Beautiful! I especially like the long spined individual.

That's my favorite, too :-)

They are probably similar in habit to your other cephalium growing cacti. I wish I could remember, but there is something tricky about them. Something other than when they start the cephalium, the cactus stops growing. Sorry, no help.

Found it. They go dormant in the winter and don't want any water. Since many are somewhat tropical, they also like it a little warmer in winter.

I've seen these growing along the shore on St John Island USVI regaled with their tall beautiful cephalium.

Aloebot, thanks for the info.

I figured they would need similar care to my Coleocephalocereus. I've always kept that one in the house over the winter, rather than the greenhouse. I think I'll do the same with these.

Right now, I have them on a heating mat that I use for rooting cuttings. I figure that since I just bare-rooted and potted them, a little bottom heat for a little while might help the roots out.

Wendy, Bill (aloebot) is correct about the body stopping growing at a certain stage (maturity?) - it's the cephalium that keeps growing, but the body stays the same size. It's pretty cool. The heating mat idea is a good one.

Keep them warm in winter. We are frost free here and my guys stay outside all year round - but it is too cold for melocacti.

I have read that the body stops growing when the cephalium forms. I've seen photos of mature ones with a big tall cephalium... like something out of Dr. Seuss, lol.

SpanishFly, haven't seen you posting on here for a while, welcome back! I'm going to set the Greenhouse thermostat to the low 50's for the winter. Maybe that wouldn't be too cold, but I think I'll keep them in the house anyway.

Low 50's in winter is fine as long as they are dry. I get temps down to 32 at times and no problems with the Melos. Avoid disturbing the roots once the cephalium has formed. I have lost many this way - they just lose their roots if repotted and the roots disturbed too much when adult. They rarely reroot once they lose their roots from my experience.

Thanks, s g for the advice. Since they were just repotted, I'll probably keep them in the house this winter. Maybe next winter I'll put them in the greenhouse... if I can squeeze them in there, lol.

Love it! Definitely something out of Dr. Seuss.