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Cacti - More than just prickles!!

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Notch Nut Custom Title Time!

1,011 posts · joined Apr 2006 ·

#550885
As anyone who spends their spare time working on their dub would know. It helps to have a hobby away from dubs that keeps us all sane!
For me, I spend my other spare time in my garden growing cacti. Easy to maintain, don't have to prune, water, fertailize etc. Just avoid the prickles when weeding and you can't go wrong.
I also live in sunny Melbourne, so you don't need to be close to the desert to have a healthy garden. The only downside is that most of these plants are over 20 years old and in a couple of instances, this is one of the few times they have flowered. You had better get planting if you want results like this (with the way water restrictions are heading, this seems like the best way to go anyhow).
I have been fortunate enough to have some really nice flowers growing on my plants this year and thought I'd cheer you all up and share some pics with you. Enjoy.

This plant is 18 years old and this is the first time it's flowered.


This plant is 26 years old and has only flowered 2 other times (last year and 3 years earlier).




I brought this plant about 2 years ago in memory of my grandmother who died a few days earlier. It's flowered every year since.


I have some more cacti covered in buds awaiting to bloom, I'll post some more pics soon...

- Adam
If you can't fix it with a hammer,
you have an electrical problem....

Notch Nut Custom Title Time!

1,011 posts · joined Apr 2006 ·

#550903
One thing owning a VW teaches you is patience.
And a high pain threshold!!

- Adam
If you can't fix it with a hammer,
you have an electrical problem....

pyr0 flame-on

4,457 posts · joined Mar 2003 ·

#550906
thats beautiful, the last one. ive always thought they were cool, that and i never knew that they could be grown away from the dester, see you learn every day
Founding member of the C'town Rat-Pack

MISS VDUB Administrator Mrs KOMBIBOB

2,565 posts · joined Sep 2005 ·

#550907
We have some really nice ones too, should try and get some photos up also!

Ash x
1963 Single Cab Ute: "El Concreto"
1962 Baja Beetle: "Peanut"
1968 Porsche 912 SWB: "Pip"
1972 Kombi Snail: "The Snail"
2012 Skoda Octavia Scout: "Scout"
2016 Scirocco R: "Rocco"

megalania Insano Dub Head

722 posts · joined May 2006 ·

#551056
That first pic, my last rental property had heaps of them planted outside the front window, would have to be about the same age and it was flowering 2-3 times a year. There were bees everywhere, and I live in Melbourne too. THe old place was in Clayton Sth. Love the cacti. I also love succulents, got any of those?

megalania Insano Dub Head

722 posts · joined May 2006 ·

#551057
I hope you don't have any prickly pears. They're bad👎

amazeer Bishop of Volkswagenism

3,029 posts · joined Nov 2005 ·

#551082
Notch Nut wrote:.... I also live in sunny Melbourne....
sunnier than an arctic winter :P

Notch Nut Custom Title Time!

1,011 posts · joined Apr 2006 ·

#551340
megalania wrote:I hope you don't have any prickly pears. They're bad👎
Yep. I have them growing along my fence line as a hedge. Keeps the burglars honest! The fruit aint bad either if you are into that kinda thing.
I also have heaps of succulents but most are newly planted so no flowers yet, just the one in the pic.
I have a cacti similar to a pricly pear (same family of cacti) with about 60 buds ready to flower. I'll post a pic when it does cos it's got really vibrant yellow flowers and should look amazing in full flower. Stay tuned.:alien
- Adam
If you can't fix it with a hammer,
you have an electrical problem....

PrettyBlueBug Almost over it...

2,032 posts · joined May 2005 ·

#551452
I love and grow Cacti too here in sunny Melb! :P

Two I recently adopted:



Two I have had for 2 years that I grew from seeds:



And this one was my Nana's. When I was given it over 10 years ago it was about 30cm high and only had two parts, as well as being already 25 years old. I felt sorry for it being in a tiny pot so I repotted it into a larger one and the thing almost died! So I put it back into a small pot and not only does it now have three parts, it's almost a metre in height. :duh


I have other ones too grown from seed, but I've no idea what types they are. Succulents and cacti are awesome! 😀

[ Edited on 2/11/2006 by Pretty_Blue_Bug ]

matthew74 Commited Dubber

65 posts · joined Sep 2005 ·

#551464
I have had this one for 18 years it is in Hydroponics.
I do forget to feed it for a few months at a time (it does't mind)
cheers Matthew

[ Edited on 2-11-2006 by matthew74 ]

[ Edited on 2-11-2006 by matthew74 ]

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MickH Hairy Gutted Sloth

3,389 posts · joined Sep 2003 ·

#551467
Mines about to flower as well.........It's just over 30 years old and flowers at the beginning of each wet season.Will get some pictures when the flowers open up,probably Friday/Saturday night😀
tssnq.com.au

HotRodMatt If it\'s old or rare - cut it!

3,616 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#551482
Nice work.

I brought back a very special cactus from Mexico about 15 years ago.
Lets just say quite a few people got to enjoy it before it stopped producing new bulbs.

jo_tas Custom Title Time!

1,547 posts · joined Aug 2004 ·

#551559
When i was little.. staying at my dad's place.. there was a little cactus like the one pictured above positioned next to the alarm clock.

NOT a good idea!! 🙁

hipichic Insano Dub Head

763 posts · joined Jun 2005 ·

#551585
I love Cacti too....
I have two Aloe plants in small pots....one of them has a huge flower spike right now 🙂
Time is a great healer. Unless it's a rash, then you're better off with ointment.

Notch Nut Custom Title Time!

1,011 posts · joined Apr 2006 ·

#551736
Glad to see I am not alone with my gardening fettish.
There's some really awsome pics with more to come.
Matt do you have any Peyote left?

I think we should start hounding the government for some $$$$ rebates for all the water we save!
- Adam
If you can't fix it with a hammer,
you have an electrical problem....

CAFFINEPUSHERMAN bandito di culo

1,609 posts · joined May 2005 ·

#551740
does anyone get into eating catus fruit ie prickly pear or also known as the fig of india i love them also been partial to the lophophora williamsii vartitals looking for a cutting if anyone can help me out.
A candy coloured clown they called the sandman tip toes through my room every night just to sprinkle stardust on my pillow go to sleep everything will be allright
1967 Type 3 square
1956 double door panel
1968 single cab kombi

empi Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,131 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#551741
I have a bit of a green thumb too , i have 6 diffrent sorts of Chilli and a black russian tomato plant.
"If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you." - Anonymous 🥷

empi Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,131 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#551742
Hey Chris is that Payoti (spelling)???
"If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you." - Anonymous 🥷

Doug Sweetman Nil Bastardo Carborundum

2,128 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#551755
A cutting from a cactus my dad planted 45 years ago in Adelaide.... flowers every year, the original is 4m tall.....

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VWCOOL 23 Windows of Awesome

5,158 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#551783
jeez, all these cactis people... I dunno whether to smile or be scared!
Pay your debts, CxxT

PrettyBlueBug Almost over it...

2,032 posts · joined May 2005 ·

#551800
Be scared.... be very scared.... 🤘

HotRodMatt If it\'s old or rare - cut it!

3,616 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#551808
Notch Nut wrote:There's some really awsome pics with more to come.
Bring them on!

Notch Nut wrote:Matt do you have any Peyote left?
Let's just say it was over-harvested. It's on a resticted import list now too :-(
I think it was when I brought it in too, but as it was declared as peyotl, they may have missed it. However after quarantine only 2 of the 3 were returned.

Notch Nut Custom Title Time!

1,011 posts · joined Apr 2006 ·

#552327
VWCOOL wrote:jeez, all these cactis people... I dunno whether to smile or be scared!
Just don't jump the fence or you're in for a painful landing!😂
- Adam
If you can't fix it with a hammer,
you have an electrical problem....

Notch Nut Custom Title Time!

1,011 posts · joined Apr 2006 ·

#553355
Took these pics today and yesterday. I don't think the one near my back door is going to flower all at once after all. :cry
Heres a few pics to tease.....




More flowers just sprouted on this one.

- Adam
If you can't fix it with a hammer,
you have an electrical problem....

Notch Nut Custom Title Time!

1,011 posts · joined Apr 2006 ·

#553373
lil dub wrote:hey wow... we need to start a sub group of "vw-dubbers who garden"... and we try to claim we arent hippies in here!!!!!!
😂 I don't own a kombi so fall short on the hippy aspect of dub ownership.

- Adam
If you can't fix it with a hammer,
you have an electrical problem....