Echinocactus polycephalus (cotton top cactus)

Cold hardy desert plants etc.

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DesertZone
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Echinocactus polycephalus (cotton top cactus)

Post by DesertZone » Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:48 pm

Any one out there growing this one in a cold climate, say a zone 7 or lower?
Any one growing this one in Idaho?


Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... ooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

DesertZone
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Post by DesertZone » Sat Oct 22, 2005 5:44 am

I am so happy :D I am finaly the proud owner of Echinocactus polycephalus. :D It is a small plant but that is alright :) In the future I will try growing this one for sell, becuase it is a very hard plant to find, even the seed was hard to get a hold of. :shock: I have not tried to grow my seeds yet, but will give them a try soon. :)
Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... ooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

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Jay-Admin
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Post by Jay-Admin » Sun Oct 23, 2005 11:42 am

That's awesome Aaron. :D What's the hardiness of it?

DesertZone
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Post by DesertZone » Mon Oct 24, 2005 4:45 am

I am not sure how hardy it is? :? I do know that aleast 2 other people have grown this plant in Idaho over the past 4 years. :D I think I will cover it up this first and maybe the secound year. :) The seed of this plant comes from an area where the plants get very large, hard to tell from fero barrel cactus. :shock:
Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... ooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

DesertZone
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Post by DesertZone » Sun Aug 16, 2009 12:38 pm

hardy if kept very dry in winter, been through 3 winters
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Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... ooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

DesertZone
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Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2004 5:40 pm
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Post by DesertZone » Sun Aug 16, 2009 12:39 pm

Maybe only 2 winters? :?
Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... ooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

DesertZone
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Update

Post by DesertZone » Sun Oct 20, 2013 10:35 am

Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... ooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

Bato367
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Post by Bato367 » Mon Mar 16, 2015 8:25 pm

Aaron did your seeds ever sprout? According to my 'cactus bible', the Polycephalus is hardy to the authors zone 5 without covered protection; just good siting I assume. The author also states that the var. xeranthemoides is even more cold hardy than the sp. polycephalus. Food for thought.

My polycephalus have not sprouted yet.

Still waiting. :coffee:
-Mike

Grand Junction, CO:
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Carpe diem

DesertZone
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Post by DesertZone » Tue Mar 17, 2015 7:22 pm

I did have a few seeds sprout, but I let them get to dry when very little and they died. I would be very weary of them living through a zone 5 not covered, but I'm sure it's possible. I believe there is a few different forms or subspecies out there, and I'm sure they all different cold tolerances. And to mention they are very expensive. I will always cover mine, helps keep them dry in winter. If I had a bunch of seedling I might grow a few for trials. :D
Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... ooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

DesertZone
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Post by DesertZone » Tue Mar 17, 2015 7:26 pm

Up date.

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Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... ooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

DesertZone
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Post by DesertZone » Tue Mar 17, 2015 7:43 pm

Mike,

This might be good info on starting the seed, and what I will try, if I ever get more seed.

http://lophophora.blogspot.com/2013/06/ ... s-and.html
Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... ooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

Bato367
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Posts: 107
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Post by Bato367 » Tue Mar 17, 2015 7:50 pm

Awesome thank you! I got my seed here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/171068594671?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

No polycephalus yet but I did notice today my Echinocereus Reichenbacii var. perbellus and Ferocactus Wislizeni sprouted so I am kinda stoked about that.
-Mike

Grand Junction, CO:
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Carpe diem

DesertZone
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Post by DesertZone » Tue Mar 17, 2015 8:04 pm

Thanks, was looking at that the other day.
:wink:
Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... ooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

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hardyjim
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Post by hardyjim » Wed Mar 18, 2015 4:12 pm

<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... rfield.gif" alt="Click for Fairfield, Iowa Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />

Bato367
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Post by Bato367 » Wed Mar 18, 2015 4:27 pm

Counted 4 of these today. The Polycephalus finally sprouted.

Image
-Mike

Grand Junction, CO:
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DesertZone
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Post by DesertZone » Thu Mar 19, 2015 11:27 am

Right on! You've got more to sprout than I ever have. :D
Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... ooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

DesertZone
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Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2004 5:40 pm
Location: South Central Idaho 5b
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Post by DesertZone » Thu Mar 19, 2015 11:28 am

Jim,

Thanks for the link, I just bought a few from there. :wink:
Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... ooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

Bato367
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Posts: 107
Joined: Sun May 11, 2014 8:09 am
Location: Grand Junction, CO USDA Zone 7a

Post by Bato367 » Thu Mar 19, 2015 10:02 pm

DesertZone wrote:Right on! You've got more to sprout than I ever have. :D
Now to test my patients of waiting for them to grow to a decent size :thumbright:
-Mike

Grand Junction, CO:
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Carpe diem

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hardyjim
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Post by hardyjim » Fri Mar 20, 2015 5:51 am

DesertZone wrote:Jim,

Thanks for the link, I just bought a few from there. :wink:

Cool...glad it helped,I considered it but needed to keep
my spending in check for now :shock:

Post a pic when you get it planted.

I like growing from seed too but I am not
getting any younger here. :D
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... rfield.gif" alt="Click for Fairfield, Iowa Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />

chadec
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Post by chadec » Fri Mar 20, 2015 8:10 am

I am not as old as Jim :lol: but I could not wait on seed either. I really want something now.

cuja1
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Post by cuja1 » Fri Mar 20, 2015 2:27 pm

neat cactus! :D
Jeff

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marceli
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Post by marceli » Sun Mar 22, 2015 1:05 am

Live plants are sooo expensive! Will try to look for the seeds coz it's looking awesome, Aaron! 8)
http://palmiarnia.info - all about hardy tropical plants in Poland & forum!

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