This flower is so unproportionally big comparing to the cactus! Maybe that is why there is just one blooming. The little plant wouldn't handle more. I am still amazed how this tine, green ball managed to pull it off.
I did have a big Rubrigemmatus before as well and it did produce few blooms. Amazing show! It is dead now though so I have to enjoy the little ones for now.
Notocactus Rubrigemmatus
This is probably the most amazing thing. The buds when they grow they are almost red and before they did bloom for the first time I thought this will be the colour of the flowers. If not red, then something pink for sure. What a surprise I had one morning (last year) when I saw the flowers open in the sunny yellow colour. All because of the colour of the petals on the outside. It's quite pretty, isn't it?
The whole flower is very nice with the super delicate flower and dark rec center. Pitythey last only a few ays.
Of course I forgot to sniff it and my furry inspector wasn't around to remind me of it. Lazy fluff...
So I don't know if they have any fragrance. Some cacti do.
It looks like it is getting just a little bit too much sun here. I did put some shading now as the sun is getting really hot, but the slight tan is already there. It will go away though - it's a permanent thing.
The spines on this cactus are pretty cool. More like stiff bristles that you can find in painting brushes. The shorter ones around the long ones are a bit worse they can pinch a little. Nothing terrible though.
Yes, I have two of them :) And both bloomed last year too (see below). I tried to shoot both of them in full bloom, but it didn't work out and one managed to fade.
Quick recap:
2021 Last year was the first time they bloomed, so no earlier photos. And looks like the one in green pot was first too. | |
2022 They did grow a little :p |
Shot with Nikon D5500 + Sigma 105mm lens
All photos and text are my own.