#CACTUS AND TROPICALS FULL#
Add the minerals that cacti crave by incorporating Planters II (a natural trace mineral fertilizer) and phosphate at recommended rates.Mix of 2 parts native soil to 1 part coarse sand and 1 part small gravel, porous red or black volcanic scoria (common in many western states), or expanded shale aggregate.To create a lean, fast draining soil for these raised beds, berms, or containers: A berm (low mound) or a wide bed can be created, or they can be planted in frost-resistant pots and containers. If your native soil is not sandy or rocky, then it will be necessary to improve the soil's drainage. I recommend planting in raised or bermed (mounded) beds, especially where the native soils hold water and stay wet. Excellent drainage is particularly important during the winter, especially in areas that receive frequent rains or snow.
Planting cacti and succulents into water-retentive soils like heavy clays and rich loams will result in root rot.Drainage is critical to the health of a cactus plant’s root system. This means no clay and no added compost, peat moss, or soil conditioners, as these make the soil too rich in nitrogen and humus. Siting: They should be situated to receive full sun, especially during the winter months.Ĭacti require a fast draining soil.They need lean soils that have not been amended with lots of sphagnum peat moss or compost, which retain moisture and can be too rich for cacti and succulents. Soil Preparation: They like alkaline, mineral soils.Drainage: First and foremost, cacti and succulents require excellent drainage.In the garden, cold hardy cacti are not difficult to grow if you keep their basic requirements in mind.
#CACTUS AND TROPICALS HOW TO#
How To Plant Cold-Hardy Cacti and Succulents In The Garden The most cold-hardy include Great Plains natives like Escobaria, the wide-ranging Opuntia, and mountain dwellers, such as Echinocereus and Pediocactus, which can withstand winters lows of -30☏ and colder. For the purposes of this article, I have defined “cold-hardy” as cold tolerance to temperatures of 0☏ or lower. There are over 100 genera of cacti, but the majority of cold-hardy species are concentrated in a dozen or so. It is interesting that the cold hardiness of many species from West Texas and the Southwest exceed what we would expect. It seems that many of them retain their genetic cold hardiness from many thousands of years ago when those regions were much colder. The Chihuahuan desert in West Texas and southern New Mexico is also home to a treasure-trove of fascinating cold-hardy cacti. Many are found in both the mountains and the high, cold desert plateaus of this area. One species of Escobaria (also called Spiny Star Cactus) can even be found venturing into the southern edge of central Canada! The vast intermountain region is also home to numerous species. In the United States, several genera are native to the western Great Plains ranging from Oklahoma northward into Montana and the Dakotas. Additional cold-hardy species are also found in the mountains of southern-most Argentina and Patagonia. The habitats of most cold-hardy cacti are concentrated in the mountains of northern Mexico and the western United States. As more and more gardeners experiment with the various cold-hardy species, we can look to plant them more widely and expand their usefulness as garden plants into a much larger portion of the United States.Īlthough we think of cacti as being strictly low desert plants many species are found in some very cold, harsh environments. Knowing how Cacti grow in their native habitat is a helpful step in growing them successfully in your garden. Cacti are found as native plants only in the Western hemisphere. Cacti are simply a family, or sub-category, of succulents. Our selection of succulents is extensive and includes many rare and unusual varieties from South Africa and the Americas.
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