So...this followed me home from Lowe’s

[Pattywack]

A short trip to Lowe’s for light bulbs, had to check out their plants. The Lowe’s in our area never have orchids I would consider buying but they have nice cactus and succulents if you grab them before they drown them.

I gave up trying to keep much of anything alive on our hot sunny deck with the exception of cactus and succulents. The deck is on the south side of our home, second floor and there are two big Pin Oaks and a large Birch tree but not much shade.

Years past I’ve planted many different sun loving plants in pots, looks great out there if you water like a maniac. I would rather spend my gardening time inside with my orchids.

Anyway, I found a nice Crown of thorns plant (I’ve not had one in years) and I also found this odd cactus. This is Opuntia subulata cristata Eve’s Needle Crest. Same family as Prickly Pear cactus. It is so weird looking, I had to have it. I want to repot it into a clay pot, its in plastic currently and seems to need more space. The needles are pretty intense so gloves will be necessary, I hate getting poked with cactus needles. It also has these cool little leaves covering the edges of the “pears”. I think this one will enjoy the sunny deck along with a few others I have.

Here’s the oddball:

[camille1585]

That's an awesome looking cactus! I've either seen it or a related cultivar before, and it was a mature plant that has tons of crazy contortions. I may have to start considering such plants for my south facing balcony, we are now in week 6 of a drought and I can't keep up with watering what I have on the balcony..

[Dollythehun]

From experience, those spines are deadly! Can you wrap a folded up strip of newspaper, like a band, to help lift it out of the pot? Or, I have used tongs. You are correct, it's a cutie!

[DeaC]

Nice looking plant you've found. Without my specks I thought I was looking at a Neo.-a very old one at that.

[fooferdoggie]

something to try is any of the hardy carnivorous plants. I put them in oversized pots and they go all week on one or two watering's even when the temp on the porch reaches 110 or more.

[Leafmite]

That is a very cool plant.

There are a number of leafy, drought-resistant, full-sun plants that are very pretty and grow very well in pots. They all do as well as my aloe, cacti, and Senecio rowleyanus. I know because I grow Sapodilla, Mitriostigma axillare, Olive ‘Arbequina’ (Olea europaea), Olive ‘Koroneiki’ (Olea europaea), Azadirachta indica, Psidium guajava, Aglaia odorata, macadamia nut, Plumeria, and Musa (banana trees). These would all do very well for you on your deck. Olive trees are especially pretty with their small gray leaves and interesting forms. Geraniums do almost as well as the rest--sometimes they will wilt but they perk up well after being watered.

Most of the other plants I grow have me watering daily right now as it has been quite dry and warm.

[Pattywack]

Originally Posted by camille1585

That's an awesome looking cactus! I've either seen it or a related cultivar before, and it was a mature plant that has tons of crazy contortions. I may have to start considering such plants for my south facing balcony, we are now in week 6 of a drought and I can't keep up with watering what I have on the balcony..

Thank you Camille, it is certainly different! The pears are very contorted, making it interesting. I’ve grown many different plants on this deck through the years and the hose is downstairs so it’s a bit of a pain plus it’s windy here, a lot. Things dry very fast. Cactus and succulents seem to be easier to keep and happy. I also use ornamental grasses in large pots and transplant them into our gardens later. I have to choose plants that I can easily overwinter indoors so space is an issue. I’ve hogged most of the indoor space with orchids and other tropical plants.

Last year I saved my old leaky birdbath from the trash by planting it with succulents.

If you have a good space for cactus and succulents I would certainly add a few. They have awesome flowers!

---------- Post added at 12:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:18 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

From experience, those spines are deadly! Can you wrap a folded up strip of newspaper, like a band, to help lift it out of the pot? Or, I have used tongs. You are correct, it's a cutie!

Haha yes Carol the spines are awful and there are tiny ones that you can hardly see, really difficult to remove. The newspaper trick works wonders and I also use heavy leather gloves. I need to go shopping for a new pot or two! Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll post pictures when I’ve potted it up.

---------- Post added at 12:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:24 PM ----------

Originally Posted by DeaC

Nice looking plant you've found. Without my specks I thought I was looking at a Neo.-a very old one at that.

Thank you DeaC! Oh wouldn’t a nice huge Neo this big be nice! Especially at LOWES! Never happen.

---------- Post added at 12:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:26 PM ----------

Originally Posted by fooferdoggie

something to try is any of the hardy carnivorous plants. I put them in oversized pots and they go all week on one or two watering's even when the temp on the porch reaches 110 or more.

Thanks! Good idea actually. I do grow some CP’s indoors.

---------- Post added at 12:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:28 PM ----------

[QUOTE=Leafmite;880384]That is a very cool plant.

There are a number of leafy, drought-resistant, full-sun plants that are very pretty and grow very well in pots. They all do as well as my aloe, cacti, and Senecio rowleyanus. I know because I grow Sapodilla, Mitriostigma axillare, Olive ‘Arbequina’ (Olea europaea), Olive ‘Koroneiki’ (Olea europaea), Azadirachta indica, Psidium guajava, Aglaia odorata, macadamia nut, Plumeria, and Musa (banana trees). These would all do very well for you on your deck. Olive trees are especially pretty with their small gray leaves and interesting forms. Geraniums do almost as well as the rest--sometimes they will wilt but they perk up well after being watered.

Thank you Leafmite! I’ve grown several different plants out here and actually I have a big pot of Geraniums my daughter insisted on. I have a large Oleander that is almost ready to bloom. I have a adorable little Dwarf Pagoda Japanese Holly in a bonsai pot. It has the most unique natural bonsai growth habit and teenie little flowers. I hope I can keep it alive over winter as it needs to remain outside! One of our large trees, a River Birch, I grew for three years potted on the deck and it’s huge now.

We have had a very wet spring and it’s been awfully dry for a couple of weeks so watering has had to increase. Expecting rain soon and for most of a week! Yikes, there is no in between.

[fooferdoggie]

Originally Posted by Pattywack

Thanks! Good idea actually. I do grow some CP’s indoors.

I have a few inside outside is so much easier and they grow so much better. they love the heat an thrive on it. here is my pot of flytraps not as big as they are now all in bloom. the black one is not doing well this year for some reason. they are maybe 6 years old.

[Pattywack]

I finally had a no rain day and was able to repot both new cactus. The Crown of thorns was very easily lifted out of her pot and set in her new home. I love this blue pot!

The Opuntia was a bit tricky with its thorns so I cut the plastic pot it was in and lifted the plant out by the roots and soil. Fairly easy that way! I did use leather gloves though they really weren’t necessary. The plant had soil at the base is areas that concerned me as we’ve had so much rain, I’ve exposed those areas and used a cactus mix that should allow for drying much better.

We have had rain rain rain, I’ve been running out to the deck and moving or covering plants. I don’t ever remember having such a wet spring and summer here.

Anyway, cactus are potted up and should be much happier with additional space and fresh mix. Here the two lovelies are, hope it doesn’t rain tonight! And tomorrow.

[Dollythehun]

Very nice Patty!