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How old is your cactus?
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Posted by indy76km 5 - Rumford, ME (My Page) on Sat, Nov 7, 09 at 1:56
| Just curious how long everyone has had their cacti. How many have been handed down from a previous generation? I have had my Christmas cactus for about 25 years. It was a cutting from my mothers plant which was a cutting from my great grandmothers plant. The original plant that belonged to my great grandmother is at least 40 years old and it about 3 1/2 feet in diameter. Will they live forever if taken good care of? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: How old is your cactus?
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| I guess you mean the genetic material, not individual plants. There are still Schlumbergera from the 19th century around, so it is too early to say if they can live forever, but they certainly have a long lifespan. There is a Cereus in Sweden planted in 1720 (renewed at least once by rooting a cutting). My own plants are too young (or of unknown age) to be of interest, except an about 40 years old Mammillaria and a Schlumbergera from the mid-1800s. Individual plants can reach a considerable age too, I have heard of 80-100 years old specimens. Some species are however short-lived and die after about 10 years no matter how well you care for them. |
RE: How old is your cactus?
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| My aunts plant is pretty old. the plant it's self is about 20 years guessing. but it was a cutting from a 50 year old plant, from her husbands mother. now, She have given me cuttings which are a year old. |
RE: How old is your cactus?
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| I have a Nolina, that is at least 50 years old. 16 feet round, This is not a hand me down, I grew it from a baby. I also have a plant that I've had since I was a child, it is approx. 70 years old. I remember where I bought it for 19 cents. It's a variegated Portulacaria afra var. foliis-variegatis I don't know how much longer I can keep this one alive. The leaves are turning white. Norma |
RE: How old is your cactus?
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| I have a columnar cereus type cactus that my father purchased when I was in kindergarten in 1965 at the Spring Festival at my elementary school. It was planted in a 1/2 pint milk carton. We have taken multiple cuttings from it down thru the years and given them away as it got too tall to bring in the house. |
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