This is Part 2 of my discussion on the flowering habits of well-tended cacti. After the first wave of flowering which normally occurs in March when succulents start to make new growth, certain cacti will flower again and again throughout the summer up till the early fall period, producing a second and even a third wave of blooms. Flowering for most cacti genera then ceases in October through February as the plants become dormant and rest, with growth slowing to a snail’s pace or even stopping completely as is the case in the temperate environments.
To the onlooker, most cacti are at their best when these are in flower. And indeed, flowering is a sign of good health in these plants. The accompanying photos show a second wave of flowers from one of my all-time favorite cactus groups, the Turbinicarpus from Mexico. Unfortunately, in my haste to get this article in, I neglected to label the photos. But I guess these pictures speak for themselves. Such color, texture, and beauty across a single cactus group. I have written about the Turbinicarpus in the past, but maybe I will write about them again soon, given that I have new information and more experience with this genera now.
It is interesting when I meet people here for the first time. Chances are, the first thing they will ask me is “are you the (crazy) cactus guy?” And I normally answer, “Yup, have you bought a succulent yet?” If they answer in the positive, then I am plenty pleased. However, if they answer in the negative, then I normally tell them that my mission hasn’t been accomplished yet until I get them to buy one or two plants. It is my dream for everyone around to own and grow at least a couple of succulents, whether this be at their home or at work. I think succulents are a truly fascinating group and hope everyone gets the chance to experience and appreciate them.
It is always heartening to find those who have been affected by this column, and who now have “love affairs” with succulents, whether these be great or small. Probably the most prominent personality who has been bitten by the succulent bug via this column is my Tito Nards Jimenez. Most of you know Tito Nards as one of the greatest entrepreneurs this country has ever produced. He is extremely hardworking and forever looking for opportunities. Even today, he is very busy with the upcoming initial public offering of his baby, GMA 7 Network (incidentally, I hope you were able to get your hands on some of this most elusive of shares which I am told are 20-30 times oversubscribed internationally; if you have a source for these shares, better get as much as you can!).
Tito Nards has taken a great interest in cacti and succulents, thanks to some degree to this column. He has built an impressive collection and houses his wards in his expansive property in Pangasinan. But even as busy as he is, Tito Nards always finds time to make the trip up north to visit his farm and his plants. It always makes my day during our board meetings at Nuvoland, when Tito Nards will suddenly tell me (and the board) that he has just framed my latest article and he proudly displays these in his greenhouse. One day soon, I am going to visit him in Pangasinan and do a proper article on his growing succulent collection.
Wilson Sy, the stock market guru and owner and manager of Vantage Corporation, Wealth Securities and the Philequity Fund (the most successful investment fund in the country for the last decade and counting!), was recently in Arizona. And when he spotted some cacti over there, he was reminded of me and my mania for these beauties. Many have asked me how unique this hobby of ours is in this country. I tell them that while it is clearly still in its infancy here, the growth in interest in succulents has been amazing. As a case in point, the succulent growers in Benguet have been so successful selling these plants all over the country that several have actually expanded their farms or made overseas buying trips for succulents funded purely from their earnings from the succulent trade.
Our local society has roughly 100 members, essentially here in Metro Manila. This number has grown from the low 30s a few years back. By my rough estimates, I would say there are about 5,000 or so folks around here who have at least one or two succulents under their care. And I believe these numbers will continue to grow, not just because of the press from this column, but from the increasing availability of species in horticultural shops all over the country. And nothing attracts a person more to these plants than a flowering specimen. People ask me why I ever got into this hobby. Besides the “long” story of it, I tell them that I am a succulent addict, but it is this “mania” which keeps me sane in this wild and increasingly crazy world of ours.