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Ben Stupples

@bledlow_ridge_cactus

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Cactus collector in Buckinghamshire, UK. Slightly obsessed with all things spiky. Large collection of Rebutia, Sulcorebutia and Aylostera 🌵💚😎

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So the new 'Echinopsis House' is pretty much full to bursting with my original collection of Echinopsis, Echinocereus and Echinocactus, plus around 2/3 of the new collection....

Everything else is now safely housed in the old greenhouse, other than a load of Echinopsis and Epiphyllum which I'll need to find a new home for.

Phew, what a mission. That was the fun bit, now the real work begins with a race against time to re-pot as much as possible before the winter comes....

Happy days 💚🌵😎

#cactus #cactuscollection #bcss #cactuslovers❤️ #echinopsis by @bledlow_ridge_cactus

Been working on the new greenhouse today, fitting new shelving, sealing windows and installing electrics and heating.

All sorted amd ready.......but for what?!?!

Exciting news coming soon, watch this space....

🌵💚🌵💚🌵

#cactuscollection #cactus #bcss #cactuslovers❤️ #cactusuk by @bledlow_ridge_cactus

If you can spare 2 minutes......

Welcome to my Happy Place 🙂🌵💚

#cactuscollection #cactuslover #cactus #cactusuk #bcss by @bledlow_ridge_cactus

This week I've been adding yellow tips to the plant labels of any Rebutia which I've not yet seen flower.

This could be because they didn't flower this year, or because I added them to the collection after they had flowered.

The idea is that I'll be able to quickly zone in on these plants in Spring and hopefully see buds appear. Another classic example of finding things to do in the greenhouse when not much else is happening 🫣😄

#cactus
#cactuscollection
#cactuscollector
#bcss
#rebutia by @bledlow_ridge_cactus

Ferocactus stainesii (Mexican Fire Barrel) has been in my collection for just over a year now, and it's really grown some in that time.

Spotted by @kmchutch in a garden centre in Beaconsfield on 31/07/25. Went next day and paid just £5 as it was completely loose and had fallen over in it's pot (pic 2)

Potted up and found a good home (pics 3 &4) and have since repotted again.

Now has an extra 2cm of height and width and seems super happy 💚🌵😎

#ferocactus
#cactuscollector
#cactuscollection
#cactus
#bcss by @bledlow_ridge_cactus

I spy with my little eye...
Something beginning with B.

Surely not!?!?

Rebutia muscula just refuses to lie down 💚🌵❤️

#cactus
#cactuscollection
#bcss
#cactuscollector
#rebutia by @bledlow_ridge_cactus

So I've always had this one labelled as Euphorbia antiquorum (Antique Spurge) rather that Euphorbia ingens which you see more frequently.

I'm now thinking it's Euphorbia abyssinica (Desert Candle) due to the knobbly offshoots....

Anyone else have one similar and can confirm ID?

@desertplantsofavalon I saw something similar in your collection yesterday Lyn, what do you think?

#euphoria
#cactus
#succulents
#cactuscollection
#bcss by @bledlow_ridge_cactus

Starting my 'Winter Admin' by updating The Cactus Album.

Does anyone else use this software for categorising their plants? It's so EPIC!

Categorise each of your plants by genus and species..... (click pics for more info)

Check your stats!

Update event logs to show when each plant buds and flowers.

Keep detailed stats of each plant.

Log special events.

Group subspecies and variants.

Show stats on when each plant was acquired.

Keep detailed pictures of each plant.

Label images.

Import stats from spreadsheet.

I've used this for around 18 months and can't recommend it highly enough. Great way to spend the dormant winter months.

Search up Cactus Album Andrew Nicolle.

Have fun 😎💚🌵

#cactus
#cactuscollection
#cactuscollector
#cactuslovers❤️
#bcss by @bledlow_ridge_cactus

Still waiting......

Disocactus (Epiphyllum) anguliger

#cactuscollector
#cactuscollection
#cactus
#epiphyllum
#bcss by @bledlow_ridge_cactus

Shout out to @chris_has_cactus for shining the spotlight on this rare and endangered species.

Wilcoxia schmollii
Lamb's Tail Cactus native to Mexico

Now lumped in with Echinocereus but I prefer the old classification.

Estimated to be less than 250 plants in the wild mostly due to habitat destruction, so I will be taking extra care of this special little lady.

If you have the space please let them trail, it's what they love to do naturally.

#echinocereus
#cactus
#cactuscollection
#cactuscollector
#bcss by @bledlow_ridge_cactus

Three fabulous new plants to clean up and repot today....

Rebutia fiebrigii var. albipilosa
Sulcorebutia santiaginiensis
Lobivia arachnacantha

All courtesy of Al_Laius who has looked after them well. Thanks Al, looking good in their new home 🌵💚😎

#rebutia
#lobivia
#sulcorebutia
#cactuscollection
#bcss by @bledlow_ridge_cactus

Just when I thought we were done with blooms in the greenhouse, up she pops with FOUR amazing buds!!

Epiphyllum (Disocactus) anguliger
Fishbone Cactus native to Mexican Tropics

Her massive flowers are nocturnal with creamy-white inner petals with yellowish-orange outer sepals and a strong, sweet scent...

More pics when she blooms 😎🌵💚

#disocactus
#epiphyllum
#cactuscollection
#cactus
#bcss by @bledlow_ridge_cactus