I'm located in Tempe AZ(Phoenix) and the CACSS is having their annual Show and Sale March 27-29 and I'm planning on entering plants. There are rules of course but, we can do things to enhance the look of our plants. One video by Cookie's Cacti on YouTube, they actually color in sunburnt areas with markers to hide them. But what I was thinking about is the spines. When you water your cacti, especially the ones with colored spines, the moisture really solidifies that color. That's what I'm going for but don't think it's quite ideal to go and spray the plant when the judges come around 🤣. Anyone have ideas on how to make the spines stay vibrant like they're wet? I was thinking oil, just on the spines, and then cleaning them off as soon at the show is over. But I do know they are CAM plants, so oils are not ideal to put on the skin of the plants. I do have been oil but I was thinking of even using mineral oil, because that's something else they used in the video but it was for the terracotta pots. It got rid of the white residue they sometimes get from the water.
by StatementBusy2457
4 Comments
I foliar feed flower salts in the weeks prior and take whoever flowers
The best trick is to just grow nice plants and pit them in nice pots, stage them, etc. If I were a judge and noticed any fuckery like using marker to color in burnt spots, oiled spines, etc, I would t even consider the plant.
Neem oil, meant to say I have neem oil.
Took a look at past winners for the show and idk if I’d worry about going as far as oiling spines. All of the winners just look robust and healthy, with a good top dressing and a nice pot. I saw scars, yellowed tips, corking, uneven farinas, etc on the winners.