Winter
test 2003: Individual participant card
Nr. 039 Jaco Bruekers
**DUTCH-TROPICS**
Holland ~
Heeswijk-Dinther
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CACTUS ART
NURSERY
Cultivation and Mail Sale
of Cacti and Succulents. |
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 Heeswijk-Dinther,
Noord-Brabant, the Netherlands; mostly agricultural area (corn, cows,
wheat) |
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**DUTCH-TROPICS** Jaco Bruekers
Langemeijerstraat 2
NL-5473 GS Heeswijk-Dinther
(lizards, tortoises and cold hardy palms, cacti, banana, agave and
yucca in the Nehterlands) |
There are no mountains in the
Netherlands; the area were I live has sandy soils; no clay.
The plant site is in the back yard (south facing garden) on a raised
cactus bed. The garden is "protected" by walls and a fence. At
present I experiment with hardy cacti, cold hardy palm trees, yucca
and Agave. All plants are used to decorate out door vivariums for
tortoises and lizards.
Heeswijk-Dinther is situated in so called "USDA zone 7b". Minimum
are around -10C (rarely -17 C) and maximums are around 25 C (rarely
30 C or higher). Winters and summers can be wet. The weather is
strongly influenced by the North See (in the west of the Netherlands).
All cacti have to cope with the wet conditions during winter. Main
problems: fungus (Black rot) and frost bite. Some palms and cacti
receive rain protection. |
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 my
back yard with out door terrariums for tortoises planted with hardy
exotics. |
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 the
site were the experimental cacti will be planted. In my hands: a female
leopard tortoise.
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| The test
plants in their new home |
Italian parcel |
The experiment plant |
September
08 2003. Your shipment arrived today (5-9-03) in perfect condition!
(see photo) The plants are in pots and one is planted out doors. From
October until March it will receive a glass cover (rain protection).
Depending on the weather, I will decide to add some cover with 'mulch'
when the temperature drops below -7C. The potted plants will stay in a
un-heated greenhouse. With this message I also send you a photo of the
three plants in these present condition. For the Sclerocactus I will
prepare a good planting site near a south-southwest facing wall. This
wall absorbs moisture and absorbs warmth during the day and releases
this warmth during the night.
As agreed I will report all developments.
Many thanks for the fact you gave me the chance to join the project! |
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Heeswijk-Dinther July 15 2004
The plants have survived the winter undamaged. Winter test is executed
according to the guidelines of Cactus Art (1 in a unheated greenhouse en
2 plants out doors protected with a glass cover).
Until now no substantial growth can be observed and there are no flower
buds. I think that the modest summer temperatures (and rare sunshine!)
causes this reluctant growth. Greetings,
Jaco Bruekers |
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