ID please, plus stilt roots?

7 years ago

I've had this cactus so long I don't remember where I bought it. Without going in to a lot of detail I'll just say it tolerates imperfect growing conditions and has stayed with me for a while. It's been sitting a bit crooked in a pot with a shallow soil mix so I finally decided to repot it today. Does anyone have an idea what it is? I'd guess it is an Echinocereus but I'm not sure. It is about 8 inches tall.

As I was repotting it I noticed these roots growing higher on the stem. I haven't seen roots like this on my other cacti so far.

The soil height was about what you see in the picture. I repotted it in a different mix. I tried washing away loose soil but as you can see there isn't any. I know it isn't recommended to leave the old wad of soil intact when repotting but I did that. I think this cactus will be OK.

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Comments (5)

Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA
7 years ago
Polaskia chichipe
Polypompholyx thanked Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA
Rob Blomquist
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Yes, you should break up and discard the soil ball when repotting, so the roots attach to the new soil, if the new soil is more permeable and the root ball is not cleaned of old soil, water may not get to the roots, I speak from personal experience.

Doing that I use a whisk broom, one of the hand held devices. Brushing the soil off the roots and plant body is much easier.
Polypompholyx thanked Rob Blomquist
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Stefan
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
stenocereus queretaroensis/grieseus for both of them.

Polaskia has smoother edge on the ribs(no tubecules, no jagged imperfections).

By jagged imperfections, btw, look at stenocereus pruinosus. It has a lot of sharp angles.

Had both. Polaskia looks like myrtillocactus stems + stenocereus spines+powder..With more areoles.

mine looked like this https://www.giromagi.com/prodotti/src/polaskia_chichipe_33873.jpg

https://i1.wp.com/opuntiads.com/oblog/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Polaskia_chende_5742296543.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1

Nothing like your stenocereus. which i also had.

https://www.unalkaktus.com/content/images/thumbs/0000219_stenocereus-pruinosus-105-cm_550.jpeg

https://scontent-yyz1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/5f49e906e0b61debf9a504c20fc2e159/5DB465BE/t51.2885-15/e35/67632948_976866092483680_8541796260926871000_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-yyz1-1.cdninstagram.com

also, its powder should be in "waves". I do not see wavy powder...

on a side note, llifle has a mix of stenocereus and myrtillocactus cochal photos labeled under polaskia....So, that one is not reliable for an ID..

Stick to this. White powders, waves. Smooth, straight, elegant ribs. Smaller spines. More areoles.
Polypompholyx thanked Stefan
Polypompholyx
Original Author
7 years ago
Rob, I went back and broke up the root ball and repotted it again.

Kara, I think I have the same cactus you have. Earlier I read the thread titled Polaskia or Cereus, saw your post, and thought that looks like my cactus, then forgot about it and started this thread. However, I agree with Stefan that it isn't Polaskia chichipe.

Stefan, this pic looks like a good match to me.
Stefan
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Like i said, i had all the plants:

this one

stenocereus pruinosus

polaskia chichipe

polaskia chende(only one i could get to grow )

I wish i had a photo of the first one to show it you before i donated it...

But yes, it looked like the one in the photo from garden.org...just smaller.
Polypompholyx thanked Stefan