Cactus Cutting Nov 09
When?
The cactus shown below is the mother plant from which a cutting has been taken for this grow. As far as I can tell (thanks to the guys at CactiGuide.com), the cactus is a Opuntia monacantha.
The mother plant is being grown in the UK from a cutting taken in Spain 2005.
Mother Cactus Nov 09, UK
What / Why?
My intention with this cutting was to leave it purely in an hydroponics environment to see how it would grow with lots of water and no soil. Yes, the opposite of its natural environment! After leaving it in a hydroponics environment for around 15 days, I decided to instead move it to soil and run the experiment later from a cutting of the soil based cactus.
Time line
3rd Nov – Cutting, started in Hydroponics
The cutting started out in a hydroponic environment on the 3rd Nov 2009. I used SNAP (Simple Nutrient Addition Program) as my liquid fertiliser and added an air stone to promote growth.
10th Nov- Water roots grown in hydroponic solution
The Cactus grew its water roots about 7 days after being in the SNAP solution.
20th Nov- Cactus cutting moved from Hydroponics to soil
After having the cutting in a hydroponics environment for about 15 days, I've moved it into soil(20th Nov).Since the water roots are different to those used for soil, it may not survive. Time will tell! If the Cactus does continue to grow, a cutting will be taken from it in future to continue the purely hydroponics grow test.
23rd Nov – New cactus shoot
3 days after transplanting from hydroponics to soil, a new growth has started. Seems like the transplant went well.
26th Nov – The shoot is growing fast!
The cactus shoot on top is really growing quickly. I'm wondering if there's anyway to promote growth of other shoots below this one.
29th Nov – Shoot growth update
Not much to update other than the size of the shoot.
8th December – Shoot growth update
Still the same shoot. The growth has continued at its rapid pace and has become taller than the original cutting but still quite slim. It's being given water every 3-4 days, partly for the basil growing next to it.
30th January 2010
The 'new shoot' has now become quite long and the Cactus has been re-potted to something a little bigger. It bends back and forth through the days, depending on the closest light source. It's hard to tell but it looks like another shoot has started at the top.