Cacti

Cacti - plural of cactus, cactuses is also acceptable but not as exotic sounding when spoken. You almost spew slobber attempting to say cac-t-us-es. The word cacti is just so precise. The sharpness of the pronunciation emulates the painful sticks from spines of the plants. Any plants of any cactus family that have succulent stems and branches with scales or spines instead of leaves & are found in especially dry areas (deserts) belong to the cactus genus (Cactaceae).

I never thought I would grow cactuses. I mean this is Iowa! Cactus don't grow here, just thistles. That's what I used to think. But when just for fun I decided to try it, I liked it. I find the entire species to be so intriguing. How anything can thrive in torturing desert elements mystifies me. Check out a desert botanical garden if you really want to blow your mind some time. The plants are true marvels. You gotta respect 'em. They'll stick ya if you don't. And the spectacular blossoms the plants produce are unbelievably beautiful. It's miraculous that such dangerously thorny, weird plants produce magnificent, delicate, vibrant blooms. On my first visit to Phoenix Botanical Gardens they had to kick me out at closing time. I wanted to go back the next day too. I couldn't get enough. I brought home seeds of the Desert Marigold but they did very poorly for me; like they never came up!

My daughter & I dug this up by the side of an old dirt road in Arkansas. My aunt whom we were visiting thought we were nuts. I sent her a picture of this blooming in its pot. She went out & dug one to grow beside her house.

Prickly Pear Cacti has grown great for me here in Iowa. It's been on the south side of the house for 5 years now.

I love pieces of it in a pot! I use metal tongs & leather gloves to handle it. I just cut off a segment, stick it in cactus soil, & watch it do its thing. The blossoms have a heavy waxy substance & are a spectacular sight.

I am thinking about joining the Mid-Iowa Cactus & Succulent Association. Check out the Cactus and Succulent Society of America website.

Mid-Iowa Cactus & Succulent Association.

Also see Bed #39 for more cacti.

It's alive & doing well / as far as I can tell. I found this little bunch of tiny hardy pincushion cactus early last spring. It seemed perfect to grow in a clay tile (planter). I really didn't trust that it would withstand an Iowa winter but it did. It's so FUN!

Also see Pincushion Cacti for more info.

Summer 2007

Marlys' Cacti 2007

Finally, I repotted all my baby cactus into individual 6" clay pots. It had been on my 'list' of things to do for a couple years. I use metal tongs and leather gloves to handle them. It's such a good feeling to finally actually get the job done. And the cacti seem happy about it too. Can you see them smiling?

None of these species are winter-hardy. They winter indoors in south-windows or under fluorescent lights. The trick is not to water them too much or too often. In summer when they are out on the deck I never water them extra; Mother Nature does a great job taking care of them then. Special Cactus Soil that allows really good drainage protects the plants from getting over-watered. They are fun and reward me with precious, tiny, bright blossoms every once in a while.

I'm a proud Cactus Grandma - summer 2007

These tiny cacti have lived undisturbed, year-round, on the west side of our home for 3 years now. The rock and sandy soil in the clay tile planter (straight from the field) allows good drainage and gathers warmth from the sunshine for these fun little characters. This pin cushion species is definitely winter-hardy in Iowa. It's so fun!

I'm still learning about winter-hardy - zone 5 cactus. I still want to join the Iowa Mid-Iowa Cactus & Succulent Association. I have a long list of "things to do in life". Maybe after retirement age I'll get to it all.