Will my new plants die? (yard, drainage, summer)

[ringler24]

We have only been here since the summer and in December we planted all new cactus, agave and yucca in our front yard. I'm worried they are going to drown and rot away due to all of this rain. Am I being paranoid? I've kept the irrigation off pretty much since they've been planted because it's rained so much.

[Burning Madolf]

I have scores of agave and a few yucca. They won't get any more water from me for months now with all this winter's rain. Some types might struggle (for me it's mescal ceniza) but octopus agave, smooth green agave, medicinal aloe and red yucca should all be ok. Don't know about cactus.

[ringler24]

I'm also concerned because they are brand new. If they were established I would be less worried. Although the new ones need more water, I feel they are also more vulnerable with all of this rain.

[wase4711]

they will be fine...I have been growing cactus in Illinois for decades, and, out here for 16 months now, and, the only thing I would be concerned about are tiny new plants in pots, and, that is because of the 30 degree morning temps..

anything new/small and in pots should be brought in at night, or covered with frost cloth if they are "leafy" plants, Agave NOT included, as most of those guys can take temps in the 10-30 range over night, I do this until the temps stay 45-50 overnight...dont worry about the rain, as long as your xeriscape has good draining soil/rock/caliche/ what ever, they will be fine from this "watering"..

[Ponderosa]

If they didn't die in October when we had much more rain than this, they aren't going to. Anyway, they love this stuff. The soils won't stay waterlogged and they will suck up plenty of moisture for the miserable dry days ahead.

[ringler24]

We didn't plant them until December.

[ringler24]

Originally Posted by wase4711

they will be fine...I have been growing cactus in Illinois for decades, and, out here for 16 months now, and, the only thing I would be concerned about are tiny new plants in pots, and, that is because of the 30 degree morning temps..

anything new/small and in pots should be brought in at night, or covered with frost cloth if they are "leafy" plants, Agave NOT included, as most of those guys can take temps in the 10-30 range over night, I do this until the temps stay 45-50 overnight...dont worry about the rain, as long as your xeriscape has good draining soil/rock/caliche/ what ever, they will be fine from this "watering"..

Thanks for this. I'm honestly not sure about the drainage. The soil seems to dry pretty quickly after a rain.

[LBTRS]

They will enjoy this weather and you should to and quit worrying. This rain is sorely needed and nothing to be concerned about.

[ringler24]

Originally Posted by LBTRS

They will enjoy this weather and you should to and quit worrying. This rain is sorely needed and nothing to be concerned about.

Thanks. We're new and I've been overly obsessed with understanding plants here. I'm a brown thumb so I definitely worry too much.

[wase4711]

thats the great thing about most cactus and succulents; even "brown thumbs" have a hard time killing them out here..if your soil dries quickly, like most of ours do, by tomorrow, there wont even be puddles anywhere..
we've had an inch of rain here this am, with thunderstorms, and just to the west of me in Vistancia, my buddie sent me a video of about an inch of hail they just had, so your plants will be just fine!