Someone once told me that he didn’t grow Mammillaria because their flowers were so poor.  How could he be so wrong? Even if they didn’t flower their spination is beautiful enough to earn them a place in the greenhouse, but when they are well into their flowering season, as they are at the moment, they are a real delight.  M. laui dasyacantha, although it is now past its best, has given a full month of flowers, M. albata and M. crassior have double or treble rows of blossom on all their heads. Albata is particularly attractive because of the contrast between its dense white wool and its deep wine coloured flowers. Most of the other early flowering Mamms are either coming into flower or in bud. 

Most of my hardier succulents are now out of doors and are enjoying the April sunshine and showers.  This has given me space to move around and to do some cleaning inside the greenhouse.

There has been some germination in all the fifteen or so lots of Haworthia seeds I have put in. The mature Haworthia are looking plump and are colouring up well in the Spring sunshine.  I have been removing the flower stems as soon as they appear so that all the strength of the plant goes into the leaves.

This years Lithops seedlings are progressing well.  Last years will soon be ready for potting up.  With the warmer weather the mature Lithops are rapidly absorbing the moisture and nutrients from the old leaves and sending forth their bright new leaves. Some have finished this process and have already had their papery old leaves removed and have enjoyed their first watering.

Last year I received some free hardy Opuntia seeds with my seed order.  I don’t usually grow Opuntia but decided to give these a try. The seedlings are now about three inches tall and in need of potting on. It will be interesting to see if they really are hardy.