The Virtual Cactus

Mammillaria guelzowiana in bloom in an OCSS member collection in 2005.

Unfortunately summer is quickly coming to a close here. In Ontario the summer of 2005 proved to be the exceptionally warm and sunny kind that cactus and succulent growers here always wish for. Great for phenomenal new growth and an explosion of flowers on cacti and succulents. Even species which rarely can be induced into bloom like Cochemia's were seen to flower outdoors without greenhouses this past summer.

Increasingly cooler weather here in Ontario will now make a dangerous period for the more tropical species and growers will have to keep a close eye on temperatures in order to avoid damage to less cold tolerant species. By the last half of October the first killing frosts can be expected and the first snow by the first half of November would be normal.

Cochemia poselgeri producing flowers outdoors in Ontario in 2005.

# posted by cactusman : 4:32 AM