Lophophora williamsii v. caespitosa graft – 4th anniversary

June 7 my grafted Lophophora williamsii v. caespitosa plant could celebrate its 4th anniversary on top of its Trichocereus bridgesii stock. After four years the main head has grown to a width of 6 cm (~2.4'') and the scion is more than 14 cm (>5.5'') wide in total.


Lophophora williamsii v. caespitosa grafted on Trichocereus stock

Unfortunately the plant was maimed by spider mites last year. I didn't check my plants for mites before leaving them unattended for several weeks during my summer holiday. When I returned the damage was done and much of the plant ended up severely scarred.


Spider mite damage with new growth

Fortunately the spider mites stayed off most of my other plants, and the scarred epidermis of the grafted Lophophora williamsii v. caespitosa will soon be replaced by new growth.

To avoid spider mites I'm now showering my plants as often as the weather and my patience permit ;-) Any remaining mites are sprayed with isopropyl alcohol on sight. So far this treatment has kept my plants safe from mites, but the big test will be the coming hot summer months where the plants are left on their own to a great extent.


Lophophora caespitosa scarred by spider mites

As always I’m fascinated with the explosive growth induced by the Trichocereus stock – for comparison you can check the posts on the same plant one, two, and three years ago.

Munching on alphonso mangoes in Mumbai

This is very much off-topic, I know, but I’m just home from Mumbai (Bombay), India and have to share this ;-) I visited Mumbai for two weeks, just before the monsoon set in. As it turned out this period coincided with the last part of the alphonso mango season. I had never tasted alphonso mangoes before, but their warm, deep orange-yellow color (almost like an egg yolk), the smooth, firm texture of the fruit flesh (not fibrous at all, reminiscent of an almost ripe avocado), and their sweet, mild, mild, mild bergamot-like taste immediately won me over. I ate alphonso mangoes whenever I could find them and even brought home a dozen ;-)


A box of alphonso mangoes


Alphonso mangoes surrounded by straw


Alphonso mangoes close-up


Alphonso mango ready to eat