I have several in clay pots, where they're easy to grow. They overwinter in a quite cold greenhouse (c. 35F), and receive no water from roughly November through late February. My mix is nothing special: Fafard 52 (a bark-based mix) with extra perlite added (c. 25%). If you grow them in containers, you'll have to move them up each year, and this is a daunting process. Their recurved spines are vicious. I'm not sure how many more years I want to struggle with them! Ellen Ellen Hornig Oswego NY 13126 USA USDA zone 5b