Pachypodiums

[msporty]

Pachypodiums give me lots of enjoyment and are easy grows with exception of P. brevicaule -- a plant that probably would survive if I bought it grafted onto something else.

 

I have P. lamerei and geayi in the ground, without issue, and I am trying a baby P. namaquanum in the ground (so far so good). We definitely do not get the growth rates of Florida, so these plants are still smallish.

 

The rest remain in pots and eek along. Here are photos with fading blooms and new leaves flushing. 

 

[msporty]

And more

[msporty]

[msporty]

The big momma P. gracilis 

[Gonzer]

Orange County? P. brevicaule is very hard to grow unless stringent watering rules are followed. Namaquanum can be grown in-ground but should only be planted out when it's about 1' tall. Gracilius, horombense, succulentum, bispinosum, and rosulatum will do very well planted out in OC. (experience talking). Grigsby's Cactus in Vista has some exemplary specimens of namaquanum in the ground.

[GeneAZ]

The first two images are of my first brevicaule grafted plant that's about 6 years old.  The last image is a leucoxanthum form that I've been growing for two years.  They are easy on lamerei rootstock.

[Hammer]

I have a P. lamerei in the ground here in OC. It is at least 12 years old, 5 years in the ground. 

Never bloomed and is slow (barely) growing.  Probably my favorite plant of any in my garden.  But not a great performer.  Probably needs more water.

[Monòver]

  On 5/7/2017 at 3:59 AM, Hammer said:

I have a P. lamerei in the ground here in OC. It is at least 12 years old, 5 years in the ground. 

Never bloomed and is slow (barely) growing.  Probably my favorite plant of any in my garden.  But not a great performer.  Probably needs more water.

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I have a "big" one in a pot and like you, it is one of my favorite plants.

Mine grows fast and bloom from June to October. 

It loves lots of water and fertilicer.

[Hammer]

  On 5/7/2017 at 6:02 AM, Monòver said:

I have a "big" one in a pot and like you, it is one of my favorite plants.

Mine grows fast and bloom from June to October. 

It loves lots of water and fertilicer.

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What fertilizer do you use?

[Monòver]

  On 5/7/2017 at 6:40 PM, Hammer said:

What fertilizer do you use?

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Good question!!!

I use a few different fertilizers, aminoacids, seaweeds, one organic fertilizer 4-8-8 and one mineral fertilizer 8-4-12.

I love feed my plants!

[Gonzer]

With Pachypodiums being notoriously slow growers the benefits of fertilizing are less apparent. Cactus Juice 1-7-6 provides good stuff for the roots and provides enough Nitrogen for their basic needs, and really does help flower production. 

[Hammer]

  On 5/7/2017 at 8:00 PM, Monòver said:

Good question!!!

I use a few different fertilizers, aminoacids, seaweeds, one organic fertilizer 4-8-8 and one mineral fertilizer 8-4-12.

I love feed my plants!

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Thank you!!!  I have another question below in my reply to Gonzer.

[Hammer]

  On 5/7/2017 at 8:29 PM, Gonzer said:

With Pachypodiums being notoriously slow growers the benefits of fertilizing are less apparent. Cactus Juice 1-7-6 provides good stuff for the roots and provides enough Nitrogen for their basic needs, and really does help flower production. 

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Gonz, my lamerei is planted raised above grade.  Prior to planting I dedicated the entire bed to succulents. In the preparation process I amended heavily with gypsum to break down the clay. Will cactus juice over do it with calcium?  

I have noticed some minor penciling in it.  Probably need to up the water application. 

[Gonzer]

Good question Ham. I did a little research and found that by your adding the Gypsum prior to planting the additional use of a Calcium-containing fertilizer/supplement is not needed. Plus, if you factor in the amount of calcium already in our water and which is already present in the soil I'd say "negator" on the addition of the fertilizer. Some folks have resolved to using hydroponic fertilizers instead for their cactus and succulents but that's an area I'm not familiar with. Fish might just be a good bet. The reason I initially spoke about Cactus Juice is that I use it as my primary bromeliad food (Sssh! Don't tell anybody!) and I always have a few bottles handy.

[Monòver]

High calcium level is problem because the plant can't take Magnesium and potasium. But here, Pachypodiums grows in limestone soils and the tab water has calcium.

May be it needs more water. Pachypodiums are slow growera because people thinks they are like cacti. But, when they have water, good soil and you feed them, they grow "fast".

This is mine, last summer and today, after a cold Winter.