winter protection

Discuss hardy cacti grown outside all year.
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shadow
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2018 5:13 pm

winter protection

Post by shadow »

I'm new to growing cacti and other succulents and live in Oak View, CA (Ventura County). A friend passed on and I was given his potted cacti and succulent collection. Most were labeled which helps. Our lows here in this inland valley can get down into the high teens, low twenties. My plan is to grow the potted plants outdoors on wooden pallets and cover them with layers of cotton sheets and other fabric when the temperatures drop. Are there special fabrics or other techniques that work better to protect them from the cold?
jellycacti
Posts: 44
Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2018 12:50 am
Location: SoCal

Re: winter protection

Post by jellycacti »

It would help if you could share what species they are. Cacti have wildly different hardiness levels, ranging from 60° to as low as -20°F for a few select species. Did your friend keep them outside in winter in the same climate? You may find that the winter wet is more dangerous than the cold for many of them. Most cacti prefer to be kept quite dry in winter when temperatures drop below 50, although there are exceptions.
DaveW
Posts: 7376
Joined: Thu Dec 20, 2012 2:36 pm
Location: Nottingham, England/UK

Re: winter protection

Post by DaveW »

You may find some ideas in this link:-

http://www.cactiguide.com/forum/viewtop ... ts#p343390
shadow
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2018 5:13 pm

Re: winter protection

Post by shadow »

Thank you. It's raining now in southern CA and so now I have both cold temperatures and rain to contend with. I'll try to put together a list of cacti I have been given and post it. I'll try the plastic sheeting to keep the rain off and put cotton sheets over the plants for frost protection. My plants seem to love the rain. All the spines are colorful now.
shadow
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2018 5:13 pm

Re: winter protection

Post by shadow »

I forgot to explain that this collection came from my friend Ron Hodges in Eugene and they were grown in an unheated greenhouse. Some of the plants looked like they were possibly scared by frost damage but not sure. They have grown out of that condition.
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greenknight
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Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 4:18 am
Location: SW Washington State zone 8b

Re: winter protection

Post by greenknight »

If they grew in an unheated greenhouse in Eugene, they shouldn't have any problem with the cold in your area as long as you keep them dry in the winter. Cotton sheets in the event of a hard freeze will probably be sufficient - they'll help both by providing some insulation and by keeping the sun from hitting the plants when they're frozen. Sun on frozen plants often causes more damage than the freezing, don't uncover them until they've thawed.
Spence :mrgreen:
keith
Posts: 1860
Joined: Wed Jun 12, 2013 3:50 am
Location: S. CA USA

Re: winter protection

Post by keith »

Keep the rain off them in Winter and I bet they will be fine. Most Dry at the roots cactus can take night time frost as long as it is sunny and above freezing during the day.
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