WHAT CACTUES CAN BE GROWED IN OPEN GROUND – NAME AND DESCRIPTION
Most gardeners consider cacti to be heat-loving pot plants.. But there are types, which in the middle lane can withstand winters without shelter, and bloom great in summer.
TYPES OF CACTUSES FOR GROWING IN OPEN GROUND
Outdoor cacti
My 1,500 collection is represented by more than ten genera of winter-hardy cacti, as well as all kinds of them and their hybrids. Among them, the most common and well-known prickly pear and its unpretentious species: Opuntia fragilis, Opuntia ssp. camanchica, Opuntia polyacantha, Opuntia basilaris, Opuntia Aurea, Opuntia macrorhiza, Opuntia debreczeni, Opuntia rutila, Opuntia pinkavae, Opuntia humifusa et al.
Winters well without shelter from moisture Escobaria vivipara - a plant with a spherical stem up to 7 cm tall. Flowers from bright pink-carnation to purple color, in diameter 5 cm. Fruits - edible. In the fall, the cactus loses so much moisture, which sometimes turns out to be below ground level.
Pediocactus simpsonii v. minor - rare view, also perfectly wintering in our latitudes.
WHERE TO PLANT CACTUS ON THE STREET
An alpine slide is best suited for them - the site must adjoin the southern wall of the building or be protected by the building from the northern winds. The place of the planned disembarkation must be raised and drainage put. The presence of large stones will help accumulate heat.
For winter-hardy cacti, frosts are not so terrible, how much excess moisture, therefore the soil must be loose, breathable. I use a mixture of nutritious garden soil as soil, peat and coarse sand (1:1:1) with the addition of brick chips and crushed coal.
CACTUS IN A FLOWER BED IN OPEN GROUND
We are used to seeing cacti in flowerpots on the windowsill.. But they can be grown in a flower garden, and not only in summer, but also in winter!
In my one and a half thousandth collection there are more than a dozen genera of winter-hardy cacti, as well as their various species and hybrids. Among them, the most common and well-known prickly pear: Opuntia fragilis, ABOUT. phaeacantha var. camanchica, ABOUT. polyacantha, ABOUT. basilaris, ABOUT. aurea, ABOUT. macrorhiza, ABOUT. to debrecze, ABOUT. red, ABOUT. pinkavae, ABOUT. humifus and others. Winters well without shelter from moisture Escobaria vivipara - a plant with a spherical stem up to 7 cm tall. Flowers bright pink-carnation to purple, in diameter - 5 cm. Fruits are edible. In autumn, the cactus sheds "so much moisture, which sometimes turns out to be below ground level.
Rare Pediocactus simpsonii var.. minor also tolerates winter well in our latitudes.
I grow cacti in the Kursk region and in the Moscow region in the Volokolamsky district. Sometimes they have to endure the temperature up to -36 deg.’ At the same time, all prickly pear, escobaria and pedocactus hibernate without shelter, just under the snow. Autumn frosts without snow also often occur., in some cases the temperature drops to -25 city.
SUITABLE CONDITIONS FOR OUTDOOR CACTUS
For comfortable growth and flowering, I plant my favorite "thorns" on alpine slides. The site must be adjacent to the south wall of the building or be protected from the north wind. I will definitely raise the landing site, pre-drainage. I install randomly large stones, which help to accumulate and retain heat.
For winter-hardy cacti, frosts are not so terrible, like excess moisture, therefore the soil must be loose, breathable. As soil I use a mixture of nutritious garden soil, peat and coarse sand in equal parts with the addition of brick chips and crushed coal.
SHELTER OF CACTUS FOR THE WINTER
Instances, who are afraid of getting wet (except prickly pear, escobarium and pedocactus), I cover in early October with a sheet of polycarbonate so, so that moisture does not get on the plants and on the soil around them. In early April, I remove the shelter.
© Author: Alexander BUKHANOV, r. Moscow. Photo by the author
CACTUS IN OPEN GROUND – VIDEO
© Author: Alexander BUKHANOV, collector, r. Moscow. Photo by the author
