These are some $1.00 mark down cactus from Lowes because of the Christmas package glued to them, they are in great condition but I have no idea of the names - any help would be great.
Thanks Bill

The first plant is a Mammillaria, the other two are something else. Sorry, that's all I got.

I agree with Baja on the mammillaria, the second could be notocactus?

Yes, I was thinking #2 looks like a Parodia (Notocactus is a synonym). The third reminds me of a Melocactus.

Carefully trim away as much gift box as you can. If the glue is on the cactus body, be patient as the cactus will eventually unglue it. If its attached to the spines, cut them. With a little work, you should be able to reduce the gift box and glue to a much smaller intrusion. Otherwise, nice plants.

DaisyI said: The third reminds me of a Melocactus.

Just without a "hat" but with a present on top

1 Mammillaria muehlenpfordtii
2-parodia schlosseri
3-melocactus is viable but echinopsis is also a possibility

That $1 is a great deal

The gift boxes came off relatively easy but still a lot of glue.


I will take Daisyl advice on waiting until the glue unsticks itself. My goal it to see if these will grow outside (under the covered porch in the winter and limited to no water), I really want to have outdoor cactus so maybe these will work.

Thanks for the Id's everyone

I suspect you should have found cactus a little more cold hardy for this experiment.

@Daisyl - Yeah i do agree but the price is the factor for the experiment and from what I have read by what has been identified these seem to be able to handle down to 28f and where I live the temps stay in the 30's - but do occasionally shoot down low (which i then would maybe have to bring them in).

The Parodia is the one I am unsure of because I had read that they will lose their roots in winter, not sure of that.

I do have a question on temps - Even though a cactus may be rated to 28degrees does this typically mean for just a night or two? Or is this a temp that they can handle for longer periods?

Whether its a quick dip or sustained cold, I don't know. I imagine a lot will have to do with humidity (higher humidity, poorer chances of survival). If you knew species, you could look up a hardiness zone and someone else will have answered the question for you.

Thanks Daisy,

I looked up the zones and it was the following:

1 Mammillaria muehlenpfordtii - Zone 10
2-parodia schlosseri - Zone 7b to 8a
3-melocactus is viable but echinopsis is also a possibility - both are Zone 10

So the parodia is the only one that seems would survive possibly but the one thing that I have a lot of is rain (up to 60inches per year) and with that comes humidity even under a covered porch. I guess I will just take them down to the greenhouse and keep them there until spring.

But the good thing is if they survive that then I have 3 new cactus for this spring on my porch.

I'm also from GA, but in a "warmer" zone (not by much, we are 8a). I agree that the greenhouse would be the best location for then. I know none of mine would have survived being outside where I am.

I decided to keep 3 of the cactus in my home and went on ahead and removed the glue since it was deforming the tops since were growing faster than I was expecting them too. But they seem to look okay with minimal defects.