A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The House Plant Forum Cacti and Succulents Indoors Cactus

Does anyone know a hearty cactus (around 50F) that grows fairly large and is somewhat common?

Do you want it for outside or inside and what zone are you in??

Most cacti will do well down to ~50F. Some are quite frost tollerant. It's dampness they can't take, and cold damp is a sure killer. I have many cacti that I keep outside all winter in an unheated coldframe thing here in zone 4/5. They don't need the protection for warmth, just to keep the snow and rain off them. Not all can take that much cold, but a dry 50 is not a problem. What do you mean by fairly large or somewhat common? Are you trying to identify one you've seen or buy one for a particular location?

I plan to keep it inside, but in a colder part of the house, where it could get down to around 50F. It is dry enough for a cactus to survive (I have several there already).

Somewhat large means getting up to around 5 or so feet tall. I have no particular cactus in mind.

Ok, I've had fun checking into this, and here are my suggestions. Carnegiea Gigantea (saguaro) and/or Oreocereus Celsianus or Trollii (old man of the Andes/Peru). Both will get larger than you want, but that will be your children/grandchildren's problem. Both are redilly available as small plants and grow relatively quickly. Cacti are not known for speedy growth, so you are not going to get your 5 foot plant in the next few years unless you pay for a larger plant up front. They will want a LOT of sun. Other plants that will get to the size you want (but may take decades to get there): genus Cereus or and of the ones ending in cereus (Lophocereus, Pachycereus, Stenocereus, ..., just not Echinocereus, as they stay small), several of the Ferocactus (Cylindraceus, Herrerae, and Wislizeni - these are the barrel cacti, and will take a very long time to get even a few feet tall, but your great grandchildren will enjoy them!), Echinopsis Peruvianus, and Harrisia Justbertii.
Miles Anderson, who has written a bunch of books about cacti, has a site with good pics of what small plants of these kinds look like. I get most of my cacti from him. He's also just had his first child and is being very cute about it. Anyway, good luck!

http://www.miles2go.com/index.html

P.S. Have you ever thought about an aloe? (I think of them often!) A. Marlothii, Ferox, and/or Lineata might suit your requirements nicely, as would some others. For pics/info/plants check here:
http://www.aloestudies.org/index.html