I brought my cacti in to hibernate the other day as we have had fairly severe frost as early as September 15th in my recent memory here and it has been getting chilly here lately. They put on some good growth this year as I had transplanted most of them into much bigger pots and they appreciated it. They seemed very disgruntled to be brought in and left in the dark. I found myself talking to them and fondling them between their spines and trying to comfort them. They did not bite me at all, and I felt like they heard my positive intent. Suddenly I became concerned for the other plants that were brought in with them. Quite a few weeds had sprung up in their pots and I had neglected to remove them. I felt guilt that they will die as I let my cacti go into hibernation and go dry. I felt like they had concern for their companions, but I really don't know how to keep them and the weeds alive and thriving at the same time. Priorities matter here I reckon and my cactus are very high on my priority list.
They need to hibernate in order not to etoliate and get too tall in the winter. In order to do that they need to go dry. I have genuine empathy for their weed companions but I feel the lives and spirits of my cacti are more important, but maybe only to me...
Am I the only one who is put to this level of discomfort by their empathic feelings? I am truly bummed over it all, but I know how it goes trying to keep them under lights and stuff, it rarely works well through the winters. Just some thoughts I have to deal with my friends lol These cactus have been with me for a long time now, especially 4-5 of them that are almost chest tall and thick and healthy.
Much love ya'll