Hi: I receved three new cactis need help

[bking29]

Hi I Just receved these three new to me cactis. The person that gave them to me can not remember there names.
The first one she told me came as a start from an Indian reservation she worked at.

[CactusBoss]

last one Opuntia humifusa

[martenfisher]

The first is not a cactus but probably Agave americana. I don't know how much cold they can take but I have never seen one freeze at all here. Last one Opuntia humifusa for sure.

[iann]

The other is a Gymnocalycium. Maybe G. damsii, have to see what the flowers are like.

[Harriet]

The first could be a bunch of agave pups that look like they want more room and maybe more light. Or they could be something else entirely, I can't pinpoint it exactly but there is something un-agave-like about those plants (probably caused by their environment). They could be A. americana, but then there are a lot of other choices! I don't think of A. americana as having such curvaceous leaves...

The second is an epiphyllum of some sort, the third a gymnocalycium and the last is O. humifusa. The epi and gymno will be easier to ID when they bloom.

[bking29]

Thanks to all for the help Yes the first one was living in a house with not much light It gets a lot of sun now and will get repotted soon are the these like a yuaka when then spred from the root if so can I just cut free the pups to repot. I was told that the Indians used to brake the tips off and use the thred's in the leaf to sew with.

[martenfisher]

I think you mean yucca. The agave is more hardy than yucca and the agave is the plant they make tequila from. You can probably get other agave varieties also since Agave americana is super common across most all the southern U.S. in gardens. Even dwarfs and variegated.

[Saxicola]

I think you mean yucca. The agave is more hardy than yucca and the agave is the plant they make tequila from. You can probably get other agave varieties also since Agave americana is super common across most all the southern U.S. in gardens. Even dwarfs and variegated.

It may be somewhat hardy but I would think Ohio would be pushing it as far as winter cold goes. There are some Yucca that can handle winters there though.

[bking29]

Thanks the fingers do not always follow the brain. These will all come inside for the winter. what is the best way to seperate the agave so I can repot the pups.

[Harriet]

Take the agave out of the pot and gently get rid of the dirt. You will see how the pups are attached by the plant version of an "umbilical cord". Clip the cords to separate the babies (somewhere in the middle is good). I would let the cut roots heal before repotting, but this step may not be as important for agave as cactus... it cuts down on the chance of rot. When you do pot them up again use a fast draining soil. Give them lots of light and a little water and watch them grow!

[bking29]

Thanks I will do that this weekend. The opuntia humifuse that I planted last week bloomed today bright yellow flowers..

[fanaticactus]

Just a sidelight on yuccas, since I see it mentioned here. Some yuccas--I don't know if it's only certain species--are planted commonly in NY in landscaping, and I've even seen them here in Vermont. In fact, I'd like to try one here; I have a perfect spot.

[Saxicola]

Just a sidelight on yuccas, since I see it mentioned here. Some yuccas--I don't know if it's only certain species--are planted commonly in NY in landscaping, and I've even seen them here in Vermont. In fact, I'd like to try one here; I have a perfect spot.

It is probably Yucca filamentosa. It is native to the Southeast US as far north as Virginia. I used to see it planted in Boston when I lived there. The good thing about it besides the cold hardiness is that it is perfectly happy with wet, humid summers which the East Coast is famous for.

[fanaticactus]

It very well could be, Saxicola; as I said I don't even know the various species. Does the filamentosa have sort of thin white or buff fly-away filaments (hence the name) on the leaves, as if it's been "shredded"? I've seen those in passing at some garden centers. The one I had in NY did not have those. Instead, the edges were smooth. I need something that will withstand a spot very open to all directions at the end of my driveway. It has full, hot sun all day--but in winter the area is subject to strong frigid winds. Perhaps it should be wrapped in burlap?

[hoteidoc]

Dave - I've got several filamentosa's. Mine are exposed to a LOT of wind. Older growth gets frayed.