Thursday, September 26, 2013

The Start of a Pencil Cactus

me: "Knock-knock"
you: "Who's there?"
me: "Pencil"
you: "Pencil who?"
me: "Pencil fall down if you don't wear a belt."
 
My Grandma Bessie had such a green thumb. She was forever "taking starts" off of plants, rooting them and planting them in containers and getting them to grow like crazy. I remember her having coffee cans tucked here and there in her flower beds filled with Wondering Jew and also pencil cactus.
 
 
The place where Carrie and I go for pedicures has great big potted plants all along the front sidewalk and they are overflowing with pencil cactus. I think of my grandma every time we go there, and each time I mention that I'd like to find a pencil cactus plant to grow on my own. I check my local nurseries from time to time, but have yet to find one to purchase.
 
 
Well, about a month ago we were there and in a spur-of-the-moment decision I decided to take a few little pieces of the pencil cactus to see if I could start my own. I'm a little embarrassed to admit this on my blog - I hope it won't sound like I was stealing something. I promise that the huge, gigantic pencil cactus was in no way harmed by my slight pruning. {I've tried to justified this in my mind and I'm still not 100% convinced that this was the "right thing to do"...}


But at any rate! I am happy to report that my little starts have taken root and are happily growing along side the ice plant in my turtle planter. I have visions of this growing into a huge cactus that will eventually need to be transplanted to another container. I know Grandma Bessie would have made it happen! Maybe she'll send me some good gardening vibes from heaven - assuming that she approves of how these starts came to be mine.

9 comments:

debs14 said...

I think she'd approve! The plant clearly needed pruning if it were that large, you were doing the owners a favour ;-)

Ruth said...

Go with taking a snip or two; my grandmother took cuttings from the gardens at the Queen's home at Sandringham!

Irene said...

My neighbor says plants grow better if they're stolen (oops)I mean borrowed. LOL Don't worry I won't report you to the Cactus Police.

Susi said...

Looks to me that you've inherited her green thumb. Your cactus looks great!

Karen said...

I've never heard of nor seen a pencil cactus before! I'm quite sure no one will miss the small bit you took to start your own.

Margaret said...

You are just helping all of us breathe a little better. you did nothing wrong.

helena said...

my aunt had the same magic ability to grow a new plant from a cutting - they look lovely in the turtle

Miriam said...

Gosh, I haven't heard the phrase 'taking starts' for years! thank you for a smile this morning.

Jo said...

I think she would approve and I don't think you should be guilty. I would love it if someone wanted to take a cutting from something in my garden to grow in their own x

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