[braingonebad]

Can I dig that up and bring it to FL when I move? Wonder if it'll live through the trip? They should live down there, don't you think?

Dang, that's the one thing that'll be tough about this - I'll miss my house and all the stuff I've planted over the last 20 yrs!

You should see this cactus though. It has really taken off. Bloomed like crazy this year. I'd put a pic, but I don't have the camera.

[mrsD]

Moving and leaving your garden? I can really feel that for you!

I'd try and move it. Florida can be damp...so I don't know if cactus will like that aspect. Might do well inside?

I looked on the net for you...here are some tips. (increasing without digging up)

http://www.ehow.com/how_2086089_grow...ar-cactus.html

Maybe some folks from Florida will see this and come on and have some advice.

[braingonebad]

Thanks! You may be right about all the rain in that area. The dry spells should be just what it likes, but they do have a crazy rainy season.

Maybe if I leave it in a pot, so I can move it to shelter when it rains, it'll fare better? Plus better drainage. You think that'll help?

I just don't want to leave it behind. I grew it from 3 lobes - two layers high. And now it's 8 layers of lobes. If it stood up straight, it'd be about 2'.

They're super easy to make a start from. Just cut off a section two lobes deep and stick it in the dirt. Like that link said, don't even water, just ignore.


I had one lobe fall off my plant and stuck it in the ground. It took hold right away and even had a flower.



I would like to hear from anyone down there, if they grow something like this. There is a big cactus in the front yard of the place we put an offer on, but I don't know what kind it is - that's what made me wonder if this one would do okay there.

[AZjanie]

It would be worth a try as they are very hardy.

Several years ago my neighbor didn't want his to grow any bigger so he trimmed them back and I got some of them, put them in the garage as it was raining and forgot them for a week!

I planted them and gave them just a bit of water and now they are doing great and flower like crazy!

One of the other neighbors said to trim them and let them callous over and just lay paddles on the ground and they will root themselves. I tried that with some and it worked great. Just be sure the soil is kept pretty dry and I think they will do okay.

btw: When handling cacti wrap them loose in layers of newspapers to keep from getting stuck!

another note:
I never water any of my cacti unless they have buds and then only once a week to encourage lots of flowers.

[braingonebad]

Newspapers, huh? I'll do that. I planted that last lobe with a pair of pliers.




I think mine does pretty well cuz it's under an awning where it gets southern sun all day, but not much rain. And I rarely water unless we're in a drought.

I have a potted cactus - a donkey tail - my mom gave me. It's over 30 yrs old, and it gets watered maybe 3-4 times a year. Any more, and it starts falling apart.

[Koala77]

Good luck with your move.

We're not allowed to take plants from one state to another in Australia, and there are big fines for anyone trying to do so. It's not that our officials are being difficult; it's to prevent the spread of plant disease, pests and noxious weeds between the states.

Some states don't let you take seafood in, and we can't take fruit between any. I think these laws are a good idea as some of our farming industries could be ruined if pests and diseases are permitted to cross the borders.

[braingonebad]

We have some laws like that, but most everything in Ohio either already is in florida or would shrivel in the heat. There are more laws about bringing things out of FL. Funny, protecting those gators.

[mrsD]

Michigan has an embargo right now forbidding taking
firewood to the Upper Pennisula or ash trees.

They are trying to stem an epidemic of Ash borer, which has
killed just about every Ash tree in SE Michigan!

I'd say take the cactus.
It has meaning for you and memories and those are important too. You are good with plants, so you will find a "way"

[braingonebad]

We have a huge ash borer prob here too. I totally agree with NOT bringing anything to the UP - can't even imaging the devestation that could cause.

A couple who came to my yard sale had some experience with horticulture and the man was telling me the botanical names of half the plants in my yard, starting with the prickly pear, lol, as luck would have it. So I asked him.

He told me the biggest problem would be the thing could go nuts down there. They do really well in central FL. I should be prepared to hack the thing back often. It likely will not go dormant there as it does here and so will have a lot more grow time per year - I get one layer of lobes per year, and a lobe is about 7 inches high, so far.

It takes some time for it to plump back up after its winter shrivel, then it has to regroup before it can grow. If it didn't have to do that, it would be constant growth. You have to wonder how fast it could grow.

[AZjanie]

Our temps here are pretty moderate except for the terrible snowstorm we had in March which left two inches of snow on the ground for about three hours!!

You will have to keep cutting it back where you have moderate temps but you will be amazed at the beautiful blooms!