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Cacti & Succulents

Operculicarya decaryi

whip1 Zone 5 NE Ohio

9 years ago

I'm looking for advice on how to get this Operculicarya decaryi to fatten up. Other advice on general care? It's in an 8 inch pot.
{{gwi:17819}}

Rob

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Comments (7)

cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
9 years ago
Rob,

Recently (the last two growing seasons) I've taken to burying mine partially into a larger soil-filled pot, but I'd also suggest a pot with rocks for the roots to grow onto (that way you can use the largish pot it's in without have the amount of soil overwhelm it), trimming off those side branches a bit (half?), and improving the gritty mix it's in with organic matter, probably next growing season. This same suggestion goes for your Bursera, too. Both general I've found to grow better in a richer mix, as long as you're careful of not overwatering.
greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
9 years ago
Root-room, indeed. You've got to give it some range.
I agree with Jeff that it needs more nutrients; however, I think you should just fertilize more rather than increase the richness of the mix itself.

Josh
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whip1 Zone 5 NE Ohio
Original Author
9 years ago
The branch that goes off to the right is the main stem. I was debating using bonsai wire and trying to straighten it out. Good idea?
Do you guys think it should be in a bigger pot? I thought the 8 inch pot was getting a little big.
Because of the weather we get, I'm hesitant to use a richer soil. In July, we had 7 days of rain and considerably cooler temps. Just this last week, we had rain Wed, Thurs, and Friday.
When you do the pot inside the pot trick, what kind of pot is the plant in? I put a few plants in the ground this summer, and I'm considering doing it with a few more next year. Could you post a picture of the pot in a pot?

Thanks for the help.
Rob
cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
9 years ago
Rob,

I would shorten all of the branches (after looking at it more closely), all shortening proportional with each other. Then work your wire magic. I may have been misunderstood - I'm definitely advocating a soiled gritty mix here, with as much as 30% organic material, providing the rest of the stuff is sharp and porous. As long as they have good drainage (even if you don't use the pot-into-a-pot suggestion, elevating the pot, such as pot-onto-pot, would improve it), I'd keep them outside - I'm starting to think that it can be a succulent weedy shrub in summer, even with that amount of rain, or should I say especially with that amount of rain, you had. I'll get a picture later this week, but my Opie is in a large pot, nearly a third of the annular space of said pot containing large rocks, and that large pot's bottom is several inches deep in an even larger pot containing last year's annuals' soil.
whip1 Zone 5 NE Ohio
Original Author
9 years ago
Jeff,
Thanks again for the help. After doing a little more reading, I think I should wait until next summer to trim. I ordered some wire, and I'll start the straightening process when it gets here. I'm looking forward to seeing your plant/ pot arrangement pictures.

Rob
austin_113
9 years ago
Epsom salt in a spray bottle works wonders if u want more leaves
greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
9 years ago
Austin,
how does Magnesium Sulfate give you more leaves?

Josh

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