Which Cacti?

Question

I have had a plant pot with 3 types of cacti for about 2 years now and would really like to know what they are.

I have posted some pictures here: http://weblog.xanga.com/yahooanswerspicture/632107019/cacti.html

I would really like to know there botanical name but a common name would also be good.

One is tall and covered in long white (non sticky) hairs. Another is wide and has heaps of little 'bulb things' with 4 white spikes coming out like a star with several longer ones from the top of the plant. The 3rd is tall has 3 thin 'panels' arranged like a star for a steam and a large round red 'ball' with small spikes around the edge.

Answer 1

Those are a super common mix, although unfortunately, the only one I could identify definitively is the one that is really hairy! That one is called an "old man cactus" which is a pretty good name for it I think :).

The pink cactus is a genetic mutant! It has no chlorophyll, meaning it cannot produce its own food, so that is why it is grafted onto the other cactus. The pink pigment is the pigment that is there normally, only the chlorophyll usually covers it up! Neat!

Anywho, I'd suggest (if you don't get any good answers here) taking it to a real nursery (not home depot or the like) and seeing if you could get an ID there. You need to become friendly with some botanists too hehe.

Good luck!

Answer 2

The hairy one is an old man cactus or Cephalocereus senilis -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cephalocereus_senilis

The red one is grafted the red part has been grafted on to the green base,it doesn't grow that way naturally,it is sometimes know as a moon cactus- http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Cactaceae/Gymnocalycium_Hibotan.html

I am not sure about the last one.