We bought a new house last winter. The previous owner had some cactii brought in from the badlands. Thing is, I live in zone 2b. We get 5 feet of snow and -45 degree winters. Cactii aren't supposed to live the winter... Or so I thought.
This stuff is so thick, it's growing over it's cement encasement and I can't weed it. Keep getitng poked through my leather gloves.
Anyone know how to care for these?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Kaman123, I have to say, living as I do in Scotland UK, I also never knew that Cactii could live through a hard winter temp, but hey, that's nature for you, maybe the snow acts like a warm blanket eh. I see one of your plants are ready to put up flowers so could be nice to see what they look like en mass, Me think Red Flowers?????.
As to how to tame and care for them, the ones I have are kept in my greenhouse, no heat, unless I am working out in it when it is bitter cold, heat for me, not so much the plants, if they need that kind of molly coddling, then I pass them by, anyway, to remove the cactii you have with such large thorns, would it help to use your garden fork and even if you have to lift a lot of soil. When I need to repot my greenhouse ones, I use a folded newspaper, fold over into strips and bend it around the plant, then use your hands on top of the folded paper to ease it from the pot, fill the new pot and lift the plant as before, into new situation, you can buy special cactii compost from DIY or garden center, but I just use ordinery bought compost (Multi purpose) add some fish bone and blood mix,(garden center) add also some horticultural sand (not sea or builders) along with some small grit, mix it together and use for all you cactii, if you have too many, hand them in to fete, fair or other stalls to raise funds, most people like a cactii or too even kids. Hope this helps you to tame that tiger, good luck.
WeeNel.
It looks like some sort of Opuntia to me. There are a couple of them that are hardy to about zone 4 or so, and it's possible if you get a good snowcover that sticks around for most of the winter that provides enough protection that they can survive even though you're in a colder zone.
Thanks for the tips! I'll definately have to give that a try :)
