Winter
test 2003: Individual participant card
Nr. 011 Pieter Colpaert
BELGIUM ~ Kerkhove in
Flanders
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CACTUS ART
NURSERY
Cultivation and Mail Sale
of Cacti and Succulents. |
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 Kerkhove - some kouses in the village |
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| I live in Kerkhove in Flanders,
Belgium. Kerkhove is a small town, near Avelgem. We live in the
valley of the Schelde (Escaut in french). There is a lot of
agriculture here. Winter humidity is high here due to the
presence of the river and the electricity power plant (the
cooling towers make a lot of water vapour). Our winter minima
are about -9°C, but it's usually warmer. We get a lot of rain
during the whole year, especially in the winter. This summer has
been exceptionally dry and hot, till 31°C. I can look up the
exact altitude of my town, but it's rather low. We live on the
level of the river, The altitude is between 5 and 20 m. |
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 the environment |
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 my collection last year |
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test plants In their new home (in the hardy bed) |
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August 18 2003: Hi, The three plant you sent me arrived this
morning. I already planted them. The Pedio to be kept with the other
cacti in a square pot between the other cacti in the greenhouse. The
other Pedio and the Sclero are planted in my hardy cacti bed (covered
during the winter, but with perfect ventilation). They are together with:
Echinocereus chloranthus, Thelocactus setispinus, Tephrocactus
strobiliformis, Sedum acre and Opuntia humifusa. There are also several
plants of Echinopsis chamaecereus in the bed. They are very cold
resistant, but those in the bed get their flowers about one month
later then those in the unheated greenhouse. Probably due to the
colder temps in spring I hope I've done it
well till now. If not, let me know. And thank you for the nice plants.
Here is a photo of my hardy cacti bed. It needs to be weeded, but the
cacti are growing fine in there. |
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The hardy bed |
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January 17 2004 Hi, I just
took some photo's of the two outside plants. the current
temperatures are between 5 and 10°C. Till now, the minimum were about
-9°C. the plants are covered with a glass plate, but the soil gets
humid. This does not really seem to affect the plants. As you can see,
Sedum acre and mosses are doing well as well there.
Pieter |
photo1 |
photo2 |
May 02 2004
Hello, Spring is here and all the cacti are growing again. Time to send
an update for the winter test.
- photo1) Pediocactus greenhouse: formed flower buds in
February. started growth in early march and the flower buds aborted.
is growing well and is now placed outside again.
- photo2) Pediocactus outside: never formed flower buds.
Started growing only last week. Looks thinner then the one in the
greenhouse but looks healthy.
- photo3) Sclerocactus outside: looks great. started growing
a few weeks ago.
conclusion: looks like the Sclero is better suited for outside while
the Pedio is better in the greenhouse. At least during the winter
season.
Regards, Pieter |
photo1 |
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