Some winter survivors

[Nick_G]

I experimented this past winter leaving some plants in pots, outside, totally unprotected. They were potted in 100% molar clay cat litter with maybe a bit of grit. The weather was wet but not particularly cold, some nights sub zero, until the recent cold snap when we had snow and freezing temperatures for a week. They were buried beneath 4-6 inches of snow for the whole week.

Here are the results:

Gymnocalycium lepidum, the marking is from being scorched last summer, seems to have come through totally unscathed.

Gymnocalycium ochoterenae? maybe someone can comment on the identity of this, I'm not sure at all that the seed was correctly named. Totally unscathed.

Echinopsis ancistropha, a few marks

Soehrensia walteri, seems OK

Soehrensia grandiflora vatteri, not a name I know much about, the marks were the reason it was outside to begin with

Some Echinopsis hybrids

and now some casualties:

Soehrensia grandiflora pumila, this was OK until the snow came

Echinopsis tapecuana, OK until the snow

Echinopsis subdenudata and Echinopsis 'Cherry Vanilla', both died early

[el48tel]

Certainly makes one wonder what is possible.

[Ernie]

An interesting thread.

[ralphrmartin]

For what its worth, I've been surprised to get away with a few Aylostera fiebrigii type of plants, and an Echinopsis hybrid (or eyriesii). Right next to the greenhouse in pots - but also covered in snow. One of the Aylosteras has even survived a slug / snail taking a big munch out of it.

[Paul in Essex]

Interesting! Though not surprising.