Have I gone mad?

[Roatavator]

My Cleistocactus strausii outgrew the greenhouse some couple of years ago. I started off some cuttings but decided this year as much as I like the flowers, they really do grow too tall to accommodate in my small greenhouse with staging all round. I was going to throw the young plants out. But then we decided to start a dry bed in part of the drive and turning area. This is south facing, mainly gravel which I beefed up with a bit of John Innes and a lot of coarse grit. So, why not give them a bash I thought. I’m fully expecting to lose them but as they can take minus 10 in the mountains and I can give them a bit of protection in the worst of winter you never know. And we’re in the dry Brecks. One way or another I’ll update after winter.

[iann]

Could be a while yet before that hedge grows in ...

[Roatavator]

Yes, Iann, my wife did have a sharp intake of breath when I showed her a photo of a mature stand of them in habitat!

[MattGibbs]

Totally bonkers, but experimenting is good

[MrSlinkyDragon]

If it grows it grows.

[Roatavator]

I think out of all the replies, bonkers sums it up best. But they’ll have more chance there than on the compost heap, which is where they were originally bound.

[Tina]

If it was my drive I would probably manage to reverse over them so better your drive than mine

[ralphrmartin]

The only thing is that in habitat, they grow on the edges of tall cliffs. Make of that what you will.

[Roatavator]

Not exactly Norfolk then Ralph....