Ah, ha! It IS a disgusting discovery, isn't it? But one many of us are aware of. However...don't discount that the plant will in fact one day have a lovely, if not brilliant, flower. All cactus bloom...some bloom magnificently! Jo

Mark,
In reference to the cacti with fake flowers glued to them, I've seen these at Lowes, Home Depot, and Wal-Mart here. I've even seen a couple that had green flowers glued to them... now how natural looking is that, haha. Yeah, I think it's stupid myself, you can't pull the flowers off without somehow damaging the cacti because it's hot glue. =:o(

Elizabeth

Just hope that they will grow out of it. Norma

I actually managed to get a flower off a Pachypodium (Madagascar palm) at Wal-Mart without too much trouble: you just have to kind of pick at the "petals" until the whole thing falls apart, and then you slide the glob of glue off. Wouldn't work for everything, but it worked well in that case. The plant has been quite grateful.

The people who sell these things really should be ashamed of themselves, though. No doubt it does improve the sales, but still. One can only hope that reincarnation is true, and these folks come back as a cactus. . . .

The problem that I have found with these Altman plants is that the glue can disfigure the plant's future growth. So I get rid of it as soon as possible, even if I have to lose a few spines in the process...or the plant will not grow normally.

I think alot of people do fall for the fake flowers, but I've found about 20 at a local Home Depot that are all dying because of lack of care on the part of the people who work there, but also because nobody is buying them. I think people would have been more likely to buy them if they didn't have the fake flowers on them... My Mom fell for one of these fake flowering cacti once, bought this really beautiful cactus at Wal-Mart for $6... As soon as I realized the flowers weren't real, I took it back. It was one of those cacti with hair like spines, defintely not worth trying to get the fake flowers off. Fortunately, I later found this same exact species of cactus at another Wal-Mart without any fake flowers on it. Cacti are beautiful on their own accord.

Elizabeth

I've bought more of those cactus with fake flowers than I should admit. And I continue to buy and buy and buy.

I agree with Jo, those plants will eventually produce beautiful real flowers.

Dave's suggestion of a bit of careful surgery and most are none the worse. Time should heal.

A good thread might be to have forum members show some treasures they rescued from the "straw flower" display of big box stores. I think I have a few prize winners.

Al

That's an excellent idea, Al.
"I think I have a few prize winners." That's an understatement!

Quite frankly, the lack of ACCURATE I.D.s bothers me more than the cheesy flowers....But then, it's always a surprise when I see what I get...LOL

Dave

But just think Dave, it was the lack of ID's that brought us all together!

Jo, I echo your thoughts.

And when I go shopping for those c&s jewels, my first concern is for the plant in the pot. Do I like it? Do I have it? Can I live happily without it? Is it beyond recovery? If there's a straw flower, how long before it outgrows the damage?

Interestingly, I gravitate toward the small ones and they generally have no names. My hobby was so much less interesting before I discovered this supply.

...and you folks on these forums.

Life is fun.

Al

Dave,
Hmm... I think you have a point there. I nearly pull my hair out sometimes (ok maybe not, just in my mind)when I see a cactus or succulent I fall in love with and go, but wait, what is it, no I.D. Damn!!! *blushes* I've noticed alot of the cacti and succulents here at our local HD with those straw flowers on them are nearly dead or already dead... how sad. :(

Elizabeth

These strwflowers are really nothing new...I remember when i was a kid...(I sound like my father here)...you could buy these small cacti planted in what seemed to be plaster! AND they had small straw flowers stuck in them as well...saved many of those too. But SJV and Al, I agree...the no id's can be fun also. I've gotten some beautiful things from Altman's. I would love to find some of the old Paramount Echinopsis hybrids too...but they are getting scarce.

Dave

I've come to really appreciate echinopsis lately. I've visited the Schick page but hadn't heard of Paramount. Sounds like I need to google

It's an old Nursery in Los Angeles...long closed. I think it was close to the paramount Studios...but i could be wrong.

The Paramounts are a bit of history. In the 1930s and 40s Harry Johnson created the Paramount Echinopsis hybrids. Todays popular Schick hybrids were created from successive crosses of their progeny. There are still a few circulating but are harder and harder to find.

And talk about mislabeled----

Al

true...many are mislabeled...but they are all so visually appealing.:)

I think the majority of ppl who own 1-5 plants, think the artifical flowers are a plus..I'm not talking about serious cacti growers, just someone who wants to 'brighten' up a 'dark corner'..most often than not, they kill the plant by overwatering, and toss it..no big loss to them..
The thing that sticks to my craw are those cactus w/glued rocks on top of the soil..if anyone has ever bought one they'll know where I'm coming from..they are a pain to water, let alone repot..They're impossible separating from the soil, and in the process can ruin a plant..Toni

Hi All! It wss just a matter of time. I knew we would get flack about the strawflowers again. Just wanted to let you know that we had kept the fake flowers off the cacti for about 3-4 years now as we don't like them either (as plant people), but one of our customers requested them so (as business people) we accommodated them. It was only one customer though as far as I know and the rest would be coming from somewhere else. Can't argue with your customers if you are in business. In fact, they showed a substantial sales increase of fake flowered over non-messed with ones. I do agree with whoever it was that added that the people that buy these are not plant people anyway and their motivation is different. Keeping our customers happy allows us to be successful and grow more and different plants for folks like yourselves who really appreciate them. Next time you see some with fake flowers on them, (and they are not all from us, we've made a point of trying to keep them to a minimum) remember that every one of those sold helps us to bring more and better to you. Remember too, no one is forcing you to buy them. If you see a variety with flower on it that you want, you can bet there are likely some available without the flower as well. Believe me, we do empathize with you.
Bob at Altmans

Bob,
I wasn't trying to bash you or Lowes as I'm sure nobody else was attempting to, just was expressing some feelings about the fake flowers. I realize making money and keeping the customer happy is the one goal of big businesses, it is just a misfortune that sometimes a plant or two has to suffer to make someone happy. I know it's not your fault, but rather the people who make the fake flowered cacti, but part of me wonders... half of the people who buy them, do they know the flowers are indeed fake? I hope you didn't feel unwelcomed. And I agree, nobody is making anyone buy them, I just get frustrated when I see them because as most people probably feel, hot glue and cacti don't mix lol.

Elizabeth

Thanks Elizabeth - No worries, it wasn't taken personally. I was just trying to calm the seas with an explanation before it got to festering. About 3 or 4 years ago the same subject came up and I happened to stumble across the Garden Web for the first time and found us being talked about like a Salem witch hunt because of the damned flowers. As I said before, I tried to explain that we don't think hot glue and cacti go together either, but as they say "there's no accountin' for taste!". We really do feel the way you do, but in business sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. And yes, there are some people we hear from that would like to buy another one of those cactus plants because "after 2 years this one is still blooming!". It's usually then my job to tell them as tactfully as possible without making them feel like a fool that the flower is fake; at least to the cactus. In most cases it usually ends up in a pretty good laugh. So fear not cactophiles, we are doing our best to keep the dreaded straw flower plague to a minimum, and know that we appreciate all of your trade, some of you possibly near 30 years! No hard feelings on this side, just trying to avoid ruffling any feathers unintentionally. Thanks for the reply Elizabeth!
Bob

The straw flowers don't bother me..I pluck them off, no biggie..What bothers me is C&S's planted in ceramic containers, w/'glued rocks' atop the soil.
If anyone has ever bought one, and tried repotting, you'll know what I mean. They're a pain removing..I ended up having to break the containers, not to mention struggle getting the roots out from under these stones..roots broke off, leaves dropped. I don't know who came up w/this idea, but I'd bet they don't have plants such as these in their own homes..Toni

I found a gorgeous ponytail palm @ Lowes.I even considered buying it even with the $35.00 price.on it.I looked @ it over and over.Then I saw the glued rocks on the soil,That ruined it for me.

Bob,
You're welcome. Thanks for your reply. =:o)

Elizabeth

I guess I haven't noticed fake flowers on the cactus before. Now I am going to check out the garden centers. Makes for a good laugh anyhow about people who request another one because their cactus has been blooming non stop for two years. I would be ROTFL...(-:

You'll find the same thing at Wal*Mart. It's deceptive and dishonest as far as I'm concerned. I would never buy of those fakes.

When I go shopping for plants, first I find out what I want before buying the plant! I have an idea of the flowering time of that plant and what it looks like! All cactus will flower in time! A lot of sun and the right condition. Most of mine flower for just one day, but that is enough time to take a pic and to record it.
And enjoy it!
Luis

I haven't been suckered into buying the cacti with fake flowers, but I did buy a succulent garden with the glued rocks.

The tag says that the glue is water soluble, and that in time, it will dissolve, making repotting easy.

Hopefully, this is true!