Northants News 17.2 Summer 2006

How it all started

Philip Andrews

The Ed was surfing the cactus websites (what a fine way of wasting time) and came across Phil’s superb site featuring the little gems - Turbinicarpus, in particular. Somewhat cheekily I asked if he would help with an article for Northants News … Phil was delighted to add another chapter to the ‘How I started’ saga for us. Read on...

Phil in his greenhouse with his original cactus, a monster Ferocactus herrerae.

Please let me introduce myself, my name is Philip Andrews, I live in the South East of England and have been collecting Cacti since 1961.

Cactus collecting started for me when I was six years old with my very first plant purchased from Folkestone Woolworth costing me 2s-6d (12½p) - the plant was Ferocactus herrerae. It was in a 50mm pot and the size of a golf ball. Forty five years on the plant is in a 375mm pot and the size of a football. It is still growing well.

As a youngster my plants were kept on south facing windowsills in the house. After a few years my father bought a small 6'x8' greenhouse hoping to grow tomatoes. I was allowed to share this for my cacti. Eventually my collection increased to such an extent that the tomatoes were being edged out. Father eventually relented and bought a second greenhouse for his tomatoes and allowed me to keep the original for my own collection. I was about 12 years old at this time.

With more space I could increase my collection and started to specialise in particular species that appealed to me. Up until this time I had collected both Cacti and Succulents I would now concentrate on Cacti alone.

As a youngster I would visit local florists; garden centres did not exist in those days, I would carefully examine the latest group of cacti on offer before making my purchase. I was known and remembered by the sales assistants because I was probably one of only a few of their child customers. Children I suppose aren't usually interested in flowers.

I joined the 'Cactus & Succulent Society of Great Britain' in 1969, and with this newly found source of information and contacts my interest and knowledge rapidly increased.

The biggest change was the discovery of specialist cactus nurseries who supplied plants by mail order. This allowed me to obtain the more difficult and rare species not found locally. I remember going on holiday, during the school summer holidays and staying with my Aunt and Uncle in Crowborough, Sussex. A good deal of my time and all of my pocket money was devoted to the local florists and I would always return home with new plants.

In my early twenties I married and moved into my own home with a garden. The first two weeks of married life was spent erecting my own greenhouse and transporting the collection into their new home. This greenhouse lasted 27 years (with one extension added). I treated myself to a new larger greenhouse in 2002 which is quickly filling up.

A lot of my spare time in the early days and indeed now was devoted to my interest. As the collection increased in number and grew in size there was more to do in caring for them i.e. watering, re-potting, checking for pests and diseases, and cleaning / weeding the greenhouse. Now with my larger collection watering takes about one hour to complete and re-potting is an ongoing process throughout the growing period but concentrated around spring and autumn.

I have been an enthusiastic collector for over 40 years and my interest in cacti is as keen as it ever was. Today I have more than 500 plants in my collection and have a particular interest in the Mexican miniatures such as Turbinicarpus, Ariocarpus, Aztekium, Astrophytum etc., ideal as they are small and slow growing and will not fill up the greenhouse. The collection is housed in an aluminium greenhouse measuring approx. 2.8 x 4.5m. The plants are supported on a single level of timber slatted staging positioned to give maximum light to those plants requiring it and some shade to others.

Here are two of the Turbinicarpus pictures that took the Ed’s eye at Phil’s website. Above: An immaculate 45 year old Turbinicarpus valdeziana. Below: A superb T. schmiedickeanus ssp. flaviflorus.

My particular passion however are Turbinicarpus, these are generally small and slow growing and often difficult to keep, which is their main attraction to me. I now have over 100 specimens, some over 40 years old which include all those as listed by E. F. Anderson in ‘The Cactus Family’ publication.

Phil

Ed. Thanks Phil for bringing us your life history, (well the important part!). It is always interesting for the beginners in Middle England to see how the really experienced growers started and we would all benefit from a peep at your website, www.cactusplant.co.uk. There are certainly some fine plants there and some useful cultural guidelines.