Outdoor Cactus bed NW England.

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Mark07
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Outdoor Cactus bed NW England.

Post by Mark07 »

Just thought I’d start a thread on the progress of this little outdoor bed I started in the summer last year. I decided to create some pockets for planting in between large rocks and filled in the crevices with a bed of gravel as base followed by 50% JI no2 and 50% molar clay gravel. I’ve chosen known hardy plants and all plants have done well through their first winter with plenty of new growth buds now appearing. Some even have flower buds. Only protection in the winter is a rain canopy to keep the bed dry.
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Darren S
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Re: Outdoor Cactus bed NW England.

Post by Darren S »

This looks great Mark. Nice to see what you can achieve even in this part of the uk. I am not far from you and have thought about doing similar but have always been concerned about our high humidity even if I cover the plants. Am now making plans.....
Darren nr Lancaster UK. Growing Conophytum, Lobivia, Sulcorebutia, bulbs etc.
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Mark07
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Re: Outdoor Cactus bed NW England.

Post by Mark07 »

Darren S wrote: Fri Apr 16, 2021 5:40 pm This looks great Mark. Nice to see what you can achieve even in this part of the uk. I am not far from you and have thought about doing similar but have always been concerned about our high humidity even if I cover the plants. Am now making plans.....
Thanks Darren, and good luck with yours :).

I was also worried about the high humidity and apart from some slight marks on the Cylindropuntia imbricata all was well. Only time will tell I suppose.

This is all the protection they had to keep the area dry over winter:
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Mark07
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Re: Outdoor Cactus bed NW England.

Post by Mark07 »

This one has a similar shelter over the winter and has been in the ground now about 3 years.
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Mike P
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Re: Outdoor Cactus bed NW England.

Post by Mike P »

And no mollusc damage...
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Re: Outdoor Cactus bed NW England.

Post by edds »

Mike P wrote: Fri Apr 16, 2021 6:18 pm And no mollusc damage...
I was just thinking how clean they all looked too. Are you treating for slugs, moulds or anything?
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Mark07
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Re: Outdoor Cactus bed NW England.

Post by Mark07 »

Thanks. I haven’t put anything down for slugs but I find that with the clay granules they tend to stay away with them being kept dry as they don’t like travelling across it. Now the cover is off though I will need to keep an eye on it during summer rains but so far so good :)

I’m not treating for any moulds either.

For the older bed there is the odd snail / slug but they don’t bother with the large Opuntia pads, only new growth so I regularly check and remove when new pads are showing.
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Mike P
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Re: Outdoor Cactus bed NW England.

Post by Mike P »

As you note they do attack the new pads which Mars the overall appearance.
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Re: Outdoor Cactus bed NW England.

Post by FredG »

A little electric fence will help :wink:
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Re: Outdoor Cactus bed NW England.

Post by juster »

Very interesting Mark, the plants look good (tu)
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