Growing Cacti

[bearnol]

Anybody else here like growing Cacti?
J

[rdotson]

Originally Posted by bearnol

Anybody else here like growing Cacti?
J

I just planted some Cacti in a bare spot in the front yard where nothing seems to want to grow and have designated it my "Xeriscape" garden.

I'm open to suggestions for interesting cactus varieties. So far I have a Pipe Organ, a "Golden" something or other that's like a spherical pincushion, a couple of flat one's with "arms" (don't know what they're called), and I have a Saguaro and Prickly Pear on order. I'd like to get a Joshua Tree but can't seem to find one anywhere. Any ideas?

[xilman]

Originally Posted by bearnol

Anybody else here like growing Cacti?
J

Yes, but they don't do very well up here in the sub-arctic. I've some which live indoors all year around but most of them aren't thriving. One or two live out during the summer and one, at least, is doing very nicely despite getting drenched far more often than it would in its normal habitat. It's growing ever fatter and flowers each summer, which is why I believe it's doing nicely.

A number of species are frost-hardy, I believe, but they can't take the wet. A guy in Sweden, even further north than I, has managed to grow several species in his garden. He's made a special raised bed with extremely well-drained "soil" (grit, really) . There's an Opuntial in the Cambridge botanic garden that's been there for many years.

Personally, I stick to agaves. Several are frost hardy to at least -10 and I've three species that live out all year.

Paul