Expert: Maureen - 4/7/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi there
I live in a small village outside of Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico. There is a beautiful organ cactus on the land, but unfortunately the owners before us burned the ground for clearing and the cactus was burned. It is still living as the tops of the cactus are lush and green. One "branch" is quite scarred from the fire, but the top of this branch is green and living. I was wondering if I would be able to attach other small plants...i.e. a type of ivy or similar, to this "branch" so as to cover it up. Or maybe you have another suggestion. Thank you so much. Tami

ANSWER: My understanding is that you want to cover up the scarred parts of the cactus?  I would think that in your climate you could attach air plants or orchids or grow ivy around the base that will eventually cover some of the scarring. It certainly seems like it's worth a try.  With the very scarred branch you could also start a new plant by cutting off the new growth, letting it callous and potting it in sand/soil.  It will take months to root but that is also worth considering.

Whatever it takes to save such a beautiful plant is worth doing.

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QUESTION: Not sure you will see my question in the rating...so I thought I would email once again. How would I go about attaching a plant to the organ cactus. i.e. an orchid? Put dirt around its roots and then how would this plant stay attached to the cactus?
Thank you for your first response and this one as well.
Enjoy the day
Tami

ANSWER: I would attach it with filament line.  If it's an orchid, you need to do it when the orchid has new growth and the roots should be against the host so they can grab onto it.  Eventually the plant will hold on by itself.  The orchid I found to be the most heat and sun tolerant is Laelia superbiens alba 'Don Hubert Cross".  I am not an orchid expert but I do believe that Laelias are native to Mexico.  If you want to find out about others that may be appropriate I check with  any orchid society in Mexico.

I'd probably start with a less ambitious plant - any vine that's native to your area you can plant next to the cactus or even put a small hook in the arm (if it's big enough) and hang a small basket from that and train the vine to cover the arm. If you don't wnat to cut into the plant look for air plants, like the Laelia that are native to your area.

Personally, I like cacti battle scars so I'd probably leave it alone and learn to love it, but your idea is a good alternative.  If you have a picture, I'd like to see it and good for you for tkaing care of that cactus!

Good luck,
Maureen

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QUESTION: Hello Maureen--

Here is a photo of the cacti. I have bought a flowering vine and plan to plant it at the base of the cactus. Also...I would really like to plant some orchids (I just finished reading the Orchid Thief) on the cactus and will look into that.
On another note...gardening here in Mexico is new to me..a few years now, but those darn ants still outsmart me. They eat in the eve leaves of the flowering plants especially roses. The other day they attacked the tulipan (hibiscus)!!! I am on the war path now. There is a dust I can use and have been using, but it is very toxic and I was wondering if you knew of an organic product I could use. Thank you once again.

Answer
Wow.  It looks like the branch on the left is just about dead. You might consider cutting it down and concentrating on the others. The orchid I mentioned is native to Mexico so you might do alright with it, I loved the Orchid Thief too.  Another good one is called Orchid Fever.  Worth a read.

Do you know the name of the ants?

Maureen