cold hardy cacti in cold and wet environment
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cold hardy cacti in cold and wet environment
Does anyone know if barrel cacti and forms of echinocereus will survive unprotected in a cold wet environment (like zone 5b or 6a)? I know some cholla and many prickly pears will survive. Any one ever tried in these zones? I cover my claret cup and small barrel cacti but I'm thinking about uncovering the claret cup to see what happens.
Jeff
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DesertZone
- Palm Grove
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My guess is they would need sharp drainage, but that is about all I have too add. 
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They can begin to rot at the (growth)point where the sticker/thorns emerge if snow or water sit on top.
Most of the truly hardy barrels shed their water before winter some how...
Most of the truly hardy barrels shed their water before winter some how...
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Paul Ont
- Large Palm
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None of my cacti are protected, they get full sun all summer (at least 6 hours of direct sun) and have very sharp drainage. I have the following species of Echinocereus growing in Eastern Ontario, Canada USDA 4b/5a:
E. triglochidiatus (many forms)
E. fendlerii
E. rechenbachii (many forms)
E. viridiflorus (VERY hardy)
E. coccineus
E. engelmanii v. variegatus
There are others that are 'half-hardy' here unprotected, but they tend to fail after a few years. Also, you should probably treat with fungicide in the fall and spring if you leave them unprotected, this will reduce the mortality. Things like Pediocactus and Escobaria are a little more robust to winter wet. However, Pediocactus will tend to rot out if you have too many humid nights about 20C or so.
E. triglochidiatus (many forms)
E. fendlerii
E. rechenbachii (many forms)
E. viridiflorus (VERY hardy)
E. coccineus
E. engelmanii v. variegatus
There are others that are 'half-hardy' here unprotected, but they tend to fail after a few years. Also, you should probably treat with fungicide in the fall and spring if you leave them unprotected, this will reduce the mortality. Things like Pediocactus and Escobaria are a little more robust to winter wet. However, Pediocactus will tend to rot out if you have too many humid nights about 20C or so.
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Cameron_z6a_N.S.
- Large Palm
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Jeff, everyone's given you some great info here. A general rule is that the wetter the location, the sharper the drainage has to be (or start considering the cacti as being less hardy to colder temps). If I was to plant a zone 4 cactus species here without any overhead protection, I would grow it as if it was hardy to zone 5/6, since my location is so rainy.
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