Grow onto cholla wood

[rockm]

Just realized that different species/varieties of cholla, relative to what @rockm pointed out, likely would have different characteristics of wood, because the stuff that grows around here certainly isn't like the stuff in @nuttiest's OP pic. It's very possible that the stuff around here is so flimsy because that's just the variety.

Still, looking for stuff to do with the kids over summer, and this is as good an excuse to hit the hills as anything.

It has to do with the size of the cholla that grew around the skeleton. Cholla can get VERY big and old. Some can be over 13 feet tall...

Nocturnal Scene Fact Sheet

www.desertmuseum.org

Cholla Photos: See These Amazing Desert Cacti

Spring has once again returned to the deserts of North America and with her return, so too has the amazing colorful blooms of desert wildflowers and cacti.

www.livescience.com

FWIW Old "cactus wood" is more durable than younger. Thicker skeletons are more durable. FWIW, saguaro also makes "cactus wood". Saguaro ribs have been used for roofs on traditional houses in Arizona for quite some time, either in the ramada-style which is basically a lathe roof, or for the skeleton for adobe.

https://agriculture.az.gov/sites/default/files/Cactus%20Wood%20Rules%20-%20AZ%20Dept%20of%20Ag.pdf

 

[dbonsaiw]

I would imagine the cholla would rot at some point. That said, cholla is used in aquariums and is therefore meant to be underwater.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Still, the idea is worth the experiment in my opinion. Nothing else comes to mind that would work better for a scaffold INTENDED to decompose over time.

Many species of Ficus are technically, or rather capable of growing as "strangler figs". A strangler fig is any fig that can grow epiphytically, and in the process, envelop, or cover, or out compete the host tree. The host tree then dies, and rots away leaving the root system of the Ficus exposed. These exposed systems are very similar to the root systems in negari style satsuki azalea display. Here I agree, cholla wood seems perfect for the project. I would wrap the outside of the tube of cholla wood with long fiber sphagnum to aid in holding water. Plant Ficus cuttings up and down the piece of wood in a manner that makes artistic sense to you. Some pieces would only get one Ficus cutting, some might get several. Then set or prop the cholla wood up in the desired position and water away. Misting or watering daily roots should work their way down the cholla into the pot below in just a few months. Remember Ficus love warmth. Only start this project when temps will be above 25 C or 78 F during the day for at least 3 months, beginning of summer for us northerners. Ficus do not root in cool or cold weather. And in a couple years the cholla and the moss will rot away, leaving a unique Ficus negari behind.

Well it is $9 for a pack of 3 small already processed at chewy website, but in my case it sounds like I need amore lasting material.
Going to try and do a criscross pattern with wax or tape for masking a cedar branch, and then paint the whole with acid every couple of months, that should make the lattice pattern I want.

I have no idea why the acid, and wax tape, this could be rather hazardous. Ican not visualize good results from this method.

I worked in a lab for 38 years, I have more clothing with burn holes from acid than I want to admit. And a few scars on my hands. Luckily I never got any in my eyes, but I had proper equipment. Forget the acid and wax, way too complicated and very likely to harm either yourself, or your tree, or some neighbor's curious kid. I think the desired effects can be gotten without dangerous chemicals.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

@nuttiest - I re-read your last post about the acid. I think you should go back and give the cholla wood a try. It should last more than long enough if you are rooting Ficus cuttings in early summer. Yes the Cholla wood will rot, but you are in Florida, the land where Ficus grow extremely fast. You should be able to get the support you need for the time you need. Give it a try.

 

[penumbra]

I would imagine the cholla would rot at some point. That said, cholla is used in aquariums and is therefore meant to be underwater.

It is used much more often with reptile enclosures than it is in aquariums under water.

 

[ShadyStump]

This conversation was all the excuse I needed to drag the whole family out to the woods.

Got some fairly strong pieces here, some are practically entire dead plants, root base and all. Anyone interested just PM me your info and I'll trade you some cuttings or whatnot. I'd love to try myself.
BTW, plenty more where this came from.

@19Mateo83, you already asked me about some. I'll get some better pics and shoot them your way.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

This conversation was all the excuse I needed to drag the whole family out to the woods.

Cholla hunt! (Out north of Palm Springs)

 

[ShadyStump]

Cholla hunt! (Out north of Palm Springs)

View attachment 444216

WOW
That's totally different from the variety that grows around here.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

WOW
That's totally different from the variety that grows around here.

This is Teddybear Cholla - Cylindropuntia bigelovii

It reproduces vegetatively by pieces breaking off and rooting in the ground around the "parent" plant. If you look in my photo you can see dozens of baby cholla all over the ground. It is one of the nastier cacti so be careful - hooked spines that are as painful to remove as they sound.

 

[19Mateo83]

This conversation was all the excuse I needed to drag the whole family out to the woods.
View attachment 444211
Got some fairly strong pieces here, some are practically entire dead plants, root base and all. Anyone interested just PM me your info and I'll trade you some cuttings or whatnot. I'd love to try myself.
BTW, plenty more where this came from.

@19Mateo83, you already asked me about some. I'll get some better pics and shoot them your way.

Sounds like a fun little adventure!

 

[ShadyStump]

Sounds like a fun little adventure!

Well the kids weren't thrilled about hunting for cactus and all the bugs that hatched with the recent rain, but they were all about the views and wildflowers.

This is Teddybear Cholla - Cylindropuntia bigelovii

It reproduces vegetatively by pieces breaking off and rooting in the ground around the "parent" plant. If you look in my photo you can see dozens of baby cholla all over the ground. It is one of the nastier cacti so be careful - hooked spines that are as painful to remove as they sound.

That's the same example @rockm posted, but seeing a whole field of them is another thing in itself.

For funsies, I recall a story about my uncle Carl. He an my uncles Bob and Jonny were out in the sticks around here once, trying to work their way up a steep slope. Carl lost his footing, and began to tumble down the mountain side, his brothers watching in dismay as his trajectory carried him towards a 50 ft cliff.
His demise would have been certain if not for a helpful patch of cholla gallantly throwing itself in his path to catch him just before going over the edge.

 

[rockm]

Cholla hunt! (Out north of Palm Springs)

View attachment 444216

Chain-Fruit And Teddy Bear Cholla Cactus

I write about the chain-fruit and teddy bear cacti together because both are called "jumping chollas" or "jumping cactus." Of course, they don’t actually jump at you, but if you happen to brush against them, even slightly, they become very attached to you. Both cacti propagate mainly by clonal...

arizonadailyindependent.com

“The easiest way to remove a cholla joint is to place a comb between it and your skin and quickly jerk it away. Because of the barbs, it will take considerable force to dislodge it, and the joint may fly several feet. Make sure a hapless companion is not in the line of fire.”

 

[nuttiest]

This conversation was all the excuse I needed to drag the whole family out to the woods.
View attachment 444211
Got some fairly strong pieces here, some are practically entire dead plants, root base and all. Anyone interested just PM me your info and I'll trade you some cuttings or whatnot. I'd love to try myself.
BTW, plenty more where this came from.

@19Mateo83, you already asked me about some. I'll get some better pics and shoot them your way.

Omg, those are awesome... I want to send you the little aloes I was thinking about now. They have brown tips and cant be sold

 

[nuttiest]

here are good tops for making faux palm if they are stil interested

 

[nuttiest]

and I meant to say look at all the diamond pattern in my photo, the alum screen i am using to help with potting levels, my two work tables are diamond pattern, even the my sprayer hose, even the trunks on some tree i was working with have a diamond pattern, it is no wonder I was thinking that!

 

[Bonsai Nut]

here are good tops for making faux palm if they are stil interested

I thought this was going to be a succulent challenge You've got Haworthia, Aloe, and Senecio...

After 24 years living in a desert, I am up on my succulent knowledge

 

[nuttiest]

I thought this was going to be a succulent challenge You've got Haworthia, Aloe, and Senecio...

After 24 years living in a desert, I am up on my succulent knowledge

I don't know if its the senecio but blue chalksticks one there, it makes a nice fishtail crest when maturing

 

[nuttiest]

here is photo of some stranglers. My originals I called 'blue lake bean' because their leaf color was exactly like the bean. Later cuttings over the years yeilded this new type with giant leaves. different color and pattern.

 

[Eckhoffw]

Well it is $9 for a pack of 3 small already processed at chewy website, but in my case it sounds like I need amore lasting material.
Going to try and do a criscross pattern with wax or tape for masking a cedar branch, and then paint the whole with acid every couple of months, that should make the lattice pattern I want.

Chewy? Like the online pet supply?
Well I suppose the dog would enjoy it. Makes sense now.

 

[nuttiest]

I thought this was going to be a succulent challenge You've got Haworthia, Aloe, and Senecio...

After 24 years living in a desert, I am up on my succulent knowledge

things I potted in pure limestone. Which is the weed in 2 pots bottom right, they are the test subjects for fertilizer