CACTUS QUEST! Inside the greenhouse housing the UK's biggest collection of ariocarpus & aztekium

In this episode, I take a look around the greenhouse of David, the UK's foremost grower of slow-growing Mexican cacti such as #ariocarpus, #aztekium and #geohintonia. David has been collecting cacti for 72 years and growing from seed for 60. I already own a few of his plants as do thousands of growers across the UK and EU.
His personal collection truly breathtaking - almost certainly the biggest in the country.
#アズテキウム #아즈테키움 #แอซเทเคียม #アリオカルプス #อาริโอคาร์ปัส
SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:
🤝 Become a channel member: www.youtube.co...
😊 Donate via PayPal: www.paypal.com...
☕ Buy me a coffee ko-fi.com/grea...
RECOMMENDED READING
📕 The Jungle Garden (Philip Oostenbrink) amzn.to/3Pa6lXM
📕 Fearless Gardening (Loree Bohl) amzn.to/3Y7C6oI
📕 A Beautiful Obsession (Jimi Blake) amzn.to/3Pc285R
📕 Exotic Planting for Adventurous Gardeners (Christopher Lloyd) amzn.to/3UIKIPo
📕 Xerophile (Cactus Store) amzn.to/3uAvtxo
RECOMMENDED TOOLS:
👨‍🌾 Niwaki Sentei Secateurs amzn.to/3lbIGLZ
👨‍🌾 Niwaki Shuro Brush amzn.to/3Faz4r6
👨‍🌾 Niwaki Hand Hoe amzn.to/3VHZWp8
👨‍🌾 Umi Hori Hori amzn.to/3IgMODH
RECOMMENDED FERTILISER:
🌱 Maxicrop seaweed extract amzn.to/3Z0UVdB
IN THE GREENHOUSE:
👉 Thermawrap bubble foil insulation amzn.to/3JpfAko
👉 Extra large thick bubble wrap amzn.to/3Lu0FIy
👉 Tubular bar heater amzn.to/3yGJFab
👉 Plug-in digital thermostat amzn.to/3JLKDZk
FOLLOW ME ELSEWHERE:
🔗 Instagram: / greatnorthernexotic
🔗 TikT0k: / greatnorternexotic

[@CactusQuest]

Holy shit dude. Insane. Those Strombocactus are next level. Sick video brotha.

[@greatnorthernexotic]

Thanks man - you inspired me to get out there and see people's collections! 🤝

[@CactusQuest]

That’s awesome. Glad to hear it. Video is great keep it up bro.

[@sammurphy6212]

This has to be one of the most amazing collections of ariocarpus and aztekium I have ever seen.

[@arvinrichman3925]

woaah...Those very old aztekium, strombocactus and ariocarpus...its like forever to grown those species and all are seed grown!!

[@greatnorthernexotic]

UPDATE: As of February 2024, David has now ceased selling his seed-grown cacti after many decades. 😭

[@zhaezz84]

Wow what an amazing piece of lifework, i love it!

[@greatnorthernexotic]

Absolutely! David is an total legend.

[@cameronburnett8191]

My gosh. Aztekium that size from seed. Can’t imagine.

[@greatnorthernexotic]

Crazy to see the results for over half a century of dedicated growing in person!

[@mcactus6210]

Goergeus plants!

[@flowerandcactus]

Wow, amazing collection.

[@DFJA01]

Wow, what an amazing collection, and thanks for the video. I started collection cacti and growing some from seed 18 months ago, but I don't yet have any of these species. I don't suppose I'll live long enough to see any this old!

[@greatnorthernexotic]

My experiments with growing cacti from seed have so far been less than successful! I've been lucky to pick up a few older plants from collections being sold off after older growers pass away. I think this is the best strategy for enjoying older plants - I see myself as the current custodian and I in turn will pass them on when the time comes. 😄

[@desertplantsofavalon]

WOW is this David Quail's collection ? I have bought quite a few cacti including most of my Ariocarpus from David Quail many many years ago, over 25 years ago now and they are still going strong for me today, David has an incredible collection and I absolutely LOVE your channel, your videos are AWESOME, thanks so much for sharing David's stunning collection tour with us, and your new Aztekium is BEAUTIFUL, sending you lots of love and happiness and PLANT POWER for a super Sunday today XXXX

[@greatnorthernexotic]

Thanks for the kind words! Yes this is David's collection, it was an honour to see it in person. He told me he was considering selling up in the near future so I'm so glad to see it and capture it on video.

[@kinwanmarwat]

congrats on the new purchase 😍

[@greatnorthernexotic]

Thank you!! 😊

[@vincenzecalzone8666]

Amazing collection. I know nothing about cacti but the range is incredible

[@greatnorthernexotic]

Yeah these are definitely marmite plants but the dedication and longevity the grower is incredible whatever your tastes and interests 😄

[@scotty2hotty8311]

Not my thing but wow what a collection 😯🌵😎

[@greatnorthernexotic]

Yeah they're definitely not for everyone, an acquired taste, but 60 years of dedication and countless plants spread across the world directly from one man. Incredible.

[@scotty2hotty8311]

@@greatnorthernexotic yep inspirational

[@thevendingmachine2740]

I’d guess 50 years for the aztekium. How much was it?

[@greatnorthernexotic]

Yeah no doubt - these things are so slow growing by all accounts. It cost me £30!

[@Margaret-hr3si]

Just going ask the same question .looking for hardy ones

[@greatnorthernexotic]

He's at aristocacti.co.uk though nothing on there is hardy in the UK. He said his greenhouse gets down to -2⁰C in winter but everything is dry and frost free.

[@cameronburnett8191]

Is he battling fungus? See a lot of plants looking sick- I know the uk is a humid place

[@greatnorthernexotic]

Not specifically fungus but he did say that he'd had problems with nitrogen deficiency which has resulted in the brown marks on all his aztekiums. Fungus isn't a massive problem here with the right airflow and temperatures in greenhouses. Biggest pest for growers seems to be red spider mite.

[@thomasglencross7035]

Hi what's the name of David's website where he sells?

[@greatnorthernexotic]

Aristocacti.co.uk

[@thomasglencross7035]

@@greatnorthernexotic thankyou, great videos btw!

[@greatnorthernexotic]

​@@thomasglencross7035thanks mate, I appreciate that! 😊