Expert: Maureen - 5/14/2010

Question
hi there not as if i no much about plants but i have some type of cactus growing in my back garden its been growing there for a bout 3 to 4 years now but i was told its rare for one to grow and be heathy in indian with it being so cold and wet and snowy is that true

Answer
No, that is not true.  Cactus grow outside in all but two states.  I suspect you have an Opuntia - Prickle Pear "cold hardy cactus".  They are the most common in the northern states.  I live in MA. and have a little garden of cold hardy cactus.  They are dormant in the winter and get shriveled and look dead.  Spring comes and they pop back up.  They love to be covered in snow during the winter.

If you want to send me a picture, I might be able to tell you what you have.  As you know, they need very little care and are usually not troubled by insects and disease up here.  If you want to you could mulch it with pea stone or marble chips and be sure it gets enough sun.  They have beautiful flowers but have to be a few years old to bloom.  You can even eat them.

So. Andrew. tell whomever told you that that they are wrong.  Perhaps they'd like a pad.

Maureen