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Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Its So Hot In South Texas That---
Its so hot in south Texas that my cactus is dying. I hope I saved it's life today. Several years ago John ask me what I wanted for my birthday. Why a big round cactus of course. It has done well up until now. It is turning rusty looking as there is no room around it for water to squeeze down around it to give it a drink. This cactus isn't the kind that grows in our area. It is large and round with ugly thick thorns so I can't set it under the sprinkler or set it in a pan of water and then take it out when its had enough so I had to figure out a way to save it. When we went to the ranch this afternoon we got some sand and I already had a bigger pot. When we got home I gingerly turned the cactus on it's side and sawed the bottom of the pot it was in off. Little by little. Saw a little and then turn it a little. Repeating until I had the bottom open. Then I put some of the sand in the new pot and carefully picked the cactus up and let it drop into the new pot without puncturing myself with the mean thorns. Then I filled in the sides with more sand and slowly ran water all around the cactus. Plenty of room to give it a good drink and good holes in the bottom for it to drain and not get water logged as cactus is definately a dry land plant. Everything needs a drink sometime, even camels and cactus.
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11 comments:
Paula, thanks for stopping by. I haven't been on to blog in ages. I have been so swamped at work that I'm too pooped to do anything at night except eat and sleep, (which is playing havoc with my waistline). We had a cool summer up until this week, now it over 100 all week long. Too hot to walk the dog so he'll get fatter too. Tori and her brother and family are doing well. The kids are home, burns are healing well. The hand will need some more surgery and skin grafting, but is expected to be useable. Tori's cancer is in remission, which is a Godsend. Perhaps things will work out well for them all. I've missed reading your delightful blogs as well. The pics are beautiful too. Paulette
well that is great , now i need a drink
That is a cool way to do the cactus. I just hate handling them. I don't have any at all and don't think I will but I like cactus. It has felt like Texas here plus our humidity is so high. I think it is breaking now and I am ready. Before my sons marriage broke up and the kids were little we used to go down and see them in July. They were living in Irving and then moved to Euless, I have a nephew in , or at least their mailing address is Red Oak I think. That was one thing I could not deal with. It was just unbearaly hot. The last time I saw my son and at that time , they were still married was when my son died and I begged him to come back and join his brothers in being pall bearers. He had a problem with alcohol and it has succeeded some how in breaking up every relationship, especially with me. He is a responsible person now that he has brought his drinking under control, his kids tell me. He will not even answer my phone calls or e mails, and now I don't hear from his kids. Just had to let it go, it was driving me crazy. At any rate all I meant to say was that the heat in Texas is unbearable, to me.
It's pretty bad when it's so hot even cactus are dying! Glad you were able to get your taken care of without injury!
Paula I know when I went to Dallas in the month of July It wa so hot I could have fried the breakfast on the pavement outside.My son went to San Antonio from Dallas for your 4th July break sailing on the river with a few friends and he said they were burned to a cinder by the time they got off the river.Well done with the cacti idea.Lets hope it thrives on now.I hope the weather cools a litle or you get some rain to cool things down.Take Care God Bless Kath xx
Now that is some hot weather, for a cactus to die! Its hot here too, with very high humidity. Not real comfortable. It is July though. I hope your cactus appreciates your caring for it enough to try and save it. Hope it lives. :)
How in the heck do you handle the cactus? You should have John burn it, then you could handle it simply. Sounds like a good job you done did. That is time consumming cutting the bottom that way. glad it worked without you getting stuck (We hope),
Sherry & Jack
Clever aren't you - I am sure the cactus is thanking you for the drink. I agree with the other comments, you know it is darn hot when a cactus starts to die. Good luck with it and I hope you guys get some relief. I was belly aching about it being 91 here today..just one day of heat like that and I start to moan. Stay cool Paula.
Paula, Many years ago someone gave me a few ears of Prickly Pear Cactus. And I live in New Jersey, but that darn thing has spread and multiplied 100 fold. It lays dormant in the winter under the snow, and comes back thicker every summer. The yellow flowers are so beautiful. We have given neighbors peices and now they have it in their yard. It seems to grow best and get more flowers when there is lots of rain. Cactus at the Jersey Shore.....go figure.
I have not read of a greater love of a woman for a cactus. It does not know how lucky it is to be owned by you. My sister planted some throwaway cactus she found in her neighborhood and they grew up to look like big green machetes nobody dared cross. Cactus have many uses. Arizona is a land of many many species of cacti. So if you get tired of Texas cacti you can always find new and strange ones here. Gerry
Aren't you a smart lady? What a great way to handle repotting a cactus. I'm sure it was very appreciative of all your effort. I hope it makes it.
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