The Spirit
PHILADELPHIA WEATHER

ON THE GROW with Jeanne

Like the Arizona desert cactus? You could have it here in this area


 

 

Just because you live in the mid-Atlantic part of America does not mean you can’t have cactus in your garden. Traditional gardens in this area are full of vegetables, flowers, or plants… but cactus (or cacti as a plural)? Not too often.

Most people think of deserts and very high temperatures when you mention cactus, or small planters with little cacti that make nice centerpieces. For some people, this is their only point of reference when speaking about growing cactus in this area.

Well, if you are one of those gardeners who likes to be different, and likes to think outside the box, hold on to your spade because this will blow your mind.

You can have a garden with cacti that look like they should be growing in Arizona somewhere and they are perennial.

So, you get to enjoy cactus planted inground. You don’t have to replant them every year or bring them inside during the winter. You plant them in regular garden soil; no special sand or growth medium is required and they are drought resistant.

Cacti can be kept in pots like this one. They seem to do well in most environments.

Cacti can be kept in pots like this one. They seem to do well in most environments.

If you are really adventurous. you can even start the cacti from seed. Or you can easily find them online. Also, many times people who have them on their property, in an effort to keep the spiny plants under control, will remove new growth (called aeroles) and most times just throw them away.

Ask around; you may find someone more than happy to let you prune their cactus. Before you take anyone up their offer to prune their plant, make sure to wear some very thick gloves; the thorny spines on the cacti can really hurt and sometimes are hard to get out of your skin.

Once you secure the aeroles, it is just a matter of literally sticking them in the ground and waiting for them to take root. They are not particular about where you plant them, but if you live in a very cold and windy area, you can increase your cacti’s chances of survival by planting them on the south side of your house.

Cactus can grow very fast and isn’t always easy to get rid of. Gardeners should take into consideration the maintenance necessary to keep cacti under control.

Cactus can grow very fast and isn’t always easy to get rid of. Gardeners should take into consideration the maintenance necessary to keep cacti under control.

Cacti can also be grown in a pot if you don’t have the space to plant them in-ground or if you just want to control the spread. Many people don’t realize that in a few years, a single plant can grow into a dense, tangled mess. So, plan carefully before you plant.

If the plant does get out of control, unfortunately there is no easy way to get rid of it. You could try mowing to kill it but, that only serves to propagate the plant and spread it throughout the yard. The plants are also quite resistant to herbicide. If you decide to use herbicide to get rid of the cacti, make sure the product you decide to use won’t damage other desirable species growing near the cactus.

Repeated digging can be successful – use a pick or shovel to dig two-to- four inches below the soil surface. Be sure to wear thick gloves, long sleeves, pants, and eye protection. Take care to remove all pieces of the cactus.

Bottom line is you can have cacti, even if you don’t live in the desert, but there are some things you need to consider before you make the commitment.

Cactus is very resilient. This plant survived an encounter with a ride-on lawnmower with very little help from its owner.

Cactus is very resilient. This plant survived an encounter with a ride-on lawnmower with very little help from its owner.

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