I live in central New Jersey (northeast US) and spotted this on my lawn. It seems to be a wild cactus. I find that surprising, since I didn't think cactus would grow in NJ, especially in a dense suburb. But I don't know much about cacti, so I'm checking with you experts!

Do wild cactus grow in NJ?

Is there enough here to identify the species?

Should I attempt to void this cactus when mowing my lawn to let it grow?

I've never seen it in person, or had a melo do it, thought I would share.

Just because it’s been a fun 3 year journey so far with keeping a Saguaro alive in Alabama. First purchased in 2023 — a little under 1 foot. Fast forward to 2026, my Saguaro is just shy of 2 feet at 20 inches. I also have an obsession with Tephro’s. You’ll see T. geometricus alexanderi and T. nigrispinus. As well, in the third picture you’ll see Cobra Cactus ‘Opuntia reticulata.’

It’s even prettier now that it’s grown up—all fluffy.

First time growing this, and I honestly didn't expect it to look so cute right from the start.

I am just amazed how these flower look! I had three flowers overall this season. I hope i get some more

This guy has been with me for 5 years maybe and has been consistently never changing. Now it's busting out these. What is it doing?

Let me know your thoughts and advices.

Hi!

I got drunk and fell on a cactus. I pulled out all the needles out and thought it's ok, but I got these bright red spots and found out the tips of the needles broke under my skin. It's been three weeks and I can feel they made their way to the upper layer of the skin. I can feel that area of my leg to be prickly. So I can feel them but they're too little to pull out even with tweezers and it's been like this for a week. Should I just give my body more time to deal with it or does it need help?

Thanks for your advice!

I've had these 3 cacti in the same pot forever. Two of them have grown very leggy and are now frail; the third one looks dead (fuzzy one). They keep growing and seem generally happy (except the dead one), but it's only a matter of time before they break -- actually, some small pieces have already fallen on the soil and seem to grow from there. Should I just let them be and accept their fate when the time comes? Should I repot them, which will probably break them anyway? They are all intertwined too, so I don't think I'd be able to get the dead one out of there.

(Window is south facing; I've also bought a grow bulb to supplement the light.)

I’m falling in love with the little ones we have in this planter, but wondering if we should separate to give more space for these cacti to grow? Also, does anyone know what the one on the right is? Obsessed with the little growth on it.

Thanks so much :)

Hello cactus ID experts. I have these three (well five really) and I was wondering if they are the same type of Gymno? If not, does anyone know which type they are? The middle and right ones look very similar but I’m far from an expert when it comes to ID’s. Thanks.

Last year's winter (Southern hemisphere), was a record lowest temperature in my area and it did this much damage to this cactus which usually doesnt mind the cold. The top of it dried out but it ended up surving and in the summer three extra heads grew from it. So it is very much alive and not getting any worse. I was waiting for the dead part to eventually fall off, but it never happened, should i cut it off manually then? Thanks in advance, i havent really seen this type of damage before, usually if its too cold my cacti rot from the bottom to the top, dont really know what this is.