Expert: Greg Simpson - 1/29/2006

Question
Greg,
We are having a warm winter. I have a dozen cacti in pots to plant in April but I want to plant on Feb 1. I have 300 in my hardy cacti garden. Will it hurt the cacti, Escobarias various and Echinocereus triglochidiatus, to plant now in Northern Nevada?

Answer
Dear Charles,

Only if you get some unexpected rain. Planting always damages the roots, and they will need time to heal. So if there is any rain in the forcast (or snow for that matter), I would wait. You sound like a serious collector and those plants have great flowers, so I don't know if I would chance it. Maybe wait until later in February..just make sure it will be dry for a few weeks after planting.

Sincerely,

Greg