Hardy Cacti
Moderator: needmore
- needmore
- Posts: 5008
- Joined: Sat Oct 01, 2005 9:14 pm
- Location info: 0
- Bamboo Society Membership: ABS - America
- Location: Kea'au, HI
Hardy Cacti
This top pic has the surviving 3 of 8 hardy cacti planted 3 springs ago, they do just fine with the cold but not wet cold in zone 6, I bet Mr. Hollenback can grow them in his area. The bones are to make them think they are still in the high desert. The second photo are prickly pears that are very tough and have beautiful flowers. My Nigra has hidden some of them so I can pull & send a few if desired.
<img src= "http://www.bambooweb.info/images/crafts/cacti2.JPG">
<img src= "http://www.bambooweb.info/images/crafts/prickly.JPG">
<img src= "http://www.bambooweb.info/images/crafts/cacti2.JPG">
<img src= "http://www.bambooweb.info/images/crafts/prickly.JPG">
Brad Salmon, zone 12B Kea'au, HI
http://www.needmorebamboo.com
http://www.needmorebamboo.com
- CadyG
- Posts: 640
- Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2006 8:52 pm
- Location info: 0
- Location: Southern New England
Zone 6b
Like Kyuzo (pictured above) in "The Seven Samurai," I've "...Killed (more than) two..." bamboos.
RE: Hardy Cacti
Nice opuntia you have there, Brad. Mine are still in their post-winter wilt stage, but they'll green up in the next couple weeks. In Mass. we have wild natural stands of it in the areas where glacial drumlins and moraines have left gravely ground with sharp drainage in full sun.
There are a half dozen or more species of cactus besides prickly pear that grow in zones 5-6, and if you have the sun for them, it's a kick to grow them. There is a guy in zone 5 Connecticut who has a half acre of cactus and succulents, 90% he keeps outside year-round - the more frost-tender types are in containers that overwinter in the greenhouse. I saw a writeup on his collection and the photos revealed a remarkable garden.
There are a half dozen or more species of cactus besides prickly pear that grow in zones 5-6, and if you have the sun for them, it's a kick to grow them. There is a guy in zone 5 Connecticut who has a half acre of cactus and succulents, 90% he keeps outside year-round - the more frost-tender types are in containers that overwinter in the greenhouse. I saw a writeup on his collection and the photos revealed a remarkable garden.
Cady G.
"Killed two..." -- Seiji Miyaguchi/Kyuzo
"Killed two..." -- Seiji Miyaguchi/Kyuzo
- Eric Layton
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2005 2:44 pm
- Location info: 0
- Location: Layton, Utah. High Desert Zone 6.
RE: Hardy Cacti
Lance,
There is a grower just up the street from me that grows cold-hardy cacti. He has a picture of a 22-foot tall inflorescence. Is that tall enough for ya!
<img src= "http://www.bennyskaktus.dk/images/other ... ons_02.JPG">
A couple of web sites about Robert Johnson.
http://www.bennyskaktus.dk/Johnson.htm
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600143460,00.html
http://www.walterreeves.com/landscaping ... t=7&id=535
There is a grower just up the street from me that grows cold-hardy cacti. He has a picture of a 22-foot tall inflorescence. Is that tall enough for ya!
<img src= "http://www.bennyskaktus.dk/images/other ... ons_02.JPG">
A couple of web sites about Robert Johnson.
http://www.bennyskaktus.dk/Johnson.htm
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600143460,00.html
http://www.walterreeves.com/landscaping ... t=7&id=535
RE: Hardy Cacti
Wow, that's a crazy pic. REminds me of a bamboo shoot, so tall and thin.
I think most cactus wouldn't be able to handle the cool wet conditions we can have here. Probably why I haven't bought any lizards to mess around with.
Who wouldn't want one of these beauts
http://www.rpzoo.com/animals/tegu.html
Out west, it could look promising, in dry winter locations.
I think most cactus wouldn't be able to handle the cool wet conditions we can have here. Probably why I haven't bought any lizards to mess around with.
Who wouldn't want one of these beauts
http://www.rpzoo.com/animals/tegu.html
Out west, it could look promising, in dry winter locations.
- bambooweb
- Site Admin
- Posts: 1583
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
- Location info: 1
- Bamboo Society Membership: ABS - America
- Location: Zone 5 in WA State
- Contact:
RE: Hardy Cacti
Nice Prickly Pear. I did not know that there were any other cacti that were hardy.
My grandparents had Prickly Pear but they also lived in an area of Washington State that was full of Rattlesnakes and Scorpions so it seemed natural.
I do have a number of Yucca plants that I moved from my Grandparents, but I do not know what happened to their Prickly Pear.
Bill
My grandparents had Prickly Pear but they also lived in an area of Washington State that was full of Rattlesnakes and Scorpions so it seemed natural.
I do have a number of Yucca plants that I moved from my Grandparents, but I do not know what happened to their Prickly Pear.
Bill
- CadyG
- Posts: 640
- Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2006 8:52 pm
- Location info: 0
- Location: Southern New England
Zone 6b
Like Kyuzo (pictured above) in "The Seven Samurai," I've "...Killed (more than) two..." bamboos.
RE: Hardy Cacti
Lance,
Is that a tegu? We used to have 'em at the science museum where I worked. Love those lizards.
Bill,
There are a bunch of cacti that can take sub-0F weather. Check out:
http://www.saunalahti.fi/~cubase/hardycacti.html
Is that a tegu? We used to have 'em at the science museum where I worked. Love those lizards.
Bill,
There are a bunch of cacti that can take sub-0F weather. Check out:
http://www.saunalahti.fi/~cubase/hardycacti.html
Cady G.
"Killed two..." -- Seiji Miyaguchi/Kyuzo
"Killed two..." -- Seiji Miyaguchi/Kyuzo
RE: Hardy Cacti
Yeah, pic of argentine tegu. I would like to have one, but my time/money is alotted to my love of plants.Is that a tegu? We used to have 'em at the science museum where I worked. Love those lizards.
Its interesting what they can eat, also.
agamainternational wrote:Her varied diet was also a surprise to me. I knew that she would eat meat, eggs, bugs, mice and such, but I learned that she also liked fruit, vegetables (cooked and raw), dog or cat food, melted ice cream, and even bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches. There were very few normal people foods that she wouldn't eat.
-
- 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: Hardy Cacti
Here's a pic of my Prickly Pear and newly planted Delosperma (Iceplant) garden.
Don't know if it will last, but it will be good for the summer at least.
Don't know if it will last, but it will be good for the summer at least.
--Mike
RE: Hardy Cacti
I'm guessing a silly rabbit ate the iceplant we had growing here. Nawed to the ground. hmm
Isn't iceplant invasive in locations. I'm guessing, not in the midwest?
Isn't iceplant invasive in locations. I'm guessing, not in the midwest?
-
- 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: Hardy Cacti
That's a good point about rabbits. Two years ago, I planted Dorotheanthus (Livingstone Daisy/Iceplant) and the rabbit ate all those just as they were about to flower. Maybe I need an invisible fence.
--Mike
- foxd
- Posts: 3221
- Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 7:30 pm
- Location info: 21
- Bamboo Society Membership: ABS - America
- Location: Zone 5b/6a Bloomington, INElevation: 770-790 feet
RE: Hardy Cacti
I found a lone surviver of my Sempervivum that I bought at the Dayton Hamfest Fleamarket nearly two years ago. They did well up until late last summer then they started disappearing. I think something decided they were edible.
I have a different one I bought at Lowes last year which I planted on another side of the house in a less sheltered location. So far nothing has started eating it and it seems to like the location a lot.
http://www.succulent-plant.com/sempervivum.html
I have a different one I bought at Lowes last year which I planted on another side of the house in a less sheltered location. So far nothing has started eating it and it seems to like the location a lot.
http://www.succulent-plant.com/sempervivum.html
Southern Indiana.
My Bamboo List.
The legal issues that will arise when the undead walk the earth are legion, and addressing them all is well beyond what could reasonably be accomplished in this brief Essay. Indeed, a complete treatment of the tax issues alone would require several volumes.
My Bamboo List.
The legal issues that will arise when the undead walk the earth are legion, and addressing them all is well beyond what could reasonably be accomplished in this brief Essay. Indeed, a complete treatment of the tax issues alone would require several volumes.
- CadyG
- Posts: 640
- Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2006 8:52 pm
- Location info: 0
- Location: Southern New England
Zone 6b
Like Kyuzo (pictured above) in "The Seven Samurai," I've "...Killed (more than) two..." bamboos.
RE: Hardy Cacti
Mike,
There are opuntia and several other genera with species hardy to -30F. I think you could easily find cacti that will weather your weather, if you provide full sun and sharp drainage. Check out the link I put in my above post for Bill, and you'll see a list of mighty hardy cacti.
There are opuntia and several other genera with species hardy to -30F. I think you could easily find cacti that will weather your weather, if you provide full sun and sharp drainage. Check out the link I put in my above post for Bill, and you'll see a list of mighty hardy cacti.
Cady G.
"Killed two..." -- Seiji Miyaguchi/Kyuzo
"Killed two..." -- Seiji Miyaguchi/Kyuzo
- Jeff: Igor's Apprentice
- Posts: 1196
- Joined: Mon Apr 17, 2006 1:44 am
- Location info: 0
- Location: SW NORTH CAROLINA Zone 7
RE: Hardy Cacti
I'm eager to try my Trichocereus outside which I've seen rated for 7b. They grow about 30' tall and come from mountainous parts of Argentina. Have to work out the drainage and winter humidity thing first though.
- CadyG
- Posts: 640
- Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2006 8:52 pm
- Location info: 0
- Location: Southern New England
Zone 6b
Like Kyuzo (pictured above) in "The Seven Samurai," I've "...Killed (more than) two..." bamboos.
RE: Hardy Cacti
Microclimates are a big boon as well. If you have a sheltered spot next to the house or other building that gets lots of sun, probably you can push for one or even two zones higher than your region's climate zone.
You can create a microclimate by putting stone mulch (gravel, boulders, etc.) in a sunny area. Rock absorbs solar energy and radiates the heat back out at night, keeping the ambient temperatures warmer than would bare soil or organic mulch.
Most hardcore gardeners are in zonal denial. We're always pushing the envelope with plants that are thought to need warmer or cooler climates than what we have.
You can create a microclimate by putting stone mulch (gravel, boulders, etc.) in a sunny area. Rock absorbs solar energy and radiates the heat back out at night, keeping the ambient temperatures warmer than would bare soil or organic mulch.
Most hardcore gardeners are in zonal denial. We're always pushing the envelope with plants that are thought to need warmer or cooler climates than what we have.
Cady G.
"Killed two..." -- Seiji Miyaguchi/Kyuzo
"Killed two..." -- Seiji Miyaguchi/Kyuzo