INTRODUCTION
This blog is as much to help me keep a record of my gymnos and to try and get to grips with what they are called as it is to share with you.
The rules are they are all my own plants and that the pictures are posted contemporaneously. If I do post an old picture I will let you know in the text.
TOP 10 REASONS WHY I LIKE GYMNOCALYCIUMS
1. They come from South America
2. Some have really dark bodies and really dark spines
3. They will flower when they are small and young
4. Some have big old tap roots
5. In habitat some like to hide flat in the ground
6. No one really knows what some of them are supposed to be called
7. There is a wide variety
8. A lot of times plants with the same name and of the same type can be different
9. They can live a long time
10. They change their character as they grow up
HOW I GROW GYMNOCALYCIUMS
I have been growing cacti for over 30 years. I would class myself as a bumbling amateur. They live in an unheated greenhouse and have survived down to -5C. Most seem to survive if left bone dry from early September to late April. Very sensitive ones come indoors for the winter.
Soil - John Innes No 3 with either added coarse horticultural grit or (more recently perlite) mixed roughly 2 parts compost to 1 part grit. Stick some stones in the bottom of the pot and dress the top with a good layer of grit. The perlite is good as it means the larger pots are not so heavy. Some gymnos like a more "mineral" environment so up the quantity of grit. This works for me for the most part - I don't have the time or patience to be more scientific about it. Make sure the grit is proper washed horticultural grade as some of the ornamental or path gravel stuff can be unpleasant.
Water - once every two weeks in summer. Very small pots one a week if they look like they may dry out. I just use tap water - it may or may not be the right pH.
Feeding - I don't. I have a feeling that over fed plants are more attractive to pests and more susceptible to cold. They grow slower if you don't feed them. I have no scientific proof for this, it is just what I think.
Repotting - every one to two years. Quick growers like to fill a pot so I try not to overpot. The root ball will tell you what shape and size of pot the plant wants to go in. I use plastic pots.
Propagation - break off a pup, stick it in grit with a very small amount of compost for about a year and when it looks like it is growing put it in the proper compost.
PROBLEMS
Mealy bug - I hate them, they wont die or leave me alone. In the old days there was a thing called Murphy's Systemic that killed everything. Today it is banned as it is probably deemed a biological weapon of mass destruction. Everyone says to use Provado - but beware as this can damage the skin of the plant. Insecticidal soap seems to do nothing. I like to use one of those home dental hook things and pick them off one by one and squash their juices out. Not very effective on a large infestation but satisfying. You must clean up their residue as it will kill the plant. One day I am going to try those special ladybirds.
Rot - look out for dead aborted buds. They will rot in the winter and kill the plant. Use that tooth hook or tweezers to get hem out. Gymnos will also rot if it is just too cold in the winter or if they are watered too much.
Root loss - sometimes they just do. Put in grit in a small pot with a very little compost and after a month or so in the summer give a few drops of water. Often they will come back to life. Sometimes they will flower for years with no roots and no new growth.
Burning - sun damage, especially early in the year. If too much of the plant is damaged it will give up and die, if it is not too bad eventually it will grow out.
GYMNOCALYCIUM BOOKS
This is the one! Order direct from Mr Charles and if you are lucky he will sign it for you
I had this when I was a kid - you will have to get a second hand one from Amazon or eBay now. All the pictures are in black and white.
John Pilbeam has published an excellent A-Z in the BCSS Journal Cactus World. You will find them in the following issues:
Part 1 A 2005 Vol 23 Issue 1
Part 2 B 2005 Vol 23 Issue 4
Part 3 C-D 2007 Vol 25 Issue 3
Part 4 E-G 2009 Vol 27 Issue 3
Part 5 H-M 2012 Vol 30 Issue 2
Part 6 N-Q 2013 Vol 31 Issue 4
Part 7 R-Z 2015 Vol 33 Issue 1
You may be able to get these in back issues from the BCSS - see link below
John Pilbeam has published an excellent A-Z in the BCSS Journal Cactus World. You will find them in the following issues:
Part 1 A 2005 Vol 23 Issue 1
Part 2 B 2005 Vol 23 Issue 4
Part 3 C-D 2007 Vol 25 Issue 3
Part 4 E-G 2009 Vol 27 Issue 3
Part 5 H-M 2012 Vol 30 Issue 2
Part 6 N-Q 2013 Vol 31 Issue 4
Part 7 R-Z 2015 Vol 33 Issue 1
You may be able to get these in back issues from the BCSS - see link below
GOOD PLACES TO BUY GYMNOCALYCIUMS
Southfield Nurseries - excellent selection of gymnos through on line shop, good plants and a quality service.
Cactus Shop - I have bought some good plants from here
eBay Sellers from whom I have purchased good gymnos:
Chiltern Hills Cacti
Solent Guy
GENERAL LINKS
GYMNOCALYCIUM PARADE BLOG
British Cactus and Succulent Society - join this, the journal is great value.
Cactus Encyclopaedia - loads of gymno stuff and great pictures
http://www.gymnocalycium.fr/ - a fantastic French Gymno site
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