Cacti And Succulents For Cold Climates: 274 Outstanding Species For Challenging Conditions Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
There are many reasons to grow cacti and other succulents—they're drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, and they look great. But what about hardiness? For those who thought that these spectacular plants were only for gardens in California and the Southwest, guess again—hundreds are fully cold-hardy and can be grown outdoors from New England to British Columbia, Wisconsin to Texas. Cacti and Succulents for Cold Climates is filled with inspirational portraits of 274 plants that can be used to create drought-tolerant gardens, as well as tips from regional experts who have mastered the art of growing cacti in parts of the country not usually associated with high temperatures or a scarcity of water. Expert Leo Chance describes how to prepare planting beds, how to get plants well established, how to handle cacti during planting, how to protect plants from cold winters, and when and how much to water.
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Timber Press (June 19, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1604692642
ISBN-13: 978-1604692648
Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 1.1 x 9.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #458,490 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #11 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Gardening & Landscape Design > By Climate > Temperate #34 in Books > Science & Math > Biological Sciences > Plants > Cacti & Succulents #35 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Gardening & Landscape Design > By Climate > Desert
Just finished reading this and was very impressed. Mr. Chance provides info I've never found anywhere else and does it with a sense of humor. I'm very pleased with my purchase & look forward to locating, obtaining, and growing many of the plants listed in this book. My only critique is I wish there were pictures for every plant listed/described, and I wish all of the pictures stated which plants are shown in the pictures. Overall, the best book I've seen on cold-hardy succulants.
The book includes fine photographs of common and rare Genus and species of cold hardy desert plants. It is rife with well codified details of propagation from seed and cuttings, of growth media and transplanting, and maintaining cacti and succulents in tough desert climates with extremes in heat and cold. Sources of common and rare species are included. If you want to groom a cactus garden with success through rugged winters, you will greatly appreciate this book.
A truly amazing compilation of cold hardy cacti and succulants. I was bitten by the cold hardy cactus bug 5 years ago and this is the best book I have yet seen on the subject. Worth every penny. Living in Michigan, I only took exception to his recommendation for 2 inches of gravel mulch for a wet climate (I find that half an inch allows my sandy soil to dry faster) but that was it. The photos are excellent, the breadth of species is inspiring, particularly some of the South American cacti, and the culture requirements are very informative. I can confidently say that anyone interested in growing cacti in a cold climate will not be disappointed in this book.
The author makes no pretensions that this is a definitive book about growing cold hardy succulents, and it falls short of that, so no foul incurred. It is a very good book for encouraging people who live in dry climates to try their hand at growing xeric plants. The first part, dealing with Western Hemisphere natives, is definitely above average. The part dealing with African plants is a bit muddled and could have been omitted without great loss of content to the book itself. Overall, I recommend this book for anybody who has a little knowledge about growing succulents; a beginner would waste a lot of money on plants without a basic understanding of succulent needs. I think it will open the eyes of gardeners who wonder about growing these very desirable plants in climates where winter temperatures are consistently below freezing.Two things I did not like. One, he refers to the common Jade Plant as Crassula argentea. This name was retired years ago for Crassula ovata. not a problem, since everybody agrees it is an aside in the book and cannot persist where freezing temperatures occur. Secondly, he brings a smile to my lips when he refers to Missouri (or was it Oklahoma?) as one of the "wetter" areas where a plant could grow. Taken as a marker, this should tell the reader of the intended climates for the book. All in all, still a good book, where the 'Rule of Thumb' is, if you live in a dry climate, you should be able to approximate the range of species illustrated.The author's enthusiasm comes through best when dealing with North American plants. The pictures in the Kindle edition are regrettable, line drawings would serve better, but that is no fault of the author. This is one case where nothing beats holding a paper book in your hands.
Not a bad book. Has some good information, but is mostly an overview. Plant recommendations are helpful, as well.Your success is going to depend on your climate, so no one book is going to give you all the details, but this little book, at least, points you in the right direction
I am involved in a Master Gardener's Demonstration Garden and I am doing the Cactus and Succulent Garden - not because I know THAT much but no one else wanted to take it on! The area is located in Sunset Zone 7, the warmer end so the selection of species is limited. This book helped me focus on the "most likely to succeed" plants. The chapters on watering and where to plant were also helpful. The photographs and species descriptions were good. JG
This book is a welcome addition to my collection of succulent books. In the past I have been able to find only one other small book on the specific succulents able to take cold spurts. I also enjoy the way the book is layed out. Thank you Leo Chance for your research and going through the effort of getting your book published.
This is a book for my husband that came highly recommended. He is reading it cover to cover and showing me the ones he finds most interesting. The book quality is great and the pictures are beautifully done.
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