Outside Opuntias (which will be safe/grow better)

[Chris L]

Which of these might be safe outside should we get nicer weather eventually? Any that will grow better outside?

I've got multiples of some and others I could take cuttings for next year.

Thanks.

Austrocylindropuntia cylindrica
Corynopuntia stanleyi
Corynopuntia aggeria
Corynopuntia bulbispina
Cumulopuntia spaerica
Cumulopuntia rossiana RKH161 BDH5
Cumulopuntia rossiana
Cumulopuntia pentlandii
Cylindropuntia kleiniae
Cylindropuntia x viridiflora
Cylindropuntia whipplei
Cylindropuntia imbricata
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
Cylindropuntia spinosior
Cylindropuntia cholla
Grusonia grahamii
Grusonia schottii
Maihueniopsis glomerata
Maihueniopsis darwinii v deflexispina
Maihueniopsis ovata
Maihueniopsis darwinii WG427
Maihueniopsis hypogaea
Maihueniopsis boliviana v mistiensis AWC149
Maihueniopsis glomerata (crassispina) RBT74
Maihuenia patagonia KVV1006
Opuntia chisoensis
Opuntia microdasys
Opuntia robusta monstrosa
Opuntia phaeacantha 'Kirschrot'
Opuntia polyacantha v arenaria
Opuntia ovata
Opuntia macrorhiza v grandiflora
Opuntia salmiana
Opuntia moelleri
Opuntia subulata
Opuntia rubusta v minor
Opuntia clavarioides
Opuntia tormentella
Opuntia humifusa v minor
Opuntia brasiliensis
Opuntia miquellii v gessei
Opuntia ursina
Opuntia spinosior
Opuntia subulata
Opuntia drummondii
Opuntia dimorpha
Opuntia pachypus
Opuntia GD126
Opuntia fragilis
Opuntia fragilis 'feher'
Pterocactus australis
Pterocactus hickenii (syn skotsbergii)
Pterocactus tuberosus
Pterocactus kuntzei MK394
Tacinga quipa
Tephrocactus leonina
Tephrocactus mirus
Tephrocactus articulatus v diadematus
Tephrocactus flococus
Tephrocactus bulbispinus
Tephrocactus articulatus
Tephrocactus nierispinus
Tephrocactus ferocior RKH159
Tephrocactus andicolus
Tunilla cordobensis

[Ali Baba]

I've had Opuntia polyacantha and fragilis outside for a few years now. They grow slowly and flower every now and again.

[RAYWOODBRIDGE]

Chris you know what it is like here in the North West of England Wet and Damp.
To answer your question most would be ok for the summer in a clay pot ( to allow extra drainage ) in a sunny corner,
but would they grow better , the answer is no.
are there any you can leave outside all year? maybe
Cylindro. viridiflora
Cylindro. whipplei
Cylindro. imbricata
I have these outside but they go red in the winter then regrow from near the base the next year, whereas the same species left in the cold greenhouse just grow as normal, so after just 2 or 3 years the ones inside are worth keeping and the ones outside are not.
Maihuenia patagonica
Opuntia phaeacantha
Opuntia polyacantha
Opuntia compressa / humifusa
Opuntia fragilis all types
these will all be fine outside all year if you give them a little shelter from the worst of the rain and make sure they are planted in a very free draining gritty compost.
I have mine planted near to or under large bushes in the garden where they get a little shelter and all have survived and now have started to grow on having been out in the garden for 3 years or so, this winter is the worst we have had here for a while and they are still ok.

[Chris L]

Thanks for the info.

I'll probably get a planter of some sort to try them in.

[Ross M]

I've grown Opuntia fragilis in window boxes for many years unprotected and with no losses. They grow well and flower depending on the quality of the summer. Also, Opuntia humifusa grows like a weed in my front garden but has never flowered.

[DaveW]

I tried some hardy Opuntia's outside, but gave up as the snails and slugs developed a taste for them and kept chewing holes in them, therefore I moved them to my greenhouse bed.

I believe it was Opuntia macrorhiza I had outside. They are best in a raised bed outside to keep them above the level of the surrounding ground and so clear of flooding in heavy rain.