The hardiest cactus
The hardiest cactus
Hi all,
If you were to recommend one cactus that you could rely on to survive outside in a cold snap like the one we've just had - provided it was kept dry under my rain canopy and in well-drained soil - what would that be?
Col
If you were to recommend one cactus that you could rely on to survive outside in a cold snap like the one we've just had - provided it was kept dry under my rain canopy and in well-drained soil - what would that be?
Col
Re: The hardiest cactus
Well after this Winter we should have a much better idea of what will survive
I've got quite a few planted out but this is the coldest Winter they have had to cope with
Keep a eye out for the results of ChrisG's hardy trials in the Spring
Melissa
I've got quite a few planted out but this is the coldest Winter they have had to cope with
Keep a eye out for the results of ChrisG's hardy trials in the Spring
Melissa
Re: The hardiest cactus
I'll be interested to see suggestions for hardier Cactii. I've been told Trichocereus chilensis and Pasacana are pretty good down to -10 in a free drained soil.
Re: The hardiest cactus
Don we have the T. pasacana and T. terscheckii along with Oreocereus celsianus out on the bank, waiting to see if they have survived the -6.1 we have just had, plus what ever else the winter puts our way.
They all came through last winter with no problems.
Melissa
They all came through last winter with no problems.
Melissa
Re: The hardiest cactus
Thanks Melissa I suppose they are rabbit proof, unlike E. rosea I'll take a small cutting when next I visit.
Re: The hardiest cactus
They are all a bit to big for the rabbits to tackle, I hopeDon wrote:Thanks Melissa I suppose they are rabbit proof, unlike E. rosea I'll take a small cutting when next I visit.
Melissa
Re: The hardiest cactus
I have a large Trichocereus Candicans (if the lady who grew it from seed 20 years ago was right, they all look the same to me ) I can ad to the list. Unprotected from rain and cold being tested this year in the dry bed.
I've been to a nursery in Germany where they had loads of cacti that could take the cold down to -20C but wet was more of an issue.
I also seem to remember a couple of sites posted here that specifically looked at these, which I can't remember at the moment , sure someone will know.
I've been to a nursery in Germany where they had loads of cacti that could take the cold down to -20C but wet was more of an issue.
I also seem to remember a couple of sites posted here that specifically looked at these, which I can't remember at the moment , sure someone will know.
Re: The hardiest cactus
I've got an opuntia that came through the 1987 freeze untouched, but I'm assuming your looking for more column types rather than the scrambling opuntias, of which I think quite a few are very hardy and wet tolerant.
Re: The hardiest cactus
Opuntia fragilis would likely do very well. Opuntia humifusa is native to where I live. We average around 44 inches / 112 cm of rain per year. Both can take down to -30C at least. There are so many hardy cacti, its impossible to list here.
Another cactus I have is Opuntia ellisiana. Its no where near as hardy as the two above but the pads stay hard and its spineless.
Another cactus I have is Opuntia ellisiana. Its no where near as hardy as the two above but the pads stay hard and its spineless.
- Dave Brown
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Re: The hardiest cactus
Hi Turtile, I have a tray of Opuntia humifusa from the seed you sent me. They are frozen solid but look fine I'll see if I can get a pic
Best regards
Dave
_________________________________________________
Roll on summer.....
http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk
Dave
_________________________________________________
Roll on summer.....
http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk
Re: The hardiest cactus
Hi Col,
You could try http://www.cactusshop.co.uk/
I've bought a few from him, all good plants, albeit a little on the small side (although they are very cheap). I bought 2 of everything I ordered and they are all in the greenhouse at the moment.
I'm going to try them outdoors this Spring and see how they do.......
You could try http://www.cactusshop.co.uk/
I've bought a few from him, all good plants, albeit a little on the small side (although they are very cheap). I bought 2 of everything I ordered and they are all in the greenhouse at the moment.
I'm going to try them outdoors this Spring and see how they do.......
Re: The hardiest cactus
That's the spirit David, all your spikeys outside fried and already planning for the next offerings to go out
I've virtually left everything out so not much to replace from the greenhouse anymore. I'll take a peep this weekend and check how much new space I have gained over the last cold weeks
I've virtually left everything out so not much to replace from the greenhouse anymore. I'll take a peep this weekend and check how much new space I have gained over the last cold weeks
Re: The hardiest cactus
That's the spirit David, all your spikeys outside fried and already planning for the next offerings to go out
Well in my feeble defence, most of the stuff I planted out last year never really stood a chance, there were only a couple that were borderline at best. Plus I didn't put a rain cover over them, so yes, I am a cold blooded murderer
The next lot of victims to go outside in Spring are GUARANTEED BONE HARDY TO -20c (hmmmm...... we shall soon see about that!!).
- Dave Brown
- Site Admin
- Posts: 19742
- Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:17 am
- Location: Chalk, (Thames Estuary) Kent, England 51.5N 0.3E
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Re: The hardiest cactus
Fletch, is your spikey bed a south facing slope? If so plant your spikies in front of large rocks which will warm up in the sun, giving that extra temp boost in sunny weather. My garden is flat but I have large rocks and Aloe aristarta planted up against them. It is like planting against a south facing wall
Best regards
Dave
_________________________________________________
Roll on summer.....
http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk
Dave
_________________________________________________
Roll on summer.....
http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk
Re: The hardiest cactus
Hi Dave, it is on a South East facing slope, so apart from about 6 weeks in the depths of Winter it gets sun all year. It was an old rockery from the previous owners who had planted lots of "dwarf" conifers in it about 17 years ago, so this is what it looked like when I moved in:
And this is it after clearing the "dwarf" conifers away:
As you can see, it has a few rocks already, which I re-arranged. I kept that conifer at the back as, although ugly, it provides privacy and more importantly, overhead protection. My large A. americana variegata gets sunk at it's base every Spring and does really well. I didn't get any photos of the finished article as it was always too wet . The one thing I didn't do was add lots of gravel etc.. to the soil, so I will do that next year when I re-vamp it. It is very well drained though and the conifers takes a lot of moisture out of the soil so it IS the ideal microclimate for it, I just need to find stuff that will bloody grow up here
Sorry Col, I've totally hijacked your thread Dave, if you want me to move this to a seperate thread on how to kill spikies I don't mind.......
And this is it after clearing the "dwarf" conifers away:
As you can see, it has a few rocks already, which I re-arranged. I kept that conifer at the back as, although ugly, it provides privacy and more importantly, overhead protection. My large A. americana variegata gets sunk at it's base every Spring and does really well. I didn't get any photos of the finished article as it was always too wet . The one thing I didn't do was add lots of gravel etc.. to the soil, so I will do that next year when I re-vamp it. It is very well drained though and the conifers takes a lot of moisture out of the soil so it IS the ideal microclimate for it, I just need to find stuff that will bloody grow up here
Sorry Col, I've totally hijacked your thread Dave, if you want me to move this to a seperate thread on how to kill spikies I don't mind.......