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Produce => Non Edible Plants => Topic started by: tonybloke on August 26, 2009, 20:33:16

Title: another outdoor cactus in bloom
Post by: tonybloke on August 26, 2009, 20:33:16
[attachment=1]
this one is in a wall planter, got 3 flowers on it today!
Title: Re: another outdoor cactus in bloom
Post by: saddad on August 27, 2009, 11:16:50
Not my cup of tea Tony... but well done..  :)
Title: Re: another outdoor cactus in bloom
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on August 27, 2009, 18:58:30
How much of the year does it spend outdoors? There are plenty that will flourish in summer, but only a few Opuntias which have any chance of making it through the winter. I've seen them growing outside in Cornwall, but they always looked pretty miserable.
Title: Re: another outdoor cactus in bloom
Post by: Ninnyscrops. on August 27, 2009, 21:48:07
Not a very good piccy, but my cactus is similar to yours Tony, how old before they start to flower?  I've just brought mine back indoors from the greenhouse.

(http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t87/ninnyscrops/th_DSCF0454.jpg) (http://s158.photobucket.com/albums/t87/ninnyscrops/?action=view&current=DSCF0454.jpg)

Linda

Title: Re: another outdoor cactus in bloom
Post by: tonybloke on August 29, 2009, 21:01:56
outdoors all year, in a sheltered east facing spot, under the overhanging guttering, in a free-draining soil/grit/compost mix. after all, most deserts are very cold at night, and cactus can survive cold, but not frozen roots.  ;)
the M.I.L. grows a few in a raised bed outside her front door, they been there for years, and flower twice per year (I have posted piccy's B4)
Title: Re: another outdoor cactus in bloom
Post by: tonybloke on August 29, 2009, 21:03:38
Quote from: Ninnyscrops (downtoearth) on August 27, 2009, 21:48:07
Not a very good piccy, but my cactus is similar to yours Tony, how old before they start to flower?  I've just brought mine back indoors from the greenhouse.
Linda
had that cactus for 4 yrs,
Title: Re: another outdoor cactus in bloom
Post by: Jitterbug on September 17, 2009, 22:45:03
Hi there

What a beautie - I am not much of a cactus / succulent plant person but last week at Mount St Michael in cornwall I saw a succulent plant that looked like a green rosette.  I can tell you that my fingers itched just to pinch a couple of pieces and pop them into my pocket but I can proudly say I resisted the urge and cannot find anything like it in the nurseries I am haunting.  :'( :'(

Jitterbug
Title: Re: another outdoor cactus in bloom
Post by: tonybloke on September 17, 2009, 23:20:23
sounds like you saw a variety of 'house leek'  sempervivum tectorum. (there are several types of sempervivum) ;)
Title: Re: another outdoor cactus in bloom
Post by: jennym on September 19, 2009, 23:45:53
I do like cactus when they flower. Like tonybloke, mine are kept outdoors all year, they sit in pots on a ledge facing west, but are also sheltered from rain in winter because they are under the overhang of my house too. They're fine in the cold, I measured minus 6 last winter and no problems. I don't water them at all after October. This is an old picture, it was covered in flowers this year.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/jennympics/Orangefloweredcactus210706.jpg)
Title: Re: another outdoor cactus in bloom
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on September 20, 2009, 20:40:09
That one can take a lot of cold, as long as it's dry. A lot of cacti can't take frost, so you have to be careful about it.