form of succulent and cactus known as monstrose form.

Eve's Crest - Optuntia subulata cristata

The cause of the mutation that makes for monstrose form in succulents and cacti is not precisely known, but damage to growing tips by viruses, bacteria, insects, physical damage, frost or even near lightning strikes are all thought to be potential causes. It is also known that some monstrose form cacti can actually randomly revert to their non-monstrose form in part or whole which creates some very interesting forms. The mechanics of this are fairly simple, in a normal plant growth is often guided by a single growing point called an apical tip. When this tip is removed the secondary tips in the side branches respond by producing a spurt of growth that will often lead to one of them becoming dominant or in a new dominant tip sprouting from near where you removed the old one. 

Eve's Pin Cactus - Austrocylindropuntia subulata

This biological response is intended to ensure that the given plant always continues growing and is able to out-compete other plants for nutrients and water. In a monstrose cactus, all of the growing tips think they are the apical tip and grow equally and to some extent compete with each other causing strange curves lumps and bumps in a plant that is genetically identical to it’s non-monstrose counterparts.

Ming Thing Cactus - Cereus validus

Catapillar Cactus - Echinopsis cristata

For the most part monstrose form cacti and succulents fall under a sort of ‘It’s so ugly/weird that it’s cute’ sort of appearance which is not unlike pugs really. This fact alone makes monstrose form succulents and cacti quite unique as no two plants match exactly and variations in foliage color can cause these plants to fetch some pretty high prices at the garden center. Generally, though monstrose form succulents and cacti are propagated by cutting to maintain the strange form, and as such this can translate to a slow rate of reproduction as some forms take years to get to a size where taking a cutting is viable and even longer for said cutting to get large enough to trade or sell. There are also special species-specific cultural care requirements that need to be considered before considering using a monstrose form cactus or succulent as a spawning plant to make more. The one thing I can say about growing or caring for monstrose form succulents is that you want to keep their soil on the dry side and refrain from giving them fertilizer as this may cause new growth that is fragile and potentially even more deformed to the point of being a health hazard to your plant. You also would want to treat them exactly like you would their normal counterparts and give them as much light as possible and protect from freezing and or frosts if that is a problem where you are. If you put your cactus or succulents out for the summer would advise making sure they are not sitting in a pool of water after a rain, and that you slowly introduce them to the area you intend so they do not suffer sun scald.

African Milk Bush - Euphorbia lactea f. monstrose

For cacti and succulents with extreme variegations, they may not be able to take full sun at all, and if you must put those out, look for a spot that gets morning sun which is cooler and less apt to scald. To summarize while some find the look of a monstrose form succulent or cactus off-putting the reality is that they are just another form of variety in the world of plants. Given that they for the most part have the same care requirements as their more normal counterparts but are more of a conversation piece it’s a win-win for the gardener who wants a unique house plant.

This doesn’t bring our article to a close quite yet though because I have to get to the advertisement part of things. As always barring terribly wet and cold weather or illness I still manage a vendor’s space at the Fayetteville City Market at 325 Maxwell street between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturdays. I sell four things primarily during the winter months and they are:

Soup Kits - $6.00

Seasoning Packets – $2.00

Whole Garlic – $1.00

Also, I will be bringing a number of random house plants every week if weather permits and While the assortment is purely random, there is not a thing for sale that is above $10.00.

If the market isn’t your thing or your schedule does not allow you to go there my premium exotic house plants can be purchased in attractive clay pots with unique embellishments at LeClair’s General Store. LeClair’s General Store is located on 1212 Fort Bragg Road in Fayetteville North Carolina.

The Fayetteville Observer’s Article:

http://www.fayobserver.com/news/20170414/retail-therapy-haymount-gets-general-store

This is their Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/leclairsgeneralstore/

The Visit NC page’s Listing:

https://www.visitnc.com/listing/leclair-s-general-store

Now I am generally at the store at least twice a week, maintaining stock and/or delivering new materials so if you go to visit the store there is a fair chance I’ll be present to answer your questions. If not, you can always send me questions through this blog or visit the farmer’s market or pay attention to what Sustainable Neighbors is doing at the link below.

https://www.meetup.com/SustainableNeighbors/

Finally, this brings to a close my hiatus and starts the new year right with regular updates to LITFM. Please check back in two weeks for the next update which will cover the varied forms of a succulent, the Euphorbia. Thank you all for your patience and I hope to hear from you soon.