Cold Hardy Cacti - Orchid Board

Subrosa · #1 06-29-2021, 06:20 AM

I never realized there were so many cacti that are winter hardy here in zone 6B. I'll have to cover them to keep them from getting too wet during the winter, but the cold won't be a problem for these. And to top it off, they produce edible fruit! The cactus in the last pic isn't one of the hardy ones, but it was in bloom at the same time as the Coryphantha in the second pic, so I made a reciprocal cross:

PaphMadMan · #2 06-29-2021, 01:44 PM

I remember native Opuntia (O. humifusa, I think) growing wild around my grandparents' farm in central Wisconsin, zone 4b. My grandfather won quite a few bets when visitors did not believe he grew cactus on his farm.

Paphluvr · #3 06-29-2021, 04:19 PM

Many years ago I flew out to Colorado to visit my stepson who was attending the University of Colorado. On a day where he didn't have any classes we decided to go hiking in the Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park which is at 7500ft. elevation. It was in the Spring and he was still in school so I'm thinking May or June. Anyway, we left the parking area and headed west along a small flowing stream. I was wearing a sweater and down filled vest at the time. We hadn't gone very far when I spotted something pink on top of a small rock face. When I scrambled up the rocks to investigate I was surprised to see a bunch of small cacti in full bloom. As we continued along the South facing slope we eventually came to a bridge crossing the stream and decided to hike back on the other side of the stream (now a north facing slope). As we walked along we encountered 4' deep drifts where we were walking on a surface crust (darn those sun-lit surface soft spots). At one point of the return trip we had a sleet storm and I had to don my parka. By the time we got back to the parking area I was back to wearing wearing just my tee shirt. And yes, least any of you are thinking it, I was wearing pants and hiking boots. So, yes, they are hardy. I'm told it has more to do with the amount of UV radiation which is significantly higher at that elevation.

Leafmite · #4 06-29-2021, 04:22 PM

I love cacti and once collected them but when one of the offspring, a toddler at the time, twice got into them (even though I did everything possible to prevent it from happening) and I had to painstakingly pull spines out with a pair of tweezers both times, that put an end to the collection. It is probably why I eventually became interested in orchids instead...looking for something to replace those cacti that didn't have spines and wasn't poisonous.

I have seen different types growing here in people's flower beds. Cannot wait to see your cacti garden when they are all planted.

Good luck with them!

estación seca · #5 06-29-2021, 07:33 PM

Search for this book. It will be worth it.

https://www.amazon.com/Growing-winte.../dp/B0006P75ZM

Dollythehun · #6 06-30-2021, 07:33 AM

I've had several types of hardy cactus here. ES told me what some of them were, besides a couple Opuntias. The problem was they got huge and straggly looking and seldom flowered. Every year I was pruning out dead wood for no reward except the oddity if it. I finally pulled them out (sorry ES.). Last year I thinned (severely) my Opuntia patch, which had gotten quite large. I see I missed more than a few and I'm willing to share. Although they're hardy, as Leafmite mentioned, the spines are sneaky and painful. They do require the proper conditions. I sent some to a member up north and the conditions (shade as I recall) weren't right and they failed. I always thought cactus were interesting but, tired of the spines and dance to keep them looking good.