My rock garden experiment with Opuntia phaeacantha looks to be doing well so far with plenty of nice new pads forming. Apart from a temporary poly tunnel as shelter from the winter rain It’s been completely outside here in the North West of England’s since last July. Previous potted cuttings from the main plant have done well outside over a number of years so I’m hopeful I have a hardy specimen.
I think slug and snail damage in the wetter months have been more of a challenge to this plant than our cold and wet climate.
Would be interested to hear of any successful cooler climate growers out there
Opuntia grown outside - progress.
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Please respect all forum members opinions and if you can't make a civil reply, don't reply!
- Mark07
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- rodsmith
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Re: Opuntia grown outside - progress.
Looking good so far.
Rod Smith
Growing a mixed collection of cacti & other succulents; mainly smaller species with a current emphasis on lithops & conophytum.
Growing a mixed collection of cacti & other succulents; mainly smaller species with a current emphasis on lithops & conophytum.
- Mark07
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Re: Opuntia grown outside - progress.
Just a quick update:
Apart from the constant snail and slug spotting everything seems to be going well with plenty of new pads forming on the Opuntia. The delosperma taking over though!! I’ll be pulling it back a lot once the blooms have finished.
Apart from the constant snail and slug spotting everything seems to be going well with plenty of new pads forming on the Opuntia. The delosperma taking over though!! I’ll be pulling it back a lot once the blooms have finished.
- Paul D
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Re: Opuntia grown outside - progress.
They seem to be pretty hardy plants! I rescued this one from a garden in Aberdeen where it had apparently sat for many years, summer and winter, in full rain, wind, snow.
Paul in North-east Scotland (Grampian Branch BCSS)
National Collection Rebutia, Aylostera & Weingartia (inc. Sulcorebutia). Also growing a mixture including Ferocactus, Gymnocalycium, Lobivia, Mammillaria, Lithops, Gasteria, Haworthia.
http://www.rebutia.org.uk
National Collection Rebutia, Aylostera & Weingartia (inc. Sulcorebutia). Also growing a mixture including Ferocactus, Gymnocalycium, Lobivia, Mammillaria, Lithops, Gasteria, Haworthia.
http://www.rebutia.org.uk
- el48tel
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Re: Opuntia grown outside - progress.
Thanks for the idea .... might deter the damned squirrels
Endeavouring to grow Aylostera, Echinocereus, Echinopsis, Gymnocalycium, Matucana, Rebutia, and Sulcorebutia. Fallen out of love with Lithops and aggravated by Aeoniums.
Currently being wooed by Haworthia, attempting hybridisation, and enticed by Mesembs.
Currently being wooed by Haworthia, attempting hybridisation, and enticed by Mesembs.
- Mark07
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Re: Opuntia grown outside - progress.
Crikey! That’s one hardy plant then! Thanks for sharing
Haha i’m sure it would!
- juster
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Re: Opuntia grown outside - progress.
Very interesting to see the progress here Mark, the plants look good. Please keep us posted.
Croydon Branch member, growing mainly cacti and Echeverias
- Mark07
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Re: Opuntia grown outside - progress.
So it seems this Opuntia’s first year outside has been a good one so far. Fingers crossed for another mild winter although I will be building some sort of protection from the worst of the winter wet.