The cacti obsession is real

My obsession with cacti and succulents hasn't wavered and I'm struggling to get my hands on some of the rarities I desire. Here are a few of my mates.

Are there any Perth/WA members here that can recommend good/secret suppliers in WA? I've got a few good spots but I'm always looking for more 🙂 with a particular interest in the rare and exotic.

I'm also after some large and healthy cacti for my pool area. I have large San Pedro and would like some blue variety as well as another large Candelabra and a Saguaro if possible.

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Comments

gippslandhome

Thanks @ProjectPete for sharing some pictures of one of your many passions.

Some awesome specimens and good luck with finding some rare ones 👍

Kind regards Rob

ProjectPete

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/5977#Comment_5977

Lazy Sunday morning haul 🙂

ProjectPete

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/5977#Comment_5977

Picked up these beauties late Saturday night 🙂

ProjectPete

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/5977#Comment_5977

Oh hey my new little blue friend 😄Blue Torch

Former_Member

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/65141#Comment_65141

Nice to come across someone with the same obsession!
Sorry I can't help you on the supply front. Wrong state!
Naturally I didn't have a choice, because the coastal Adelaide climate is what it is, and I've no wish to be a slave to watering the garden. My previous obsession was English cottage gardens, lol. Now I do 10 minutes weeding every other month. I do have some 'regular' plants, but have cut right back to what will survive on it's own, plus the vegie patch!. The Darwinian garden.
Did you have a similar 'call to arms', or 'Eureka!' moment ? The more I use succulents and cacti, the more I love them, actually. So my sad epiphany about climate limitations became the obsession to end all obsessions. My neighbours call me the cactus queen...

mazasonic

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/65116#Comment_65116

Wow! Great finds.

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/95370#Comment_95370

Thanks for joining in the discussion @mazasonic. We're pleased you could join the community. Please let me know if you ever need a hand getting the most from the site.

Welcome,

Jason

ProjectPete

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/114246#Comment_114246

Finally potted up my Golden Barrel which #wifey got me for Father's Day 😁🌵 He's got some growing to do though.

ProjectPete

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/114246#Comment_114246

Couple of new little mates for inside.

gippslandhome

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/124861#Comment_124861

This will make your mouth water @ProjectPete

ProjectPete

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/131975#Comment_131975

I like the look of those timber blocks @gippslandhome. Definitely keen to make some of those up for my smaller ones.

Former_Member

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/136307#Comment_136307

front yard cacti, the birdbath, and some overwintering mates in the alfresco - need to put them out soon! Please ignore my weeds!

ProjectPete

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/139257#Comment_139257

Always nice to see a GB in the mix @Former Workshop member 🙂 My friend has been growing some from seeds. I'm picking up another one soon, going for the white-spined version though.

Former_Member

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/141238#Comment_141238

@ProjectPete

Yeah, I really fancy the Golden Barrels. That's from a woman who loves English cottage gardens, mind you, but that was never gonna happen in coastal Adelaide. I've started to love the cacti and succulents now. All from refusing to be a slave to the garden.

I have some GB seeds hanging about somewhere, but we were building so they're 'on hold' somewhere in the shuffle.

Hubby was never quite convinced until he walked out there one evening and all the cacti had haloes from the westering sun in their spines... now he's a believer!

So once the bug bites, then you have to have everything! My pride and joy is a rat's tail cactus hanging in the back - a thin one, not the big fuzzy one...

Former_Member

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/142729#Comment_142729

Just realised I'd said most of that in an earlier post - never can keep up with which cactus person I'm talking to! I really like your big tall ones, but I'll have to wait for mine to grow. Here's to kicking back for the next 20 yrs until they do!

Former_Member

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/141238#Comment_141238

@ProjectPete

Hosting a party week after next - thought I better start jazzing up the succulent planters, lol. A small sample

ProjectPete

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/143780#Comment_143780

@Former Workshop member Patience is definitely critical in growing cacti, unlike my indoor tropical plants (Monstera, Thai Constellation, Fiddle Leaf Fig, etc) which just grow like crazy

Former_Member

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/144584#Comment_144584

@ProjectPete, oh gosh - monstera... I'd love one. Gotta go looking - I hear the fruit of one form is really tasty?

I mostly keep the sansevieria and zamioculcas inside... indestructible. I have a pothos snow queen and a vanilla planifolia orchid - also indestructible.

I keep elephant's ear (the big colocasia) in the alfresco and the porch along with the fatsia japonica - they grow like we're on a nuclear waste dump, just mutant-style rampant and I grow the purple tradescantia underneath in the pots. I'll put them in the garden beds under the pergola as soon as I get the shade cloth up. Which needs doing right now... my only hope of growing a hydrangea! I'll try to create a micro-climate with the hardy tropicals for it.

I just ordered Echeverias!

'Fire Opal' 'Paul Bunyan' 'Zorro' and 'Strawberry Paddle' - I'll post pics when they arrive. The Succulent Garden had a 50% off sale as they're being sold, themselves. I got lucky to get large ones for the price of small.

Former_Member

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/144584#Comment_144584

@ProjectPete

Found anything else?

Saved this pachypodium dude from certain death at BW today... potted into a much more free draining mix. He was very exxy, but so worth it, he looks happier already. It's in a fairly light inner pot, so I can move it indoors in winter - had to drill holes in the outer ceramic pot, so made an afternoon of it, drilling holes in all the things I had in mind for planters.

My background mess is growing - I feel I've done nothing but potting everlastingly, over the last couple of weeks or so. Gotta sweep and karcher, but not until it's over, lol. Spring is a potty time for the succulent hordes...

Adelaide is hosting Succulenticon convention next year in October - can't wait!

ProjectPete

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/145170#Comment_145170

Got these beauties - add "Dragon tree obsession" to the list too now 🤣

robyn2202

Wow, I hope you don't have children around your home.

A few months ago A Current Affair did a segment on "plants that kill our children" and Yukkas were top of the list.

I admire your love of succulents, I know they can be very pretty when in flower.

But please be careful if children are around.

ProjectPete

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/6639#Comment_6639

Newbies

And woke up to this lovely flower. About 15 others on this specimen so will share when they're all in bloom.

Also picked up a nice sized Blue Barrel. In the process of finding him the right pot.

ProjectPete

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/131975#Comment_131975

This beauty just keeps on flowering. Another 9 in total and managed to capture these 4 in simultaneous bloom.

ProjectPete

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/5977#Comment_5977

Nice Crest cacti which my kids have named "Cuddles"

ProjectPete

Some progress shots of my beloved cacti showing some pretty serious growth in less than a year.

The second two have been brewing in their pots, ready for my cacti feature garden in my pool area. I've done one side with long lying succulents and one end of the pool will have some tall and rare cacti on show.

Approx 70mm plus a new arm

Lil man1.PNG Lil man2.jpg

Approx 250mm with decent gains on its arms.

About 2000mm of cumulative growths with new arms and plenty of health coming out of this cowboy.

My latest San Pedro cuttings. Very healthy. 3m worth of cuttings with girth averaging 270mm, peaking around 350mm.

SP cuttings.jpg

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/9079#Comment_9079

Some great progress there @ProjectPete!

You've got me rummaging around my garden beds pulling out all my cacti to create a little garden. I'm a big fan of how easily cacti propagate and I think I'll look at purchasing some more varieties. The only issue I have is little hands in the garden, I'll have to isolate them from my daughter.

Many thanks for the update.

Mitchell

dirtygardener

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/145637#Comment_145637

My dragon tree is branching out finally. I feel like a proud parent!

LiRey85

please tell me you found some secret suppliers. We are obsessed and recently ripped apart our entire front yard to restart with a drought friendly cacti/succulent garden. We live on half an acre so have plenty of room for these beauties but are struggling to find decent sized mature varieties also. please if you have any secret contacts it would be greatly appreciated. we have had some luck on marketplace and the cactus grower in henley brook but other than that have struggled. thanks.

LiRey85

Also a few of our babies. we have a lot more. feel free to follow our obsession on insta: cactopia&crew

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @LiRey85. It's fabulous to have you join us and many thanks for jumping into the conversation.

Let me mention @ProjectPete, so he is notified of your question. If you haven't already seen it, it would be worth checking out Pete's Feature fences discussion where he used some of these cacti. The project is simply amazing.

You can take large cuttings and propagate them fairly easily. If you have seen any huge mature cacti, you might enquire with the owner to see if they'd let you take a limb.

As a cacti lover myself, I look forward to hearing more about your landscaping project and would encourage you to let us know if you'd like to share or need any assistance.

Mitchell

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