Program Meeting Pictures

At the August 10, 2026 meeting, Barry Meidl, a member of Weeders & Seeders Garden Club presented a program of growing and caring for cacti.

Cactus plants are interesting plants to cultivate in your home.  There are two main categories: tropical cacti and desert cacti. Barry’s presentation focused on cacti that have been hybridized from cacti native to Argentina, Peru, and Bolivia where there are cold winters which they require in order to bloom. The hybridization has increased the size and number of blooms. They tend to bloom sporadically from June to September, but are stunning when they do bloom! 

Barry recommended providing a cold but not freezing, dry, sunny window from October to March. Start cutting back watering in October. They want to shut down the same way tulips and deciduous trees do in the winter.  In April, when nights are about 35 degrees, put plants outside when there is full sun, but under a roof. They require a monthly soaking. Clay pots are a must because they let excess moisture evaporate through their porous walls, which prevents root rot and keeps the soil dry. He also recommended commercial cactus soil for best results.

The top five cactus plants to grow are Echinopsis.

Paramounts and other Echinopsis hybrids were developed by Dave Naylor. This video by him describes cutivars and other hybrids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFVjNJpRxhc

Bob Schick, working for Huntington Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California, developed 36 Echinopsis hybrids. In 1987, he did 125 crosses of Harry’s Paramount hybrids with Harry’s permission. This website, entitled Freaky Cacti, has pictures of some of his flowers.: https://freakycacti.com/info/a-gallery-of-robert-schick-echinopsis-hybrid-cactus-flowers/

Harry Johnson created 26 hybrids. The Everblooming Echinopsis “Stars and Stripes” was his favorite, then selling for $12/plant. This website has pictures and information about him and his plants: https://www.succulentsandmore.com/2016/06/more-cactus-flowers.html

If you are interested in an interesting plant to grow, this is one worth trying!