New Member in Melbourne. Some questions relating to Green Houses

Hi,

My name is Paul and I've recently bought my first two cactus plants. I've always had a fascination with cactus but it wasn't until recently I decided to start my collection. I've bought a baby "Golden Barrel" which is around 5 inches in diameter, and I've just purchased a "trichocereus pasacana", which is around 9 inches tall.

I've done a fair amount of reading, so I'm pretty clued up on giving them shade for the few weeks as they have come from a green house environment, watering requirements ect.

However, I do have a question that I cannot find the answer for. I live in a unit so space is a priority. During the colder months (I live in Melbourne) i'd like to put my cacti into a small greenhouse at my mums place.

From what I've read as long as you keep the ventilation up (ie: doors open) you should be safe from fungi infection. Ok, here's my problem:

- Should I put them in a green house for the winter months, or just leave them outside and move them in if frost / heavy rain is expected?

-Should i water them a bit more during winter if they are in the green house? Say maybe once a month? I figured that if they are inside the green house where the temp is higher, they won't remain dormant so much during the colder months.

Thanks for reading. I know it's a bit long winded, but I enjoy the plants and want them to become healthy and well looked after. i think it's a very rewarding hobby, but I still have much to learn!!

G'day Paul, and welcome aboard.

Trichocereus are a good beginner's cacti for a climate like Melbourne, and as such will generally tolerate outdoor conditions quite well. The key with growing them in winter is to ensure adequate drainage. A free-draining mix is essential for all cacti, and is even more crucial for plants that are to be grown outside during a Melbourne winter. The only thing that would worry me is a heavy frost - in which case, I would bring them inside overnight so they don't get bitten. If they are grown in a greenhouse they should still be in a free-draining soil and during winter will need very infrequent watering anyway so fungus shouldn't be an issue.

I would imagine similar rules apply to the golden barrel.

The only concern I would have with growing them in a greenhouse is humidity. If your mum, for example, is using it to grow tropical orchids the humidity is likely to be around the "dripping wet" range, which will promote rot like there's no tomorrow.

Just a few things to consider.

Those are pretty tough and hardy plants, so will likely survive outside if kept out of the rain and frost. If your going to put them in the greenhouse as Lachy says, be wary of the humidity, but if it's not too damp they'll be fine. No need to water either, and probably safer not too. I stop watering altogether in about May and don't start again until September or so...

Hi Paul,
I'd like to say welcome. I'm new here too and it has been wonderful. And once you start growing cacti I doubt that you'll ever be able to stop.

Thanks so much for your replies!

The only plants in the glasshouse will by my cactus. I'll leave a window open to allow air flow going in and out. It's going to be the beginners portable type, but big enough for starters. The green house will be positioned in the sun. So no watering from May through to September. I'll have to remember that.

With the soil, i've purchased the Cacti growing soil from Collectors Corner nursery. It's not too expensive, but in the future I might have a go at making my own.

Yes Emma they can become quite addictive indeed! I find cactus a fascinating plant, and some of the flowers that they produce are simply stunning. I guess that the only down side of the cactus is their growth rate. It takes years if not decades to get them to maturity!!

That is just the best potting mix, any plants I have replanted in that nurseries mix have improved and flourished.
Welcome to the forum, and enjoy!

welcome aboard paul!! i have only been collecting since july last year and am now a true cactiphilliac with close to a hundred plants... it gets very very addictive

regards
Darren

Welcome to the addiction Paul.
I agree with Olga that mix is great, unfortunately it's a 6 hour drive for me to get any!!

Oh dear.... it's a pitty. I just bough more today as I've just re-potted my Pasacana. I live only 10 mins away!! Spoke to the guys there. Really nice and lots of friendly advice!!

You must be near me Paul, it's very hard on the wallet living so close

LOL true true. It's not too expensive though. A decent sized cactus does cost a bit (a Pasacana was there for $250) and boy, it was tempting to but a foot long Saguaro giant cactus for $60!! I've actually bought a small propagation greenhouse and about to start growing seeds. It's quite adictive and I find cactus a very fascinating plant. Oh, i live in Eumemmering, just past Dandy.

Tomorrow is my trip to Collector's Corner for some new babies, I've been saving my pocket money
I actually just got a baby saguaro online from an excellent seller I discovered, she told me she sowed it in 2006 and it looks about 5cm across, so I don't think it will outgrow me for a long time!