Fort Morgan, CO (Zone 5b) | November 2008 | positive
I find them on small hills, having snatched 100+, & grow them at home - in pots and in dirt (potting soil/sand mix). I recommend keeping ...Read Morethem outdoors since the spines also seem to produce hard-to-see spines w/ barbs, which have become airborn. I handle the cacti w/ long BBQ tongs purchased at dollar stores (I use 2.) I keep tweezers, a magnifying glass & extra glasses in my gardening supplies for removal of the tiny spines. I've been "stuck" more than 100X, but the outstanding beauty of the flowers make them well worth the trouble. Obtaining the wild cacti, be sure to twist the paddles free - least amt. of damage, but do be sure to let them callous over before planting (learned this the hard way: they turn to mush when planted too soon AND when over watered.)
I find them on small hills, having snatched 100+, & grow them at home - in pots and in dirt (potting soil/sand mix). I recommend keeping ...Read More