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glued rocks...
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Posted by emerald1951 4 (rstrobel@mchsi.com) on Sat, Jan 16, 10 at 22:55
Hi all,
I was at wal-mart today and they had gotten in new crested cactus...so I thought I would get one...got home and I wanted to take the glued rocks off the top of the pot...any ideas as to how....the rocks are about 1 inch thick plus about 1 inch of soil also glued and I'm afraid of braking the cactus....HELP!!!
linda |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: glued rocks...
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| Brake your cactus only if it's going too fast, and, as you'd do for a wind turbine, you're afraid of a runaway. Use a 3/8' (or 7/16" if you can get it) bolt as a chisel and gently hammer the crust in several spots - I think that will loosen it sufficiently so that you can tear it away. And don't get me started on WM...please. |
RE: glued rocks...
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I know why they do it, and I would like to go in and wring their necks. I suggest you just don't buy plants like that. If you do you may want to cut it off at the base and start it over in the spring. It's not WM fault, it is the people who supply them that you need to get after.
The Huntington's Bash went over very well today, all CSSA groups were invited to our open house and got in free. Some from Madison WI, Albama, Chicago, Fresno, Bakersfield, Texas ets. I saw people who I haven't seen for a year. The members went to our growing area and just about bought us out. We will introducing 3 new Aloe this March which will knock your socks off.
Even if you are not a member you may purchase these plants, go to the Huntington's Web Page and purchase on line. First check in, first plants out, I don't know how much they are going to be. They will also be announced and shown in the CSSA March-April Journal. Norma |
RE: glued rocks...
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| I've not had much luck with glued in plants, I avoid them now. |
RE: glued rocks...
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| I've used a screwdriver to rescue plants from this glued torture chamber, but I'm at a loss to explain why they do it in the first place! I was the guy from Alabama that Norma mentioned and I agree about the Aloes that will be in the ISI offerings this year - they are amazing!! Karen Zimmerman was the hybridizer. |
RE: glued rocks...
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| Emerald, Are you sure what you actually have? A 'crested cactus' you called it, I'm doubtful, it's likely a graft & one of these cheapies they do (I'm wondering if it's worth your efforts). I too would never buy anything w/ the glued on rocks; I will not give such vendors my money. |
RE: glued rocks...
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There are crested cactus. They may have been started as a graft, but they can be removed and started on thier own roots. I also don't support such practices and just don't purchase them. I cut the bottom of the pot off and remove the plant and soil by pulling up on the plant and soil, dampen the soil first to make it easier. These plants can also be cut off set aside in a low light area where the air can reach them. Let them sit until you see root nodes, the hedge hog says it is 6 more weeks of Winter, so you can set them out now and by the time Spring rolls around you can plant them.
Shipping that way keeps them alive longer it keeps the soil in the pot, and may help it from drying out so rapidly. They have to make it easy for shipping and getting ready. Then they go into trucks, which may have to travel on poor roads. So it saves them money.
I am glad to see my friend here, he is a master gardener,teaches the course, has many more credits to his name and can help you ID your plants. We just struck gold He is located in Alabama so willl know other plants that those from New York, Canada, So. Calif. will not know. Norma
Norma |
RE: glued rocks...
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| Hi Norma, There may well BE crested cacti, I just doubt that they'd be found at WalMart as the OP said. I've been wrong before & will be again, it WAS just a guess. |
RE: glued rocks...
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| In my experience, what are usually sold in WalMart and like places as a crested cactus, is usually a grafted Euphorbia Lactea crest. Sometimes they call it a Coral Cactus, I don't know why. I have seen these with the ridiculous glued rocks before. Christopher |
Here is a link that might be useful: Grafted Euphorbia lactea crest
RE: glued rocks...
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Hi all....
I only asked if someone might have a idea as to how to get the glued rocks off...
and yes I got it at wal-mart,
and yes its a grafted euphorbia lactea crest,
and I did get it off, I just took the whole thing out of the pot and took a hold of the rocks and broke it..
and the cactus is fine...
I don't like buying theses plants with the rocks, or the glued on flowers, but the big box stores are my only source
I am not lucky here to have green houses that grow and sell house plants....and so I buy where ever I can find
something different and interesting....
I wish there were better places...
I talked to the person that takes care of the plant at a lowe's close to me, and she said that we'll be finding more places and more plants and variety in plants too..
seems theres a push on in the going green to grow more plants in the home..for cleaner air...
just what she said....
I hope so, that means more plants, yes yes yes...;)
linda |
RE: glued rocks...
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| Linda, First, there's a wide world of reputable dealers for C&S in the U.S. - having used several of them, I can guarantee you have access to some of the finer plants in the land. Second, you don't have to go to a box store and you don't get glued rocks. Do a search of this Forum for vendors - there have been a few questions as to where one gets their plants via mail order/Interwebus and you'll find good plants from them. There are many succulent Euphorbias, and some of them mimic cactus (that darn convergent evolution again!), but they're from a different plant family - the Euphorbiaceae, whereas cacti are from, yep you guessed it, the Cactaceae. A second source of plants is the 'Exchanges' portion of the C&S Forum. I don't think it's against the rules if you offer to pay postage for plant cuttings - there are a lot of giving people out there who will share their cuttings with you. Those two options will help grow your collection and your enjoyment of these plants. There are others, but I don't want to overwhelm you yet - you can save that for your first C&S Show! |
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