I have come accross some cuttings of about 5 or 6 cacti im going to plant out. I have an area, that I have been using for veggies that recieves tons of sun during the summer. I wish to place my cacti in this area, becasue it gets the hottest durring the summer as well. I just have a few questions about reating the bed:
1) It is close to the back portch, so it may get some water. I can atttatch a sumple eves trough to direct the water elsewhere if possible.
2) Any suggestions on making the soil proper? IT seems to be sandy. When iw ater it seems to pool on the top, and dissapears quite quickly. I think its a mix of sand clay, cause 300 or 400 years ago, my property was under the lake.
3) the gass line runs right underneeth the bed. I dont think it is very deep ( mabey 2 or 3 feet below the ground). I can get around this by raising thebed a bit corret?
4) This spot doesnt get as much sun as it does in the summer, during winter. It is one of the first spots to thaw, and one of the last to freeze. The temps during the day, can be 10 or more degrees warmer then the surrounding area ( its an area thats like half a square, between 2 south facing walls)
Thanks again
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Yes, direct water away from the bed, especially if there's some clay in the mix.
I'd raise the bed--not because of the gasline--cactus roots won't bother that--using gravel because sand can stay very wet even tho' the top drains.
Gravel can be placed into the bottom of a, say, 1-foot deep trench, regular mix replaced on top, then cactus planted.
Sounds like a perfect spot with a bit of amending from eavestrough/downspout and coarse gravel.
You'll obviously start the cactus pads indoors.
Nice spot for a yucca or two also.
Barb
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
I was going to use playground sand and gravel mixed. I never thought of using soil at all. Then again theres still some layer of topsoil i most deaserts.
THe gas line im referencing to, is natural gas, for the furnace and water heating.
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Your cacti would be fine to be grown in any permeable soil. Just keep them away from the winter moisture. My friends grow cacti successfully in Almaty covering them with plastic.
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With "regular mix" I meant the sand that was already there (not soil).
Just put gravel underneath it.
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
oooooooooooooh LOL thanks barb 😛
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The key is obviously your soil mixture but not far behind is the right selection
of cacti for your given location.
How big an area are you going for?
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its small, mabey 4x4?? It gets tons of sun and is hot and dries out very quickly. It gets less sun in the winter, mabey 4-5 hours of direct light ( ill take some better measurements this winter to know for sure). I dont have an option to make this particular bed bigger, and all the prime southfacing spots in my yard are taken up, or will be. The only other good spot for sun, is the south wall of my house. The only problem here is the moisture the plants would get from being close to the house, and, its a grassed pathway along the house. i can probably find a way around this easily, im jsut not sure what my options are yet.
The cacti i have are 2 species of opuntia, and 3 types of cholla (Cylindropuntia). Their taking up the majority of my south facing windows.
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I don't know that you can order from him there but
check out this guys site for some great ideas,lot's of fun
flowering barrels,etc to chose from!
http://coldhardycactus.com/index.htm
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