Hardy Cacti

Other plants we have or landscape elements like ponds.

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ocimum_nate
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Hardy Cacti

Post by ocimum_nate »

I don't remember who it was but I thoght that there was someone who was interested in hardy cacti. I have collected some seed and if anyone is interested let me know.
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Thuja
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Location: Wisconsin, USA zone 4b;
1951: -37*F;
1996: -29*F;
2005: -10*F;
2006: -17*F;
2007: -17*F.

RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by Thuja »

I'm experimenting with some.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/ ... tiDec2.jpg" border="0" alt="1st and hopefully not last winter for these cacti">
I planted them early in the spring and this is their 1st winter, except for the Prickly Pears which have been growing for a couple of years.

I hope at least some of them survive. I decided I wouldn't try covering them at all this winter and just wait and see whether anything can make it thru winter. They are growing in a big pile of pure pea gravel. I'm hoping the extra drainage makes a difference.

I also am growing some others from seed this winter but would like to try some more if you have spare or no one else chimes in. Thanks either way!
--Mike
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Iowaboo
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RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by Iowaboo »

also am growing some others from seed this winter but would like to try some more if you have spare or no one else chimes in. Thanks either way!
Well, here I am chiming in!!!!!! I remember prickly pear on the side of the house a decade ago, but brome kills all hostages.
Is there a tall cacti for zone 5? I would mind something that stood tall and proud.

I remember my mom had houseplant cacti, but they died because they weren't watered enough. But there was one with tiny pricks and one with sharp needles that were inch or more long. That one scared me. Looked so dangerous. But then I fell into the one with little thorns. My hand was covered in the little things and a tweezer had a hard time getting them out. At that moment, I would have rather been stabbed with the cacti with long thorns. Logic to this story. Get stabbed by both before judging.
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ocimum_nate
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RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by ocimum_nate »

There was someone when I lived in Payson about 30 minutes south of where I am now who had a cholla cacti on the south side of his house that was supported and it was at least 7 feet tall. I do have some Joshua tree seeds and I have seen some specimens of those over 10 feet even in northern Utah. Anyhow just pm me if you are interested and what you have to offer. The yellow flowered cholla in the picture was about 3 feet tall. I found someone who had them growing in Riverton UT about 20 minutes north of me.
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Iowaboo
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RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by Iowaboo »

I'm pretty sure any cacti would die under my care, but I'll watch the cacti adventures outside, looking in. Anything that grows slow has not a chance. that's why I chose bamboo, because it is my destiny.
I remember mellinger's was the first catalog I saw bamboo listed in. Zone 5!!! are you kidding me. The caption read 'makes unintended growth quickly.
My brother and I just smiled. And I have never been the same since.
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CadyG
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Zone 6b


Like Kyuzo (pictured above) in "The Seven Samurai," I've "...Killed (more than) two..." bamboos.

RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by CadyG »

I have Opuntia humifosa, a prickly pear that is native here in Massachusetts and some other New England states. It's hardy to zone 5, but it "deflates" in the winter and looks ratty until the temperatures are consistently above freezing the following spring.

Easy to propagate. You just stick pieces of it in moist sandy soil and it roots wherever it's touching the ground. Watch out for the glochids though (tiny prickers). Pure evil.
Cady G.
"Killed two..." -- Seiji Miyaguchi/Kyuzo
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Iowaboo
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RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by Iowaboo »

I always stayed away from the prickly pear by the house. Kids are scared of them. Just imagine if they fall into them while playing. Instead, I played in a mud puddle that was filled with water from the gutters. My mom always screamed at me to quit playing with my action figures in the mud puddle. I really didn't know why. I guess the green water was a special treat the geese stirred up. :twisted:
Thuja
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Location: Wisconsin, USA zone 4b;
1951: -37*F;
1996: -29*F;
2005: -10*F;
2006: -17*F;
2007: -17*F.

RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by Thuja »

I agree the Opuntia glochids are pure evil. I have an Opuntia fragilis that has the fascinating habit of falling apart into pieces which then roll around in the wind to propagate themselves. My daughter stepped on a big piece of it and pulling the thorns out was a harrowing feat. [pun] I've since dug the plant up and put it into a pot. (I couldn't bare to kill the cactus for it knew not what it had done. :roll: ) I have another strain of Opuntia fragilis that so far stays in one piece. I'll have to keep my eye on it tho just in case it makes a run for it.

Interesting thing is that my kids still like to walk around the cactus garden barefoot, jumping from rock to rock. The thrill of the possibility of falling into the thorns is just too much to resist.
--Mike
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Thuja
Posts: 959
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 1:34 pm
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Location: Wisconsin, USA zone 4b;
1951: -37*F;
1996: -29*F;
2005: -10*F;
2006: -17*F;
2007: -17*F.

RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by Thuja »

Speaking of thorns, check out this Echinocerus coccineus:
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/ ... cineus.jpg" border="0" alt="Echinocerus_coccineus">
Nate, I'll give you a ring once I figure out what I have to trade that you might like. Thanks!
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JakeK
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RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by JakeK »

Hey Thuja,

Where did you buy the hardy cacti from? Cacti, especially the hardy agaves are something I am just getting interested in.
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Jeff: Igor's Apprentice
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RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by Jeff: Igor's Apprentice »

PDN is a good source for the hardier agaves.

Thuja, is that a chameleon in your cactus garden? You must do a good job out of making the most of your Wisconsin environment.
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Iowaboo
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RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by Iowaboo »

Thuja, is that a chameleon in your cactus garden
I saw that and wonder why it wasn't white?
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RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by JakeK »

PDN does have a good variety, but man they are pricey for what you get. Better off growing your own from seed.
Thuja
Posts: 959
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 1:34 pm
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Location: Wisconsin, USA zone 4b;
1951: -37*F;
1996: -29*F;
2005: -10*F;
2006: -17*F;
2007: -17*F.

Re: RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by Thuja »

Iowaboo wrote:
Thuja, is that a chameleon in your cactus garden
I saw that and wonder why it wasn't white?
Yes, that is my son's plastic chameleon. He puts other animals in there too. Actually he is the reason I started the rock garden because he likes cacti and lizards so much.

Jake, I got the cacti and seeds from Mesa Garden: http://www.mesagarden.com/. They have an incredible selection of species and strains.
--Mike
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Thuja
Posts: 959
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 1:34 pm
Location info: 0
Location: Wisconsin, USA zone 4b;
1951: -37*F;
1996: -29*F;
2005: -10*F;
2006: -17*F;
2007: -17*F.

Re: RE: Hardy Cacti

Post by Thuja »

JakeK wrote:Hey Thuja,

Where did you buy the hardy cacti from? Cacti, especially the hardy agaves are something I am just getting interested in.
Forgot to mention http://www.mesagarden.com/ has very reasonable prices too.
--Mike
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