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Profile Image Rich Spicer

richard.spicer.7906

St Albans based, career changer and studying Horticulture. Bulb addict, South African plant fan and converted succulent lover

Cleistocactus strausii

  • Season Icon Mid WinterMid Winter 2020
  • Like Count 55
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richard.spicer.7906

Been a while since I posted this beast. This has been looking so much better since being outdoors. I wish I’d done it sooner as it was very neglected in the past. It gets much more light outside too. It’s about 2ft tall now, and I moved it to the polytunnel for winter to stop the rain and frost getting to it, but otherwise temperature wise it’s been fine. I’ve got a bit of fleece next to it just to be safe but I remember someone telling me they are fine with cold temps #cactus

5w
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richard.spicer.7906

It’s got three new branches too 😄 one at front where I cut a rotten one off about three years ago, and two round the back #cleistocactus #cleistocactus-strausii #silvertorchcactus

5w
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kez001uk

That’s gorgeous! Looks like fur 😍

5w
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debs69

Fine specimen 👍

5w
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rachelbrooks

What can I say?! 🤭🙊 You need a nice pair of aviators on them! 😎😆😉

5w
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wagsmomthompsonbtinternetcom

Oh! I say....😳 never seen one that furry....

5w
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jeatacake

Fabulous example & 2 foot tall too 👍

5w
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richard.spicer.7906

Yes, it’s more furry than spiky Kerry, although catch it at the wrong angle it does occasionally hurt a bit 🤕 still sharp anything to tear the fleece I put on it 🙄 @kez001uk

5w
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richard.spicer.7906

Thanks Deb! I inherited it about 10 years ago although it was neglected for most until about 3 years ago. Wondering how tall it might get eventually? 🤔 @debs69

5w
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richard.spicer.7906

Lol! Funny you should say that as I was scrolling through some photos of our world garden trip and found our friend in the cactus house! Maybe they are related? 🤔😅 @rachelbrooks

5w
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richard.spicer.7906

😆 keeps him warm in the winter Elaine! He’s a clever cactus 🌵🥶🧥 @wagsmomthompsonbtinternetcom

5w
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richard.spicer.7906

Thanks Jeff, yeah not quite sure where he’ll go if he gets much taller, that pot is extremely heavy, think I might have overloaded the bench! Might need to reinforce it soon! 🙈 @jeatacake

5w
  • Season Icon Mid SummerMid Summer 2017
  • Like Count 56
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richard.spicer.7906

My Silver Torch cactus - repotted in a nice new terracotta pot with a homemade soil, sand and grit mix. It's had years of neglect but I've now got a new appreciation for it! I also cut off the dead stump (which you can see near bottom) - now has 5 healthy looking branches (one at the back is hidden in this photo. I popped it out on the porch step yesterday to get some sun 😊🌵☀️

7w
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ukgardentags

#cacti 👍

7w
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richard.spicer.7906

#cleistocactus #cleistocactus-strausii #silvertorchcactus #cactus

7w
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juliesgarden

Fab 👏

7w
  • Season Icon Mid WinterMid Winter 2017
  • Like Count 49
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richard.spicer.7906

Close up of one of the stems - can anyone help with ID? Had it for years and never really knew what it was (inherited with no label)... #cactus #plantid #plantid-cactus

8w
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pelly

Stunning photo Richard. 😊😊. @richard.spicer.7906

8w
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nessas

That's a hairy one Rich 😂

8w
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clipperty

Looks so fluffy but I bet it's not as soft as it looks!

8w
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SikoMa

Maybe @lovestogarden @Muzz67 @deekay can help with #plantid-succulent ?

8w
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deekay

Not familiar with hairy cacti I am sorry.

8w
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richard.spicer.7906

Aw, thanks Jane 😬 @pelly 👍🏼

8w
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richard.spicer.7906

Hehe 😂😂 @nessas

8w
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richard.spicer.7906

No, you are definitely right their @clipperty - it looks like fine hair but actually they are fine spines. I don't think these are tough enough to break skin, but hidden amongst them are a small number of thicker ones 😫!

8w
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richard.spicer.7906

Thanks @SikoMa @deekay anyway for taking a look. I think we have a positive ID from my other photo - Silver Torch Cactus 🤗

8w
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Muzz67

Can't help with this lovely hairy one sorry

8w
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brightcolours

Super. #upclose

8w
  • Season Icon Mid WinterMid Winter 2017
  • Like Count 41
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richard.spicer.7906

Here you go @KariSamuel - took this pic back in April 2016. I'm planning on repotting it this year but my knowledge of cacti isn't quite what it used to be. Need to figure out if now is good or later in spring. Do you think it's the same as yours? I have no idea what this one is 🤔 #cactus #plantid #plantid-cactus

8w
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juliesgarden

Wow that's amazing Rich 👍👍

8w
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richard.spicer.7906

Thanks Julie 😬🌵, although I have no idea how it got this big given I don't look after it very well 😳 @juliesgarden

8w
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richard.spicer.7906

Oh thanks @ukjohnny 😀 - that does look incredibly similar! Just looked on google and it's a good contender 👍🏼

8w
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KariSamuel

Here is a great link: http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Cactaceae/Cleistocactus_strausii.html

8w
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KariSamuel

Not the same as my Peruvian Old Man Cactus! I guess we will learn from everyone else!! I just mentioned that very thing to @angeljen, how crazy much I've learned since join Gtags!

8w
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KariSamuel

@ukjohnny - ☆Rockstar☆ ! @gjones - that is what we were trying to determine... size and, um... ahem, the shape are different. 🙊😄🙈😂

8w
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KariSamuel

#cacti #cleistocactus #strausii #silvertorchcactus

8w
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richard.spicer.7906

Well, I've done some reading now and I'm inclined to agree it's not Peruvian old man Cactus as this one looks too 'tidy'. What appears as hairs, are actually very thin spines and then every so often you get he thicker ones. Another thing I noticed was that it has a number of branches off the base of one main stem, and apparently old man Cactus doesn't often branch (according to web). So I think we have an ID as Silver Torch Cactus - thanks everyone for you help, and thanks Kari for.....

8w
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richard.spicer.7906

(cont) persuading me to post it. And thanks John for the ID! Think I'll be taking better care of it from now on!! 😊🙏🏼 @KariSamuel @ukjohnny @gjones @juliesgarden

8w
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juliesgarden

What a great name too !! 👍👏😍

8w
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tomatoe

How do you repot fragile cacti 🌵 without spending ages picking spikes out of fingers?

8w

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