Quick hardy cactus list
- John P Weiser
- Posts: 1261
- Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:08 pm
- Location: Sparks, NV
Peter
I have two clones of spinosior. They both do well in our normal winters. This year we had an abundance of winter moisture and one of them shed several branches that were frost bitten. They just turned brown at the joint, shriveled up and dropped off. The main trunks showed no sign of damage. All the other Cylindropuntias I grow were in great shape.
I have tried several species hardy to 15F but normally they die the first or second winter.
One Opuntia, I think is a form of O. phaeacantha does fine for a friend of mine but it rots off for me every four or five years. Every time I replant it I change it's soil to a courser and courser mix. One of these days I'll get it right.
I have two clones of spinosior. They both do well in our normal winters. This year we had an abundance of winter moisture and one of them shed several branches that were frost bitten. They just turned brown at the joint, shriveled up and dropped off. The main trunks showed no sign of damage. All the other Cylindropuntias I grow were in great shape.
I have tried several species hardy to 15F but normally they die the first or second winter.
One Opuntia, I think is a form of O. phaeacantha does fine for a friend of mine but it rots off for me every four or five years. Every time I replant it I change it's soil to a courser and courser mix. One of these days I'll get it right.
From the High Desert Steppe
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
- Peterthecactusguy
- Posts: 8862
- Joined: Fri Feb 19, 2010 7:49 am
- Location: Black Canyon City, Arizona
John, eh you will get it right eventually. We have all lost things due to experimentation. I am doing some of that now with some of the easier for me to get cuttings.
I am glad you have some Opuntia and Cylindropuntias that grow where you do.
I am glad you have some Opuntia and Cylindropuntias that grow where you do.
Here's to you, all you insidious creatures of green..er I mean cacti.
- John P Weiser
- Posts: 1261
- Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:08 pm
- Location: Sparks, NV
Dave
I train all my little pets to share. If they get too greedy for space I whack them on the nose.
I built two new beds since you were here. They are more for high alpines since they get either morning or afternoon shade. A few pedios and succulents may creep into the mix don'tcha know. They have a tendence to do that round these parts.
I train all my little pets to share. If they get too greedy for space I whack them on the nose.
I built two new beds since you were here. They are more for high alpines since they get either morning or afternoon shade. A few pedios and succulents may creep into the mix don'tcha know. They have a tendence to do that round these parts.
From the High Desert Steppe
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
I remember you showing me some of the raw materials for the project. Really attractive rock outcropping you made. Will be perfect for alpines. The trick is to see which ones will stay dwarfed and which will get big because of the lower elevation.
All Cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are Cacti
- John P Weiser
- Posts: 1261
- Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:08 pm
- Location: Sparks, NV
Got yet another blast of winter last night, preceded by bitingly cold, high speed winds yesterday afternoon. The hills and valleys are white again.
From the High Desert Steppe
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
- CoronaCactus
- Posts: 10421
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 6:16 pm
- Location: Corona, California USA [Zone 10]
- Contact:
- Peterthecactusguy
- Posts: 8862
- Joined: Fri Feb 19, 2010 7:49 am
- Location: Black Canyon City, Arizona
- John P Weiser
- Posts: 1261
- Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:08 pm
- Location: Sparks, NV
Darryl
The beds are very well drained with a mix of 30% DG., 30% 1/4 inch size pumice, 30% native silty clay, and 10% sifted peat. All topped off with a 4 inch deep blend of DG and small(2">) native stone cobbles. The blocks are well weathered volcanic stone, covered with coloneys of lichen.
The first one is set up as a morrain with under ground moisture researve set up so it drains away slowly. It should replicate conditions found at the base of receading snow banks. Well drained with a slow trickle of water seeping through at about a foot or so deep.
The square bed is set up to mimic a scree. Lose airy surface, with a firmer humus inriched substrate.
I think Pedios would do well in the second bed as it will be getting afternoon shade when the day is at it's hottest. Semps. should do well in it also, as they tend to suffer in full hot sun.
The beds are very well drained with a mix of 30% DG., 30% 1/4 inch size pumice, 30% native silty clay, and 10% sifted peat. All topped off with a 4 inch deep blend of DG and small(2">) native stone cobbles. The blocks are well weathered volcanic stone, covered with coloneys of lichen.
The first one is set up as a morrain with under ground moisture researve set up so it drains away slowly. It should replicate conditions found at the base of receading snow banks. Well drained with a slow trickle of water seeping through at about a foot or so deep.
The square bed is set up to mimic a scree. Lose airy surface, with a firmer humus inriched substrate.
I think Pedios would do well in the second bed as it will be getting afternoon shade when the day is at it's hottest. Semps. should do well in it also, as they tend to suffer in full hot sun.
From the High Desert Steppe
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
Nice articles John. I thought I'd post a photo of one of my hardy cactus projects: (I live a few blocks from John.)
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Hybrid Echincereus viridiflorus v. correlli X Echincereus viridiflorus.
This seedling is two years old. The E. v. correlli was obtained from Miles to Go. The Echincereus viridiflorus (from NM) was obtained from Mesa Gardens. This is an attractive seedling. The surviving seedlings are variable in appearance. My aim was to produce a very hardy but larger cactus than most Echincereus viridiflorus varieties. Out of 200 seedlings only about a dozen survived. I grow them in the ground not in pots.
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Hybrid Echincereus viridiflorus v. correlli X Echincereus viridiflorus.
This seedling is two years old. The E. v. correlli was obtained from Miles to Go. The Echincereus viridiflorus (from NM) was obtained from Mesa Gardens. This is an attractive seedling. The surviving seedlings are variable in appearance. My aim was to produce a very hardy but larger cactus than most Echincereus viridiflorus varieties. Out of 200 seedlings only about a dozen survived. I grow them in the ground not in pots.
- enigman_77
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2008 5:41 am
- Location: Houston, Texas
- Contact:
Re: Quick hardy cactus list
This is my Opuntia Polyacantha - Pawnee's Deep Pink (zone 3)
The whole plant
Close up shot
The whole plant
Close up shot