I need cactus/succulent recommendations

Discuss hardy cacti grown outside all year.
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Dewberry
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Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2021 8:32 pm

I need cactus/succulent recommendations

Post by Dewberry »

I live near Austin, Texas in zone 8b.

I’m planning to plant a couple bluish agave in my garden, and I’d like to plant a cactus or a succulent with them that has a different form from the agave’s form for contrast.

I’d like something with reddish skin or reddish spines (to contrast with the blue agaves). It should be fairly similar in size to the agave, so maybe a 12”-30” tall. It can be somewhat taller if it’s skinny enough not to block the plants behind it.

I’ll be giving it its own substrate as a low mound that it will probably share with the agaves. I can give it some winter protection if need be, or move it into an unheated greenhouse or my garage (maybe I’ll put a container halfway in the ground and bury it in cactus growing mix, and lift the container in the fall.

I think what may make this unobtainable is that I can’t wait more than about 3 years for the cactus to be the aforementioned size, and I can’t afford to buy a mature slow-growing cactus.

If you can think of anything that would work, please let me know.
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Aiko
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Re: I need cactus recommendations

Post by Aiko »

I think one thread is more than enough: https://www.cactiguide.com/forum/viewto ... 79#p384879
Dewberry
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Re: I need cactus/succulent recommendations

Post by Dewberry »

Sorry. I’m new and overthinking. I’ll delete one if I can learn how.
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Aiko
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Re: I need cactus/succulent recommendations

Post by Aiko »

Hit the X button on the top right of the post. If you are fast enough. The option will disappear after some time.
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greenknight
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Location: SW Washington State zone 8b

Re: I need cactus/succulent recommendations

Post by greenknight »

How about Tephrocactus articulatus var. diadematus f. inermis? In full sun it's about the color of red lava rock. If given plenty of water during the growing season it can grow fairly fast.

http://www.llifle.com/Encyclopedia/CACT ... f._inermis
Spence :mrgreen:
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anttisepp
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Re: I need cactus/succulent recommendations

Post by anttisepp »

Plant Ferocacti eg gracilis/coloratus/acanthodes/stainesii...
esp_imaging
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Re: I need cactus/succulent recommendations

Post by esp_imaging »

anttisepp wrote: Sun Apr 04, 2021 12:53 pm Plant Ferocacti eg gracilis/coloratus/acanthodes/stainesii...
Good suggestions. Or Denmoza rhodacantha for a very tough South American cactus of similar form.
A small diverse collection of Cacti & Succulents
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http://www.edwardshaw.co.uk/cacti
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