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schmutzen
King of the side-pins


Registered: 12/03/02
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Can my Pedro take full sun?
#5732456 - 06/09/06 10:17 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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I got an 18"er about a year and half ago and have left it in the South window watering about once a month or when he starts to shrivel. Last summer it put on maybe 5" of growth, so this year I moved out to the patio where it gets mostly afternoon/late day sun and I've been watering about once a week. From the teks I've read it seems best to plant directly into the ground, I could do that or leave him where he is because I'll have to bring him over the winter as I'm in Zone 5. Whadda ya say?
A) Plant him in late day sun B) Leave him be C) Bring him back inside D) Move the pot to full sun E) Plant in full sun
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"Blow up your TV, throw away your paper. Go to the country, build you a home."
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Koala Koolio
TTAGGGTTAGGGTTAGGGTTAGGG

Registered: 01/07/04
Posts: 7,752
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Re: Can my Pedro take full sun? [Re: schmutzen]
#5732526 - 06/09/06 10:38 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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I say move the pot to full sun. Depending on the intensity of sun it gets now, maybe ween it, but it doesn't sound like it should be too delicate. Mine went from sliding glass door-evening sun to full summer sun with no issues.
As much as I'd like to see mine in the ground, I don't think I'll ever do it so long as I'd need to move it indoors every winter. I think the roots might spread out quite a bit, and I could imagine it needing a large pot indeed.
And just the physical work. of digging it up, and once it gets tall, maybe even making sure it stays supported while the roots take hold so it doesn't take a dive.
A very big pot in full sun sounds great.
A compromise might be to put the pot into the soil? I've heard of people doing this, though I don't know the benefits really. Ground temperatures?
-------------------- You're not like the others. You like the same things I do. Wax paper, boiled football leather... dog breath. We're not hitch-hiking anymore, we're riding!
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Burke Dennings
baby merchant

Registered: 11/29/04
Posts: 81,641
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Re: Can my Pedro take full sun? [Re: schmutzen]
#5732534 - 06/09/06 10:44 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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Okay, I don't know what you *should* do, but I can tell you about a similar experience I just went through.
I have a 17" San Pedro that I've had for a little more than a year now, and a few months ago it started pupping, one on the top and one on the bottom. They live right near a west facing window and get a decent amount of sunlight, and I water when the soil gets dry. I moved the San Pedro and a 12" Peruvian Torch outside into a place where they got full sun for most of the day, except for in the late afternoon. Not thinking, I didn't acclimate them to it or anything.
After about a week of no rain and bright sunny days in the 80's and low 90's, I noticed that the ribs on the pedro were really sucked in and it was yellowing a lot. The pup on top was all shriveled and I thought it was a goner. The Peruvian Torch didn't seem to be doing so poorly. It looked a little dehydrated, but not discolored and it seemed to have a bit of growth, so I left it outside.
But I brought the Pedro in, and put it back in it's regular place and gave it a little more water than I might normally. Also, I misted the shriveled pup everyday; I have no idea if that matters or not, but I figured it couldn't hurt.
After a few days, the pup regained it's nice turgid form, the main stalk's ribs filled back out, and the yellowing lessened almost completely.
I'm not anything close to a cactus expert, but based on this experience I'd say that if you're moving a cactus that lived for a long time indoors to the outdoors, it'd be a good idea to give it lots of shade and slowly introduce it to sunlight until it can withstand full sun.
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nunciate
Cold and Indifferent


Registered: 05/23/04
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Re: Can my Pedro take full sun? [Re: schmutzen]
#5732536 - 06/09/06 10:45 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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This will depend mainly on the climate in which you live.
So... where do you live, eh?
-------------------- I am the devil and I am just like you
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schmutzen
King of the side-pins


Registered: 12/03/02
Posts: 15,314
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Re: Can my Pedro take full sun? [Re: nunciate]
#5733328 - 06/10/06 06:04 AM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
This will depend mainly on the climate in which you live.
Zone 5 Midwest. Hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters.
Burke Dennings, thanks for relating your situation. I really want him to get some sun this summer to make cuttings this winter. Two pups after a year? that's why mine needs some more sun. I'm glad your pup pulled around.
Koala Koolio, after looking at the log pictures you linked to last night, I think you're right on with the big bucket. I'm going to get one of those huge, blue beach buckets. That way I'll have more room for the roots so he can get big and I'll be able to move him around to acclimate. It's taken a large increase in sun quite well so far. It seems to me having the pot sunk in the ground would keep the roots a lot cooler, but if it isn't necessary... I won't be doing it either. 
Any advice on staking?
Does crushed limestone, vermicultie, perlite, rocks, potting soil, leaf mold and sand sound like a good mixture for the move?
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"Blow up your TV, throw away your paper. Go to the country, build you a home."
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nunciate
Cold and Indifferent


Registered: 05/23/04
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Re: Can my Pedro take full sun? [Re: schmutzen]
#5733329 - 06/10/06 06:05 AM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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You should be fine. I live in phoenix and mine get full sun. Just keep an eye on them and water them frequently. They'll be good.  Ideally, though, you would want them to get some rest from the summer's sun. Mine get a little yellowed, which isn't too good, but they do survive and thrive.
[edit: sorry, didn't see you said your climate zone in your first post, my bad :/ ]
-------------------- I am the devil and I am just like you
Edited by nunciate (06/10/06 06:14 AM)
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Prisoner#1
Even Dumber ThanAdvertized!


Registered: 01/22/03
Posts: 193,665
Loc: Pvt. Pubfag NutSuck
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Re: Can my Pedro take full sun? [Re: schmutzen]
#5733560 - 06/10/06 09:03 AM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
namaste said: Zone 5 Midwest. Hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters.
they will freeze in the winters, you can overwinter them with a coldframe of PVC and plastic, as for sun, as most have mentioned, shade them a bit until they're used to the extra light and heat
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schmutzen
King of the side-pins


Registered: 12/03/02
Posts: 15,314
Loc: Miss Kitty's Lounge
Last seen: 8 hours, 15 minutes
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Re: Can my Pedro take full sun? [Re: Prisoner#1]
#5733608 - 06/10/06 09:39 AM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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I'll be bringing him inside as it easily gets down to 10 below, not counting wind chill factor.
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"Blow up your TV, throw away your paper. Go to the country, build you a home."
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Waffle
patty

Registered: 03/05/06
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Re: Can my Pedro take full sun? [Re: schmutzen]
#5733704 - 06/10/06 10:18 AM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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I live in Missouri, and I transfered my cactus outdoors gradually with no ill effects, except slight darkening of the tips. I reccomend putting it outside in the shade for a week, slowly working it into full sun.
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