Winter
test 2003: Individual participant card
Nr. 054
William Della Rocco
 Maine (
U.S.A. ) Hulls Cove
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CACTUS ART
NURSERY
Cultivation and Mail Sale
of Cacti and Succulents. |
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A view of our town Bernard Maine seen from the bay |
Our
home in rural Maine coast |
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Dear sir,
Since I discovered your web site I've visited repeatedly. I'm
engaged in something of a winter hardiness experiment and I'm
wondering if I qualify for your test. I'm particularly interested in
the Sclerocactus and Pediocactus because for years I lived among
them in the 4-corners region of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and
Colorado. For years I hiked the hills and canyons in search of them.
Some
I found ,some I never could. I became acquainted with Pediocactus
Simpsonii in the cold, cold country of Gunnison ,Colorado, and later I
was fortunate to see the Knowltoniis in New Mexico. These are fond
recollections. With the info from your site I've attempted to graft
Papyracantha, paradinei and Mammillaria Heyderii onto Opuntia. I've
scarified and planted hundreds of seeds including Scleros and Pedios only to have
Coryphantha vivipara emerge. I've set up a small
primitive greenhouse and I have a straw bale cold frame in which I
plan to over winter some cold hardy cacti. When I get my hands on a
digital camera I will relay to you images of my attempts. Many stories can be told of
successes and failures in
pursuit of this intriguing hobby.
warm regards,
William Della Rocco 9/20/03
Down east Maine- Max temp 100F.summer - min temp -17F.winter
sea level, long periods of fog, rain and snow |
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Echinocereus dasyacanthus
Pediocactus simpsonii crest
Pedio peblesianus graft
Toumeya papyracantha graft
Echinocereus inermis.
All candidates of the transition to outdoors |
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| Assorted
cacti keepin well in a tiny greenhouse |
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| The winter test plants
in their new home |
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December-08-2003
The wheatear has been variable through November and now in December we
had a weeks worth of nights in the low 20's F (-7° C) last month and as
many in the 40's (4° C) the stabilizing effect of the ocean can cause the
day to night temps to vary little this time of year. Now in December we've
experienced our first major snow storm 12/6 & 12/7 whit about a foot
near the cost more inland. High winds and temps in the 20's F (-7° C)
made things uncomfortable. A high of 40 is expected on11/11. The sun is
glorious today. Cheers William D. |
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February 03 2004
January was a terribly cold month here in Down east Me.
Mid January ,we had many nights -10 Fahrenheit and down to -17 .some days
never rose much above 0. Now that its February things are beginning to
thaw. I can discern no serious damage to the cacti. Thanks for
everything. William Della Rocco |
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March 27 2004 Here in
Down east Maine the Sugar Maple season is underway. We plan to attend a
syrup making demonstration tomorrow, a real sign of spring.
Unfortunately I can’t say that I’ve observed the first crocus emerging or
a daffodil. Yesterday I witnessed the return of some Canada Geese and
the melting snow and ice is creating mud. The wintered over cactus this
year fared worse than I expected. In late January the outdoor
Pediocactus despainii mirrored the appearance of its indoor counterpart.
Bolt plants were plump with two emerging flower buds. This is remarkable
since the outdoor one had come through great extreme of cold and harsh
conditions. The grafted Sclerocactus glaucus also seemed little
different from when it was planted. By the end of February both cactuses
seemed somewhat worse for wear and I feared for they survival. The
Pediocactus has shrunken and darkened in colour as had the buds, showing
signs of frozen tissue. The Sclero had withered also.
A larger bodied Sclerocactus whipplei I obtained from
a landscaper out west seems to unscathed. More body mass and
acclimatization must have helped. This is not necessarily the last of the
grafted Pedio and Sclero as none of the cacti in my collection have
truly awoken that’s indoors as well as out. One grafted Pediocactus
Paradinei is showing signs of lights at its growing tip as a friend
referred to it. I will report more developments and send photos in the
future. Here are the low temperature I recorded for January.
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April 20 2004 We have
moved. Down the coast as they say here. Meaning north. We bought a house
in Calais. Its full of cacti with same outdoors. The weather has been
far mostly this spring. I’ve enjoyed participating the test, I’ve
learned a great deal…..
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Climate summary for February
2004 |
FAHRENHEIT DEGREES |
CELTIUS DEGREES |
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TEMP. AVG HIGT |
31,6 |
-0,5 |
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AVERAGE |
29,9 |
-6,5 |
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AVG LOW/TEMP |
10,1 |
-12 |
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HIGT/DATE |
42 (4TH
and 10TH) |
5,5 |
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LOW/DATE |
-16 (16TH
and 17TH) |
-22,5 |
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National Weather
Service Caribou ME
Station of Bangor |
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Opuntia compressa growing in Kingsbrae
Gardens St. Andrea Canada Plants were almost purple/violet.
Opuntias in the rock garden |
September
27 2005
Dear Mr. Vallicelli,
I felt high time for un update on my cold hardy experiments. Thanks to
your information and influence in having some success in grafting on
Opuntia compressa. Whit cuttings obtained from Steven Brack of New
Mexico, in growing O. compressa from the Ozark Mts, Washington D.C. and
Point Pelee, Ontario Canada, in my rock, garden. Holes from Slugs
(shell-less snail) are the only problem. I've grafted
Sucorebutia rauschii green and violet forms on my rock garden
compressa from Cape Cod Massachusetts and they thrive. Next year I'll
graft some hardy vivipara or viridiflorus as well. I'll be trying
sclerocatus glaucus (Emery co) seeds early next year. Right now I'm
growing O. compressa (Monmouth - New Jersey) from seed for future
grafts... ... I enclused some photos of my efforts. Considering the the
cold and cloudy weather we've had. The palnts have performed heroically.
I'll continue to research and enjoy your website. Many Thanks
William Della Rocco |
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