Ralf's cold hardy cacti - season 2015

[Ralf]

After I build up the rain shelter in October the plants do their usual things.
They begin to shrivel for the coming winter. Last night we got our first snow and the temps sunk down to 19F.
The pics are taken in mid November.

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[Jens]

That is a really beautiful outdoor garden! Especiallly the grasses add to the nice and natural overall composition. Do you know which grass species they are, Ralf?

[Ralf]

Thanks, Jens.

The grass is Festuca glauca (Blauschingel). The thoughts behind was that it looks more natural grown and more like a habitat location.
There are also some dead wooden parts of some Opuntia and Cylindropuntia. Just so like it is in their habitat.

[Jens]

Thanks Ralf, It really looks fantastic. Maybe I should get some Festuca glauca (Blauschingel) from a garden center next spring and throw some more pieces of dead wood on my mini outdoor growing area...

[Peterthecactusguy]

Ralf as always your plants look great

[Arjen]

indeed, once again very beautiful, and ready for winter!

[Ralf]

Thanks again folks!

[Joel143]

Ralf...spectacular garden...may I ask what did you do to ammend the soil and how high did you raise the bed? How long have you had your outdoor garden and do you plan to expand? Sorry am looking at making a raised bed myself.

[Ralf]

Joel, the soil which I used is a bought one. It is a special soil for cold hardy cacti and is offered by a cactus nursery.
Really important for that kind of soil is that it is very porous and permeable to water. A addition of coarse gravel and similar material is highly recommanded.
The shown flowerbed is on the south side about 1 ft and on the north side about 2 1/2 ft high. I've built it in 2009. Before that I have had a flowerbed on another location in the yard. I've moved all plants except 2 Yucca glauca to the new location.
For the next time isn't any expansion planned.

You'll find a step by step construction manual on my website.
http://www.kakteensammlung-holzheu.de/w ... itung.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
For my excuse it's only in German available at this moment.

[Peterthecactusguy]

Ralf cool. My plants that shrivel were, when we got cold weather. A few perked up after some winter rain, and warm weather, however a lot are still droopy. So yes, even here in AZ plants shrivel a little bit from time to time

[Ralf]

To keep in move this thread, some impressions of the season 2013.
The flowering season is nearly finished, so let me show what's happened this year.
I got less flowers as usual, because of the cold and wet spring this year. But I'm happy about every single flower what I get.

Start with some buds and flowers from early spring.

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BTW the potted plants are in a unheated cold frame the whole year around.

[gemhunter178]

Very nice buds, flowers and plants! Pretty cool to know that they are all cold tolerant too!

[Ralf]

Thanks gem! Yes they are and it's every year fantastic to see what happens after the long cold winter.

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[Ralf]

Some more.

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[gemhunter178]

Very nice flowers!