Cacti@purlins

THE HISTORY OF MY COLLECTION

My name is Philip Andrews, I live in the South East of England and have been collecting Cacti since 1961 and now have approximately 400 plants in my collection. I 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.

My very first plant was purchased when I was six years old and it cost me 2s-6d (12.5p). The plant was 'Ferocactus wislizenii' it was in a 50mm pot and the size of a golf ball. Forty two years on the plant is in a 375mm pot and the size of a football. It is still growing well.

The collection is housed in an aluminium greenhouse measuring approx. 2.8x4.5m. 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.