27 March 2008
Maihuenias from Ingwersen
Posted by Stuart under: Cacti .
I’m planning to build a raised bed in the garden for my outdoor cacti; I already grow Cylindropuntia x viridiflora, Opuntia fragilis x polyacantha, Opuntia humifusa, and Opuntia arenaria in pots, and these have proved themselves completely hardy in my garden.
Once I decided to do this, obviously the search for other outdoor-hardy plants began. I know that Echinocereus viridiflorus is cold and wet tolerant, and will soon have a spare seedling or two to try. But I also fancied growing some Maihuenia plants.
Maihuenias are quite primitive opuntioids with persistent leaves, but very few cactus nurseries list them among their stock. Luckily I was advised by Molly on the BCSS discussion forum that it was possible to obtain them from alpine nurseries – and she was absolutely right.
I ordered these plants of Maihuenia poeppigii from the Ingwersen nursery for a pretty reasonable £3 apiece, and lovely sturdy plants they are too. Their communication and speed of delivery were both excellent. Me being me, I did of course remove a branch from one of them for propagation when potting them up!
They are fascinating little things, and one could easily be forgiven for thinking they weren’t cacti at all. I’m looking forward to seeing them spreading out in their new home once it’s built.