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Echinocactus polycephalus (cotton top cactus)

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DesertZone
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Any one out there growing this one in a cold climate, say a zone 7 or lower?
Any one growing this one in Idaho?

Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/miniWeather06_both/language/www/US/ID/Gooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

 
Posted : 10/10/2005 10:48 pm
DesertZone
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I am so happy 😀 I am finaly the proud owner of Echinocactus polycephalus. 😀 It is a small plant but that is alright 🙂 In the future I will try growing this one for sell, becuase it is a very hard plant to find, even the seed was hard to get a hold of. 😯 I have not tried to grow my seeds yet, but will give them a try soon. 🙂

Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/miniWeather06_both/language/www/US/ID/Gooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

 
Posted : 22/10/2005 8:44 am
admin
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That's awesome Aaron. 😀 What's the hardiness of it?

 
Posted : 23/10/2005 2:42 pm
DesertZone
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I am not sure how hardy it is? 😕 I do know that aleast 2 other people have grown this plant in Idaho over the past 4 years. 😀 I think I will cover it up this first and maybe the secound year. 🙂 The seed of this plant comes from an area where the plants get very large, hard to tell from fero barrel cactus. 😯

Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/miniWeather06_both/language/www/US/ID/Gooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

 
Posted : 24/10/2005 7:45 am
DesertZone
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hardy if kept very dry in winter, been through 3 winters

Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/miniWeather06_both/language/www/US/ID/Gooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

 
Posted : 16/08/2009 3:38 pm
DesertZone
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Maybe only 2 winters? 😕

Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/miniWeather06_both/language/www/US/ID/Gooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

 
Posted : 16/08/2009 3:39 pm
DesertZone
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http://unkowndestination.blogspot.com/2013/10/what-is-biggest-cold-hardy-cactus-for.html

Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/miniWeather06_both/language/www/US/ID/Gooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

 
Posted : 20/10/2013 1:35 pm
Bato367
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Posts: 107
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Aaron did your seeds ever sprout? According to my 'cactus bible', the Polycephalus is hardy to the authors zone 5 without covered protection; just good siting I assume. The author also states that the var. xeranthemoides is even more cold hardy than the sp. polycephalus. Food for thought.

My polycephalus have not sprouted yet.

Still waiting. :coffee:

-Mike

Grand Junction, CO:

Carpe diem

 
Posted : 16/03/2015 11:25 pm
DesertZone
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I did have a few seeds sprout, but I let them get to dry when very little and they died. I would be very weary of them living through a zone 5 not covered, but I'm sure it's possible. I believe there is a few different forms or subspecies out there, and I'm sure they all different cold tolerances. And to mention they are very expensive. I will always cover mine, helps keep them dry in winter. If I had a bunch of seedling I might grow a few for trials. 😀

Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/miniWeather06_both/language/www/US/ID/Gooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

 
Posted : 17/03/2015 10:22 pm
DesertZone
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Up date.

Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/miniWeather06_both/language/www/US/ID/Gooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

 
Posted : 17/03/2015 10:26 pm
DesertZone
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Mike,

This might be good info on starting the seed, and what I will try, if I ever get more seed.

http://lophophora.blogspot.com/2013/06/growing-echinocactus-polycephalus-and.html

Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/miniWeather06_both/language/www/US/ID/Gooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

 
Posted : 17/03/2015 10:43 pm
Bato367
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Posts: 107
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Awesome thank you! I got my seed here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/171068594671?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&var=470267475637&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

No polycephalus yet but I did notice today my Echinocereus Reichenbacii var. perbellus and Ferocactus Wislizeni sprouted so I am kinda stoked about that.

-Mike

Grand Junction, CO:

Carpe diem

 
Posted : 17/03/2015 10:50 pm
DesertZone
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Thanks, was looking at that the other day.
😉

Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/miniWeather06_both/language/www/US/ID/Gooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

 
Posted : 17/03/2015 11:04 pm
(@hardyjim)
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Bato367
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Counted 4 of these today. The Polycephalus finally sprouted.

-Mike

Grand Junction, CO:

Carpe diem

 
Posted : 18/03/2015 7:27 pm
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