Page 1 of 1

Hello from France

Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 12:17 pm
by simpleton
Hi,

I've already been seeking advice from the forum so thought I'd introduce myself.

I live in France not far from Cognac. I have a small collection of cacti with just one rule - they have to be able to survive in a greenhouse outside through the winter. As can be seen below I leave them outside from April to October.

A couple of pics

Image

Image

Re: Hello from France

Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 7:34 pm
by Chris in Leeds
Nice collection and garden
May I ask is there many cactus nurseries in France ?

Re: Hello from France

Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 10:16 pm
by juster
Welcome to the Forum, you have a good collection of plants there, looking happy and healthy.

Re: Hello from France

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2017 8:04 am
by simpleton
Thanks for the welcome.

I don't know of any specialist cactus nurseries around where I am. The garden centres will often tend to have a smallish range but I expect there's more choice further south. I have bought things online from this company http://www.letempleducactus.com/PrestaShop/ , based down near the Spanish border and I was impressed with their fast service.

Where I am the winters are too cold / wet for much to be planted directly in the ground other than agaves and opuntias, which seem to be quite popular. I've not seen much else planted although it's not unusual to see people keeping cacti in pots outside in their gardens or on terraces through the summer.

Re: Hello from France

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2017 8:48 am
by rodsmith
Welcome to the forum, simpleton. Your plants all seem to be thriving in your growing regime.

Re: Hello from France

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2017 9:23 am
by simpleton
Incidentally I can't find a soil based compost (like John Innes) here, so I tend to use a mix of decent all purpose compost (sold here as compost for geraniums) mixed with cat litter and crushed limestone (left over from some building work). I've also never seen horticultural grit being sold, only gravel which is too big.