An Explosion of Cactus Blooms!

 

Flying Saucer Cactus

This morning I woke up to see an explosion of blooms on my Flying Saucer Cactus!  Each bloom is over 8 inches in diameter and they are very fragrant.  Below is a picture from the day before, when it only had one bloom.  

Flying Saucer Cactus

Here are some other cactus that are currently blooming.

mammillaria gracilis fragilis (thimble cactus)

matucana madisoniorum

Gymnocalycium Bruschii

Lobivia arachnacantha v. torrecillacensisi

The Flying Saucer Is Back!

Flying Saucer Cactus

     The Flying Saucer Cactus has produced it's first bloom for 2025.  This is 6 weeks earlier than last year.

Flying Saucer Cactus

     With more bloom buds on the cactus, this should be a good year for blooms!

September Cactus Blooms!

 This is one of my favorite cactus and I have had it for a long time, at least 15 years and possibly many more.  It bloomed again a few days ago.  I think this is the third time it has bloomed this year and it is every bit electrifying in person.

Rebutia Cactus

The Flying Saucer Cactus bloomed earlier in September, It normally blooms in May and early June.  

Flying Saucer Cactus

This gives you an idea of the size of this flying cactus bloom.

The next day it was 105° and the bloom didn't like the heat!  I didn't  like the heat either!

Timelapse Attempt!

A bud on a Flying Saucer Cactus

   I was watching this bud grow bigger and bigger on my Flying Saucer Cactus and I sensed it was going to open the evening of June 4th.  I set up a timelapse camera, hoping to capture the opening of the bloom and make a short video.  We've all seen those videos and they are pretty cool.  I was hoping that it would be fully open before it got too dark for a picture.

   The timelapse camera was set to take a picture every 10 seconds, and here are the "highlights".

As you can see, the big opening took place when it was too dark for a picture.

Flying Saucer Cactus

It wasn't worth making a video, but it's still an incredible bloom.

Flying Saucer Cactus

In this last photo you can see what's left of the two blooms from my June 1st post.  The blooms only last a few days and longer if we don't get drippy fog!  

Flying Saucer Cactus with friends

A Different View of The Flying saucer!

 I'll admit it, I'm mesmerized by this cactus.  I thought this was an interesting look at the backside of the blooms.  The blooms look like they are glowing.

Flying Saucer Cactus

Flying Saucer Cactus

There is a new bloom coming out on one of the smaller stems.

Flying Saucer Cactus

Two More Flying Saucers!

 Two new blooms opened overnight on my Flying Saucer cactus.

Flying Saucer Cactus

Flying Saucer Cactus

Mike gave this cactus to me last year for my birthday.  It's one of my favorites and it's certainly the showiest cactus in my collection!  In this last picture you can really see the droplets from the morning fog.

Flying Saucer Cactus

Flying Saucer Cactus

 A few days ago the Flying Saucer Cactus started growing a large bud.  

Flying Saucer Cactus

Then three days later, just after sunset it started to bloom.  It continued opening through the night.  These next two pictures were taken at 7:30 pm.

Flying Saucer Cactus

Flying Saucer Cactus

The next three pictures were taken at 10:30 pm.

Flying Saucer Cactus

Flying Saucer Cactus

Flying Saucer Cactus

By sunrise the bloom was 9 1/2 inches in diameter.

Flying Saucer Cactus

Flying Saucer Cactus

The Flying Saucer has landed!

 We were at a local plant nursery and saw this incredible 'Flying Saucer Cactus'.  It was beginning to bloom and looked stunning.  I hinted to Mike, 'You know, someone has a birthday coming up!'.  We've said it plenty of times to each other, but this time it worked!  So I got an early birthday present.  

Flying Saucer Cactus

The one open bloom got a bit roughed up on the drive home, but there were a lot of buds still on the cactus.  I wasn't sure were to put it, so I left it by the front door so I could keep an eye on it, and I'm sure glad I did.  

Flying Saucer Cactus

Flying Saucer Cactus

After sunset the blooms started opening up and by the next morning it was an impressive show!

Flying Saucer Cactus