My Front-Yard Cactus (Utah)

[salima]

I am posting a few pics of my front yard (I am xeriscaping it ... and still a work still in progress) where I have placed a couple of cacti that grow outdoors all year round. I am in Utah, about 4,500 feet above sea level, temps get to about 105 F in summer, and can go below zero F in winter, although usually we stay in the low single digits F at night in winter. Even though I am technically in zone 5, the weather here behaves like a perfect zone 4.

I have had this particular cactus for 17 years, always outdoors, and I just transplanted it last fall in this larger pot with some new sand. It has lots and lots of blossoms. They last one day, usually, then wilt. It is beautiful!

In a year or two, I will be able to dig a large hole in the front yard, and create a permanent space for the cacti (gravel and sand) so they will not need to stay in their pots.

(BTW, can anyone identify for me this particular cactus? I would be grateful). [edited ... opuntia polyacantha?]

Thanks,

Salima

[salima]

Am I guessing right, opuntia polyacantha?

At the bottom of the plant, and in the middle section, it has a few pads that seem in necrosis to me. Probably because the pot in was in before the transplant was too high, and some pad did not get the light nor the drainage they should have had (my fault, of course). Is it OK to just carefully cut off those pads with a sharp knife at their connecting point?

Thanks again,

Salima

[A. Dean Stock]

Salima, you don't say where in Utah you live but the cactus appears to be correctly identified according to current taxonomy. Is the cactus a local form?? I'm growing many Opuntia in Utah in the Kanab area. There is a little damage to one or two pads but this is cosmetic and need not be removed unless you feel it detracts from the beauty of the plant. You could just cut off the offending pad as you suggest but I would just let it go.
Dean

[salima]

I bought the cactus at a farmer's market 18 years ago, it only had 3 pads back then (I am in the Provo area). It has gone through several increasingly large pots/transplants over the years. The penultimate pot (2007-2012) did not drain correctly, and was too deep, thus many bottom pads did not get the sun they needed for 4 or 5 years, until this last transplant (seen in pics) which dates fall 2012. I am enclosing pics of the damage I created by not caring right for the cactus. Some pads seem in full necrosis (I will not pull if the plant is OK to stay with them on). Some pads show large yellowish areas, I assume from previous lack of sun and incorrect drainage. Obviously the plant is doing well (it has always been very generous in producing flowers each year, over the years, no matter the pot it was in).

A question I have is of the very slim pad growing from the major body of the plant. Do they grow that way initially? Or is this also an outcome of previous bad keeping?

I am not fertilizing the cactus (never have). From the pics provided, am I OK just to let it do its thing now that it has sandy soil to grow in, plenty of sun in summer, and plenty of cold and snow to cover it up in winter?

Thank you for any suggestions, Salima

[MJPapay]

That's a cracker of a cactus!

Lovely flowers.

Rather reminds me of one I have called Opuntia polyacantha "Red Glory". Flower color varies in intensity.

As for the spindly growth, I reckon it was just trying to get out from under the other pads and get a bit more sunlight. Often seedlings will exhibit this growth form as they stretch for light.

[A. Dean Stock]

The very slim growth appears to be a seedling from the original plant. It will develop a flattened pad on the end eventally. You can remove it and pot it up.
Dean

[CactusSquirrel]

Beautiful cactus!

[Peterthecactusguy]

the slim pad is a seedling alright! I love Volunteers!

[DesertZone]

Very nice garden!
I think you might even be warmer than a zone 5, I think you could grow many nice cactus in your area.