Rainy season

[Mike A]

Winter is coming, and so is the rain.
Is it dangerous to my cacti? Most of them are right in the garden soil, without any protection.
Will they survive the rain?

[KactusKathi]

They should be just fine as long as the soil is well drained! Cactus so not like standing water and will rot if left too long!

[Mike A]

Well the question is, how much is too long?
It's been 2 days since the rain and everything is still wet. The problem is that my garden barely gets any sun during winter - it's placed north to my house in a way that the shadow covers the entire area.

[templegatejohn]

Hi Mike,
If in doubt get them out. Put them in an environment where you have control of the conditions.

[Mike A]

Kinda hard, when their roots are deep inside

[eduart]

Hi Mike !

As KactusKathi said drainage is essential. It also depends on the species you are growing and minimum & average temperatures in winter in your area. A minimum temperature of 4-5 degrees Celsius (39 – 41 Fahrenheit) during the night and an average daily temperature of 10 degrees Celsius (50 Fahrenheit) shouldn’t be a problem for most species, even in wet conditions, if the soil is well drained. Deadly combination for the roots is wet and cold. The problem is that your cacti do not get enough direct sunshine during the winter.

You can also consider two other options:

- cover the soil around your cacti with plastic sheets to prevent the roots getting too much moisture during the rainy days; or
- put your cacti in pots, place them in a sheltered spot and wait couple of weeks until the soil gets dry and place them indoors, even in a dark place. Early next spring place them outdoors and start gradually watering and adapt them with direct sunlight. After this you can bury the pots direct in the garden soil (to get them easily out next winter). Of course it is impossible to do so with large cacti.

[Mike A]

Well the night minimum is 10, day avg would be 17 I guess.

[Spikylover]

IVE BEEN LOOKING THIS INFO FOREVER! This finally answered what no one has ever answered me!
A minimum temperature of 4-5 degrees Celsius (39 – 41 Fahrenheit) during the night and an average daily temperature of 10 degrees Celsius (50 Fahrenheit) shouldn’t be a problem for most species, even in wet conditions, if the soil is well drained. 

This is all i ever wanted to hear!

[DaveW]

You could erect a temporary roof over them in winter to keep the rain off them. You only need as few wooden or metal posts with a frame at the top which can be permanent if desired, covered with a few polycarbonate sheets, or even polythene sheet which can be removed in the growing season to expose them to rain again as in the links below:-

https://debraleebaldwin.com/caring-for- ... hat-to-do/

https://debraleebaldwin.com/learn/how-r ... ucculents/

http://www.succulentsandmore.com/2011/0 ... ts-at.html

http://www.succseed.com/vinterhardiga-kaktusar.html

http://www.bennyskaktus.dk/construc_UK.htm

http://stewart723.blogspot.co.uk/2013/1 ... rters.html

From the point of drainage, built-up beds higher than the surrounding ground always drain better than beds at the normal ground level particularly if your land has a high water table.

https://worldofsucculents.com/how-to-make-a-cactus-bed/

https://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1600

[ElieEstephane]

Boy this thread is old
Why take such a risk Rachel? Even if the soil is perfectly draining, a minor insect injury or wind bashing spines into nearby cacti or slug damage can all introduce pathogens to the cacti and rot them. Crown rot is also a possibility. Hail will make your cacti unsightly and injure them quite badly. I've had several agave leaves rot radiating from where hail damaged them. In addition, dehydrated cacti resist frost much better.
As Dave said, a simple tent made by plastic sheets will do for winter and can be done under 20$