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Just wondering about winter protection for cacti. I've got some rather large optunia listed hardy to zone 4, although I'm skeptical of this. In protecting cacti it is generally a good idea to remove dehydrated/sizzled pads and then just protect the base? Thanks, as always, for your thoughts and knowledge.
Thanks! Here's some pictures from a couple of weeks ago. The one pictured closest, is starting to visibly droop, apparently succumbing to almost nightly freezes now. The other looks unchanged from summer. These look like min. zone 7 plants to me, from like the Mojave or Sonoran desert, but the nursery that sold them advertised them as zone 4. This is their 1st winter-but I'm thinking it looks like they'll soon lay down and dehydrate. Wish I saved the tags-they were both listed as optunia-I think- the higher, further one being somekind of spineless or needleless species. Anyhow, what do you think? Thanks!
No prob. Well, I have never killed any. These are the Eastern prickly pear cactus and are super hardy. Native to S. Ontario, Michigan etc.
I probably have a couple hundred pads growing so if you kill yours this winter just let me know and I'll send you some.
I think both are the variety that grow upright,if they lay down it's unlikely they will stand up
again,the one in back looks like the kind I had in my Cactus garden last year-
it succumbed to the cold,probably because it held to much water going into winter and rotted.
Jay, I'd definitely take you up on some of the eastern prickly pear this spring...thanks!
Jim, the one you lost looks a lot like the spineless one I have. Some of pads are like 4-5 inches across/long. It is bone dry and I haven't watered to start the hardening off porcess. We haven't had significant moisture in about a month and a half either. Still, we get colder than you. Usually 3-4 days down to -30c (-22f).
Maybe I'll just leave 'em and see. I'm really not sure how to protect cacti and I've got other priorities for artificial heat.
That spinless fellow looks like O. ficus-indica to me, but the picture is a little distant. If it is, it should be toasted by temps of ~ -10C to -15C. If that temperature doesn't kill it, it is probably something else. I'd say that it is definately not O. humifusa, the pads are too big and the growth form is all wrong (all varietas of this sp. are sprawling, except for O. humifusa v. ammophila, from Florida).
The other one looks like O. phaecantha or a close relative (the "species" of Opuntia are extremely difficult to separate)... There are forms of this species hardy to zone 4 (3?). I have ~6 different types, but, I have tried 8 or so. Most are perfectly hardy here. The larger forms seem borderline, with the largest one I grow being the least hardy (unsightly damage almost yearly, not really worthwhile as an ornamental).
Here are some pics of the species I mention for comparison:
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-
Jay- What form is that? It looks completely spineless! The Canadian native O. humifusa are somewhat spiny, this one is from the lake Erie shore of Southern Ontario ( Point Pelee, or Pelee I.):
I have, I think, 2 or 3 others forms (I tore out one from Arkansas because it was continually damaged by my cold), including one from Northern GA, one from Delaware, and one from VA (if it's still there). The Point Pelee form is the most vigorous and largest that I grow!
I maintain that Duncans plant has the look of a larger, less hardy Opuntia. Hope I'm wrong because if it is hardy I'll be asking for a piece!
If your unsure about a prickly-pear making it through the winter. Brake a pad off and keep it inside until spring.
Also you can build a cheap but good simple cover with 4' lath and some window cover plastic. Just hammer them in the ground and make a tee-pee like cover with the plastic and staple the plastic to the poles and then poke a hole/holes in the top sides of the plastic for vents.
Heres a pic of one with out the plastic and one that is finished.
This one is a many headed barrel that must stay dry in the winter. This method works wells out here in the west.
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-
that first 'humifusa' photo you posted with spines sure looks like it has some polyacantha genes in it?? Some of these cactus are hard to ID. Some Macrorhizas seem to look like humifusa too.
Duncan,
your spineless cactus is a beauty......I can't get any of those types to survive here in Massachusetts zone 6b so GOOD luck in your area. If your really dry in winter you'll get better results but zone 4 is really pushing it. I tried a bunch of hardy upright cactus and this one actually survives in my climate.............ID, who knows!
Tim, that almost looks like O. engelmann? But what is the smaller up right in the left corner of the pic?
Also would you sell a pad from those up rights? or a trade?
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-
Hey Tim- Ya, that 'humifusa' is an odd-ball alright. It's a naturalized group of plants near Long Point, Ontario. This is further north and east than any other O. humifusa population in Ontario. My thoughts are that these plants were either planted on purpose, OR they spread from (possible?) nearby plants. If I had to guess I'd say they are at least 50% macrorhiza (I think that macrorhiza is just a more 'western' form of humifusa, and that polyacantha is just a 'western' form of macrorhiza)... Anyway, it is interesting to see the plants in a 'natural' setting.
FYI there is a reported natural Opuntia humifusa population on Long Point, however, the entire point is now owned by the 'Long Point Company' and it is almost impossible to get access to confirm the presence of these plants. I'll keep trying (it will mean a 40km round trip hike to the end of the point).
Oh, and I have seed set from a cross of humifusa x non-hardy large trunker (have to get an I.D. on it). If you have room I might want you to try some of the seed (since your climate is warmer than mine). Let me know.
I'm not sure what the ID is. I posted photos of it several times over the years and I have a list of confirmed ID's! LOL
It's a shy bloomer but It does bloom.....it probably took 4 or 5 years to bloom for me. I'm sure a cactus expert could ID it with a photo of the flower.
I can trade a pad for your black corvette? Deal? LOL
the only 'upright' cactus I see to the left is this cactus......but it's not an upright. It's a miniature form of O. humifusa. It has tiny pads. Cool little plant. Is this the cactus? It will lay flat in winter.
I'm no cactus expert but I think polyacantha has dry fruits (not fleshy). Does that unusual looking humifusa with spines have dry fruits or fleshy fruits. I guess if it were some intermediate form it may have semi-fleshy fruits??
Your cross of humifusa x non-hardy large trunker (have to get an I.D. on it) sounds interesting. Can you post a photo of the large trunker? I'd love some seeds......in five years I'll let you know what they look like! LOL
Here's a (bad) pic of my O. humifusa. They flowered for the first time this summer. I received some pads from my uncle in Ontario around 5 years aso, and they've been growing in this spot ever since. All I do to protect them in the winter is place an empty recycling bag over them, to try to keep some water/moisture out. I have a feeling that they're from a population in Ontario, but neither of us know for sure. My uncle has dozens of o. humifusa at his house in Toronto, and they line the path leading up to his door !
TimMAz6 wrote:I can trade a pad for your black corvette? Deal? LOL
Ummmm........awwww....... how about I trade you a zone 7/6b Opuntia chlorotica pad next summer for one. Very hardy for the sp. Maybe we can make a deal in the spring. No room here for anything in the winter.
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-
anything you want let me know. I don't think it's the best time to send cactus pads.....they should be going through dormancy now and not fully dormant? Opuntia chlorotica sound familiar........I think someone thought the cactus I had may be a Opuntia chlorotica. What does yours look like?
anything you want let me know. I don't think it's the best time to send cactus pads.....they should be going through dormancy now and not fully dormant? Opuntia chlorotica sound familiar........I think someone thought the cactus I had may be a Opuntia chlorotica. What does yours look like?
Tim, I agree. I don't think it would be a good time to send cactus, maybe in the spring.
Chlorotica has round pads, short light coloured spines, and a little different. Not the best pic, but is of one growing in Idaho.
Not completely hardy here but is as good as it gets for the sp.
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-
I have a small plant of O. chloroticta collected at ~6000ft in Northwestern Arizona... I'm far too chicken to palnt it out until I'm sure the mother plant will survive. Maybe next spring. I don't hold out much hope for this species in a cold/wet zone 5, no matter what the source! I hope to be able to use it in crosses to get some large Opuntionids that can handle my climate (I'm thinking crosses with polyacanhta (AB forms) and macrorhiza would be good!).
Paul Ont wrote:I have a small plant of O. chloroticta collected at ~6000ft in Northwestern Arizona... I'm far too chicken to palnt it out until I'm sure the mother plant will survive. Maybe next spring. I don't hold out much hope for this species in a cold/wet zone 5, no matter what the source! I hope to be able to use it in crosses to get some large Opuntionids that can handle my climate (I'm thinking crosses with polyacanhta (AB forms) and macrorhiza would be good!).
Steve- do you have a picture of yours?
Have a cross with Chlorotica and polyacantha, and it looks just like polycantha and survive like polycantha.
I have some seed from the one in the pic, I'm going to see if I can find some hardier uprite forms.
PS Take the pollen from the Chlorotica and cross it with a polyacantha flower and you should have a more up right cross.
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-
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-
Yeesh! I hope that mine will look like that in a few years time!
You say it has set some seed? Would you have some to spare?
It would definitely be a good one to cross with a few of the hardier species. I've not seen any F1 plants of tall spp. x sprawling spp., the assumption would be that the plants would be 'mounding', sort of an intermediate height, but without the clear trunk...
TimMAz6 wrote:very cool Aaron!!! And that's hardy in your zone 5b? Wow.
No... its not hardy where I live. This is a plant in Twin-Falls Idaho zone 6a. This plant is coverd every year and so is the barrel. They will live uncovered for a year or 2 around here. Mine do good until about 5F Tim it my have a good chance in your zone if kept very dry.
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-
Paul Ont wrote:Yeesh! I hope that mine will look like that in a few years time!
You say it has set some seed? Would you have some to spare?
It would definitely be a good one to cross with a few of the hardier species. I've not seen any F1 plants of tall spp. x sprawling spp., the assumption would be that the plants would be 'mounding', sort of an intermediate height, but without the clear trunk...
Sure... I can send you some seed. But my not look like the parent plant. The last seed I grew from this plant looked just like the pollen donner and not the mother plant. "Polyacantha" only the flower look the same.
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-
!
! Would make this all a little easier.
