Hi- I'm a big cactus fan and, until recently, had loads growing in my house. I've now moved in with my girlfriend who isn't a fan (to say the least!) and I've had to get rid of most of them!
I'm now wondering whether any 'hardy' cacti can be grown in the garden and can survive our winter...? Surely there must be tough cacti that grow up mountains and things and survive harsh winters?
Any suggestions or advice much appreciated.
Cheers.
James

On Mar 8, 7:39*pm, James Porter James.Porter.
wrote:
Hi- I'm a big cactus fan and, until recently, had loads growing in my
house. I've now moved in with my girlfriend who isn't a fan (to say the
least!) and I've had to get rid of most of them!
I'm now wondering whether any 'hardy' cacti can be grown in the garden
and can survive our winter...? Surely there must be tough cacti that
grow up mountains and things and survive harsh winters?
Any suggestions or advice much appreciated.
Cheers.
James

--
James Porter

where are you at? what kind of winter are you talking about? cacti
grow in cold, but the soils drain very quickly. I have prickly pear
and jumping Chola that are hardy outside, but unless I planted them in
poor sandy soil here in my zone 7a in Tennessee, the Chola would
probably die from the rains and humidity. pad cacti do alright here,
though as do agave. what kind of cacti do you have? Can you put
your cacti in a specific place so that your girlfriend isn't
intimidated? She's probably weary of the spines. Is there any way of
compromise? Or is it a matter of either you get rid of the cactus or
you leave........how long have you had your cacti? I've got a Cereus
that I've grown since 1984......she weighs 100 pounds and I named her
Brenda after the woman who gave it to me in 1983 to watch for her
while she moved. She blooms at night in the late summer only once per
blossom and last year had over 29 individually maturing flower buds
that opened over a course of five weeks, then made another flush in
late September and bloomed in October at night.

without knowing where you are, I can't say you can plant them outside.
But you CAN take them out onto the deck after all chance of frost. I
do every spring and bring them in by fall before frost and freeze.

madgardener gardening with houseplants and cacti and perennials in
zone 7a Sunset zone 36 in Eastern Tennessee

James Porter wrote in
:

Hi- I'm a big cactus fan and, until recently, had loads growing
in my house. I've now moved in with my girlfriend who isn't a
fan (to say the least!) and I've had to get rid of most of them!

what did she get rid of for you? i'd be suspicious of entering any
relationship where i had to give up something important to me that i
enjoyed, especially if the one asking me to give it up doesn't do any
giving up themselves...

I'm now wondering whether any 'hardy' cacti can be grown in the
garden and can survive our winter...? Surely there must be tough
cacti that grow up mountains and things and survive harsh
winters? Any suggestions or advice much appreciated.

well, where do you live? zone (if in US)? climate? i can grow pad
cacti outdoors in NH. there are optunia that are fine up to zone 3
(which is -40F winter temps). my less hardy cacti go outside for the
summer after first frost & come back inside in September (sometimes
as late as October).
lee

On Sun, 8 Mar 2009 23:39:26 +0000, James Porter
wrote:


Hi- I'm a big cactus fan and, until recently, had loads growing in my
house. I've now moved in with my girlfriend who isn't a fan (to say the
least!) and I've had to get rid of most of them!
I'm now wondering whether any 'hardy' cacti can be grown in the garden
and can survive our winter...? Surely there must be tough cacti that
grow up mountains and things and survive harsh winters?
Any suggestions or advice much appreciated.
Cheers.
James

I have a rather extensive cacti collection. I tried growing one that
originated on the southern CA coastline, but did not survive the
frost. The only sure way is to get a cutting from a plant known
that survives your winter. If the girl is to become a wife, get rid
of the cactus plants or put up a private greenhouse unless you can
convince her to enjoy the beauty of cactus.

"James Porter" wrote:

Hi- I'm a big cactus fan and, until recently, had loads growing in my
house. I've now moved in with my girlfriend who isn't a fan (to say the
least!) and I've had to get rid of most of them!
I'm now wondering whether any 'hardy' cacti can be grown in the garden
and can survive our winter...? Surely there must be tough cacti that
grow up mountains and things and survive harsh winters?
Any suggestions or advice much appreciated.
Cheers.
James


Where are you in the UK, most parts don't have very cold winters.... many
cacti and succulents tolerate cold well (high desert in the US dips below
freezing nearly every night). Also how many cacti are you talking about,
and their size, some can be huge... I like cacti but I wouldn't want like a
hundred spiney goliaths strewn about every window in the house. Seems to me
that if they present a probem where you are considering planting them
outdoors (and so there must be adequate outdoor space) then your load of
cacti must be a boatload. If you are moving into someone's abode you really
can't expect them to get rid of their furnishings to make room for your
plant menagerie but perhaps a compromise is in order, pick out a few of your
favorites to keep indoors and for all the rest you can pay to erect a decent
greenhouse outdoors. This should really be a no brainer, it's not like she
has six cats and you're moving in with your six dogs. To start off think
greenhouse... if after a year or so and things become permanent perhaps add
on a four season conservatory that you can both enjoy. And don't pay any
attention to those bitter women with their negativeity. Whenever people
come together there has to be give and take. So long as you are essentially
happy with each other why should either of you have to be lonely over some
friggin' plants, maybe she has every inch of space covered with her
fercocktah needle point (I wouldn't want to live with a women who is a
compulsive sewer/knitter, every stitch is a jab of hate). You'll *both*
have to make compromises, and for rest of your lives there will be
compromises. You just can't pay any attention to those sour puss women with
their giant leaps that having to compromise your cacti means you will have
to give up your self... besides, they ain't seen the size of her tits. LOL

Do what makes you happy, listen to your own heart, don't listen to anyone
else. Good luck.

On Mar 8, 5:39*pm, James Porter James.Porter.
wrote:
Hi- I'm a big cactus fan and, until recently, had loads growing in my
house. I've now moved in with my girlfriend who isn't a fan (to say the
least!) and I've had to get rid of most of them!
I'm now wondering whether any 'hardy' cacti can be grown in the garden
and can survive our winter...? Surely there must be tough cacti that
grow up mountains and things and survive harsh winters?
Any suggestions or advice much appreciated.
Cheers.
James

Gardens North site lists several in their retail catalogue - I doubt
if you would be able to order but at least give you some names and
zonal informaiton.
No affiliation
Dora

http://gardensnorth.com/site/