Opuntia grown outside - progress.

For the discussion of topics related to the conservation, cultivation, propagation and exhibition of cacti & other succulents.
Forum rules
For the discussion of topics related to the conservation, cultivation, propagation, exhibition & science of cacti & other succulents only.

Please respect all forum members opinions and if you can't make a civil reply, don't reply!
User avatar
Mark07
BCSS Member
Posts: 261
https://www.behance.net/kuchnie-warszawa
Joined: 07 Sep 2018
Branch: LIVERPOOL
Country: United Kingdom
Role within the BCSS: Member
Location: Wirral, UK

Opuntia grown outside - progress.

Post by Mark07 »

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 :)
42E8AACD-087D-488C-AB38-F5EE26A8C5F3.jpeg
28D63EDD-E232-43A1-8FE0-093583017C1F.jpeg
8C6CD276-D534-48E5-B971-200B8BA8C0A8.jpeg
User avatar
rodsmith
BCSS Member
Posts: 3189
Joined: 17 Feb 2011
Branch: STOKE-ON-TRENT
Country: UK
Location: Staffordshire, UK

Re: Opuntia grown outside - progress.

Post by rodsmith »

Looking good so far. :smile:
Rod Smith

Growing a mixed collection of cacti & other succulents; mainly smaller species with a current emphasis on lithops & conophytum.
User avatar
Mark07
BCSS Member
Posts: 261
Joined: 07 Sep 2018
Branch: LIVERPOOL
Country: United Kingdom
Role within the BCSS: Member
Location: Wirral, UK

Re: Opuntia grown outside - progress.

Post by Mark07 »

rodsmith wrote: Sun Apr 21, 2019 3:37 pm Looking good so far. :smile:
Thanks Rod, early days I know. We also had a fairly mild winter just gone but fingers crossed :)
User avatar
Mark07
BCSS Member
Posts: 261
Joined: 07 Sep 2018
Branch: LIVERPOOL
Country: United Kingdom
Role within the BCSS: Member
Location: Wirral, UK

Re: Opuntia grown outside - progress.

Post by Mark07 »

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!! :grin: I’ll be pulling it back a lot once the blooms have finished.
D98965BD-2AD5-460F-936C-EF299AC371F2.jpeg
37F248A6-7DA2-4771-95CA-89F0A4E457E0.jpeg
9C2E1FE1-CFD5-4B22-A536-5B741B876E08.jpeg
3A462009-850D-4789-AAC7-73333CDDE744.jpeg
29C5449A-3961-415F-83E5-6576FF8B3538.jpeg
User avatar
Paul D
BCSS Trustee
Posts: 1144
Joined: 21 May 2009
Branch: GRAMPIAN (N.E.Scotland)
Country: UK
Role within the BCSS: Trustee
Location: Collieston, Aberdeenshire
Contact:

Re: Opuntia grown outside - progress.

Post by Paul D »

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.
Attachments
Opuntia arctica.jpg
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
User avatar
el48tel
BCSS Member
Posts: 5268
Joined: 04 Aug 2018
Branch: LEEDS
Country: UK
Role within the BCSS: Member
Location: Leeds

Re: Opuntia grown outside - progress.

Post by el48tel »

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.
User avatar
Mark07
BCSS Member
Posts: 261
Joined: 07 Sep 2018
Branch: LIVERPOOL
Country: United Kingdom
Role within the BCSS: Member
Location: Wirral, UK

Re: Opuntia grown outside - progress.

Post by Mark07 »

Paul D wrote: Thu May 30, 2019 3:31 pm 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.
Crikey! That’s one hardy plant then! Thanks for sharing :)
el48tel wrote: Thu May 30, 2019 3:36 pm Thanks for the idea .... might deter the damned squirrels
Haha i’m sure it would! :grin:
User avatar
juster
BCSS Member
Posts: 2114
Joined: 17 Sep 2013
Branch: CROYDON
Country: UK
Role within the BCSS: Branch Show
Location: Surrey

Re: Opuntia grown outside - progress.

Post by juster »

Very interesting to see the progress here Mark, the plants look good. Please keep us posted.
Croydon Branch member, growing mainly cacti and Echeverias
User avatar
Mark07
BCSS Member
Posts: 261
Joined: 07 Sep 2018
Branch: LIVERPOOL
Country: United Kingdom
Role within the BCSS: Member
Location: Wirral, UK

Re: Opuntia grown outside - progress.

Post by Mark07 »

juster wrote: Thu May 30, 2019 5:05 pm Very interesting to see the progress here Mark, the plants look good. Please keep us posted.
Thank you, and I will do :)
User avatar
Mark07
BCSS Member
Posts: 261
Joined: 07 Sep 2018
Branch: LIVERPOOL
Country: United Kingdom
Role within the BCSS: Member
Location: Wirral, UK

Re: Opuntia grown outside - progress.

Post by Mark07 »

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.
7DD61A4F-599C-4689-84FA-C5DF1436774C.jpeg
0861DFA9-6377-4CCF-A419-C5F4A28CC3FD.jpeg
8A53C443-7401-4E6D-868A-A3EC78B0F8E1.jpeg
Post Reply