Flying Ming Thing

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

Recently acquired a Ming Thing, smaller than a volley ball at this point but nice-sized. I gently depotted it, let the roots dry for a few days, repotted it ever-so-gently into my succulent mix, and there it sat on display in the yard.

I just watered it two days ago, so when it threatened rain yesterday while I was at work, I asked my wife to trot out and put it under the deck roof. She doesn't keep track of what I'm doing with my plants, but she's always willing to help. She hurried through the first big drops, and grabbed it. When she whipped around to get out of the rain, Shoom! There went Ming Thing flying across the yard, not yet having any anchor.

Though the plant seems okay, I am starting over with keeping it out of soil for a few days in case any roots were wounded. I could have been mad she wasn't more careful, but more reasonably she could have been mad I didn't warn her. Instead, we just had a good laugh over our flying Ming Thing!

I think it(he, she?) has earned a name. Any suggestions?

Featured Answer

kaktuskris

11 years ago

Ming Fling.

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Comments (12)

ewwmayo
11 years ago
I like Flying Ming Thing! Might even deserve a name tag.

Coincidentally, I had a Flying Haworthia attenuata and Flying Titanopsis calcera last night! My wife was pretty quick to yell up the stairs and ask if I was okay. Flying grit and pots makes a small racket. =P
breathnez thanked ewwmayo
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rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
11 years ago
How much smaller than volley ball??? - volley ball is quite large?

"....Ming Thing, smaller than a volley ball at this point but nice-sized..."
breathnez
Original Author
11 years ago
Chris, that may be the winner!

ewwmayo, hope you and your plants came through w/o damage.

rina, my Ming Thing(pre-flight) is here and is somewhere between a softball and volley ball size.

ez
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
11 years ago
ez
Pretty large plant, that must be at least 6" pot? Positive thinking - it will recover.
Ming Fling sounds cool...so does Flying Ming Thing!
Rina
ewwmayo
11 years ago
Ez - Luckily, both of mine seem unscathed. I showed my wife your story and she laughed too. =)
breathnez
Original Author
11 years ago
Okay, a few days on the rack drying and callusing any root wounds then back in soil looking no worse for wear. Rocks for body guards for rest of summer maybe.

Almost twilight, sorry for dark pic. Hope her look matures into quasi-bonsai form over time as the base thickens and continues to cork.

ez
kaktuskris
11 years ago
Nice plant...Here is mine, smaller but less compact than yours.

Christopher
ewwmayo
11 years ago
Root beer well deserved! Hopefully the rocks stop it from becoming a frequent flier. Har har.

With all these great photos, Ming Things are really growing on me.
breathnez
Original Author
11 years ago
Christopher, I wouldn't have guessed smaller but hard to get perspective with that pic. Have you had it a long time? Do individual sections have growth spurts at different times, so that the center will eventually have one and catch up to the two sides? Have you ever cut sections away, and if so do the scars look bad? Sorry to pepper you with questions, but not everyone and their brother is growing one of these.

Thanks for sharing!

ez
breathnez
Original Author
11 years ago
Frequent flier, I like that! If it takes another leap I'll have to use that as a second name, haha!

I just happened across mine at a local nursery, the only one there, and immediately scooped it up.

ez
kaktuskris
11 years ago
One thing I love about this plant is the randomness of its growth, as there are so many possible growth points on it. So you never know which section will grow next. I have another similar plant, but it has red spines. This was a cutting of a bigger plant I was given. But the mother plant already had cuttings taken when I received it. And honestly, the cut areas were noticeable and took away from the look of the plant. Tempting as it may look, personally I would only cut mine out of necessity, if the roots had rotted. I prefer it intact.

Christopher