Hello. I was thinking about building a wooden box for my S. eruca to lay in. Would a wooden container be a bad idea?
On another note, what medium would be best for the S. eruca. Should it be mostly sand? Rock? I have it in a mixture of cactus soil and mineral/sand.
Thanks!
Wooden container for cacti
- jerrytheplater
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Re: Wooden container for cacti
Wood will rot over time. I would not even think of using pressure treated wood. Cedar or Redwood maybe.
But why wood? Is it because you want a large container? If so, ever hear of Hypertufa? I have a few very small ones and one larger one. The large one is the only one I've had growing since it was first started. It has stood up to freezing winters outdoors unprotected at least since 2013 now.
Small Hypertufa planter made and planted by John Spain and sold at the Connecticut Cactus and Succulent Society show for $5.00 back in the spring of 2009. It is about 12" long by 8" wide and maybe 4" deep. Those are outside dimensions. Wall thickness is maybe 1.5" or less. : Here it is frozen with sleet all over it taken Feb 2, 2010: Last photo I have of the garden before I took it down was taken on March 27, 2015. I broke it down that season. The large planter is not exactly Hypertufa. It has been reinforced with Fiberglas fibers. I bought it at a CT Cactus and Succulent Society show maybe in the spring of 2013. It is not exactly round, but it is about 24" x 20" and about 7" tall. These are all outside dimensions. Wall thickness is at least 1.5 inch. My first photo of it was taken 4-13-2014. It is still out on my deck and growing some Sedum and Sempervivum. Latest photo taken June 22, 2021. There are lots of links out there that detail how to make these planters. Here's one of them: https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Hypertufa-Planters
But why wood? Is it because you want a large container? If so, ever hear of Hypertufa? I have a few very small ones and one larger one. The large one is the only one I've had growing since it was first started. It has stood up to freezing winters outdoors unprotected at least since 2013 now.
Small Hypertufa planter made and planted by John Spain and sold at the Connecticut Cactus and Succulent Society show for $5.00 back in the spring of 2009. It is about 12" long by 8" wide and maybe 4" deep. Those are outside dimensions. Wall thickness is maybe 1.5" or less. : Here it is frozen with sleet all over it taken Feb 2, 2010: Last photo I have of the garden before I took it down was taken on March 27, 2015. I broke it down that season. The large planter is not exactly Hypertufa. It has been reinforced with Fiberglas fibers. I bought it at a CT Cactus and Succulent Society show maybe in the spring of 2013. It is not exactly round, but it is about 24" x 20" and about 7" tall. These are all outside dimensions. Wall thickness is at least 1.5 inch. My first photo of it was taken 4-13-2014. It is still out on my deck and growing some Sedum and Sempervivum. Latest photo taken June 22, 2021. There are lots of links out there that detail how to make these planters. Here's one of them: https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Hypertufa-Planters
Jerry Smith
Bloomingdale, NJ
45 inches (114 cm) rain equivalent per year, approx. evenly spread per month
2012 USDA Hardiness Zone 6b: -5F to OF (-20C to -18C) min.
Bloomingdale, NJ
45 inches (114 cm) rain equivalent per year, approx. evenly spread per month
2012 USDA Hardiness Zone 6b: -5F to OF (-20C to -18C) min.
Re: Wooden container for cacti
Wow. That's awesome! I had never heard of Hypertufa before. Thanks for the suggestion!!jerrytheplater wrote: ↑Wed Aug 24, 2022 2:23 am Wood will rot over time. I would not even think of using pressure treated wood. Cedar or Redwood maybe.
But why wood? Is it because you want a large container? If so, ever hear of Hypertufa? I have a few very small ones and one larger one. The large one is the only one I've had growing since it was first started. It has stood up to freezing winters outdoors unprotected at least since 2013 now.
Small Hypertufa planter made and planted by John Spain and sold at the Connecticut Cactus and Succulent Society show for $5.00 back in the spring of 2009. It is about 12" long by 8" wide and maybe 4" deep. Those are outside dimensions. Wall thickness is maybe 1.5" or less. :
rsz 2009-6-28 John Spain Dish Garden.jpg
Here it is frozen with sleet all over it taken Feb 2, 2010:
rsz 2010-2-2 John Spain Dish Garden.jpg
Last photo I have of the garden before I took it down was taken on March 27, 2015. I broke it down that season.
rsz 2015-3-27 John Spain Dish Garden.jpg
The large planter is not exactly Hypertufa. It has been reinforced with Fiberglas fibers. I bought it at a CT Cactus and Succulent Society show maybe in the spring of 2013. It is not exactly round, but it is about 24" x 20" and about 7" tall. These are all outside dimensions. Wall thickness is at least 1.5 inch. My first photo of it was taken 4-13-2014.
rsz 2014-4-13 Winter Hardy Dish Garden.jpg
It is still out on my deck and growing some Sedum and Sempervivum. Latest photo taken June 22, 2021.
rsz 2021-6-22 Sempervivum Dish Garden.jpg
There are lots of links out there that detail how to make these planters. Here's one of them: https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Hypertufa-Planters
Re: Wooden container for cacti
I have even seen them grown in a length of plastic house guttering cut to the length needed with a couple of stop ends put on. Or you can use plant troughs since plastic ones are often available at garden stores.
OK if the plant only puts out a stem that grows in one direction rather than offsets. The stem of course roots down as it lies on the soil rather like strawberry runners. In age in the wild the old portion dies off eventually leaving the "devil" continuing to creep whilst dying off behind.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view ... ajaxserp=0
OK if the plant only puts out a stem that grows in one direction rather than offsets. The stem of course roots down as it lies on the soil rather like strawberry runners. In age in the wild the old portion dies off eventually leaving the "devil" continuing to creep whilst dying off behind.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view ... ajaxserp=0
- jerrytheplater
- Posts: 1164
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2021 7:38 pm
- Location: Bloomingdale, NJ (USDA Zone 6b)
- Contact:
Re: Wooden container for cacti
I like Dave's idea with the plastic trough's much better than the Hypertufa. You just lay the gutters up lengthwise as your plant grows. But if you like the looks of Hypertufa ( and you can get creative with the outside design by inserting chips of rock etc.) You could always use the trough as a form to make the Hypertufa trough.
Jerry Smith
Bloomingdale, NJ
45 inches (114 cm) rain equivalent per year, approx. evenly spread per month
2012 USDA Hardiness Zone 6b: -5F to OF (-20C to -18C) min.
Bloomingdale, NJ
45 inches (114 cm) rain equivalent per year, approx. evenly spread per month
2012 USDA Hardiness Zone 6b: -5F to OF (-20C to -18C) min.
Re: Wooden container for cacti
Haha. I love that. That's a good idea!DaveW wrote: ↑Thu Aug 25, 2022 12:39 pm I have even seen them grown in a length of plastic house guttering cut to the length needed with a couple of stop ends put on. Or you can use plant troughs since plastic ones are often available at garden stores.
OK if the plant only puts out a stem that grows in one direction rather than offsets. The stem of course roots down as it lies on the soil rather like strawberry runners. In age in the wild the old portion dies off eventually leaving the "devil" continuing to creep whilst dying off behind.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view ... ajaxserp=0
Re: Wooden container for cacti
That's true! And a good idea!jerrytheplater wrote: ↑Thu Aug 25, 2022 3:55 pm I like Dave's idea with the plastic trough's much better than the Hypertufa. You just lay the gutters up lengthwise as your plant grows. But if you like the looks of Hypertufa ( and you can get creative with the outside design by inserting chips of rock etc.) You could always use the trough as a form to make the Hypertufa trough.
Re: Wooden container for cacti
Plastic guttering can often be used to make an ultra long but shallow trough for plants, plus stop ends are available to cap it. You can cut it with a hacksaw or fine toothed saw to length and it is available from most Builders Merchants or DIY shops..
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