Echinocactus polycephalus (cotton top cactus)

DesertZone · 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?

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

I am so happy

I am finaly the proud owner of Echinocactus polycephalus.

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.

I have not tried to grow my seeds yet, but will give them a try soon.

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

That's awesome Aaron.

What's the hardiness of it?

DesertZone · 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.

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.

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

hardy if kept very dry in winter, been through 3 winters

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 12:39 pm

Maybe only 2 winters?

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

http://unkowndestination.blogspot.com/2 ... s-for.html

Bato367 · 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.

DesertZone · 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.

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

Up date.

DesertZone · 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

Bato367 · 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.

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

Thanks, was looking at that the other day.

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

Did you look here?

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R4 ... =&_sacat=0

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

Counted 4 of these today. The Polycephalus finally sprouted.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Thu Mar 19, 2015 11:27 am

Right on! You've got more to sprout than I ever have.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Thu Mar 19, 2015 11:28 am

Jim,

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

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

DesertZone wrote:Right on! You've got more to sprout than I ever have.

Now to test my patients of waiting for them to grow to a decent size

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

DesertZone wrote:Jim,

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

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

Post a pic when you get it planted.

I like growing from seed too but I am not
getting any younger here.

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

I am not as old as Jim

but I could not wait on seed either. I really want something now.

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

neat cactus!

marceli · 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!

PalmsNorth.com

Echinocactus polycephalus (cotton top cactus)

Echinocactus polycephalus (cotton top cactus)

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