Growing Cacti and Succulents Outdoors and in the Greenhouse

Growing Cactus and Succulents Outdoors and in the Greenhouse in Santa Fe with Cactus Data Plants Owner and Expert Wendell “Woody” Minnich

One of the leading succulent and cactus experts in the country, Woody Minnich has traveled the world in search of rare and beautiful specimen for over 45 years.  He lectures all around the country (he even has succulent varieties named after him!) and lucky for us lives just south of Santa Fe, where he grows and cultivates many of his finds in a 1200 square foot greenhouse for his company Cactus Data Plants. As we move into the fall and winter months, succulents and cacti are an easy way to bring healing, air-purifying and uplifting life and green into the home!

Wendell S. (Woody) Minnich

Woody, as he is commonly called, has been in the cactus hobby for some 41 years and has become well known for his participation in many of the cactus and succulent clubs. He is an honorary life member of seven clubs as well as a life member of CSSA (Cactus & Succulent Society of America.) He has served in almost all positions of leadership from president, to newsletter editor, to show chairman and so on. He is also known for his extensive field work studying primarily the cactus family. He has traveled throughout the United States, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Africa, Yemen and Socotra. From these trips, he has developed an extensive knowledge of the cactus family as well as many of the other succulent genera.

Woody is also known for his many presentations. His photography is considered to be special and his commentary very entertaining and educational. He is a recognized international speaker and has spoken for plant conventions – organizations all over the USA, as well as in England, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and Mexico. Woody has also authored a number of articles for various newsletters, the CSSA journal and his photographs are well published. Woody is the creator-originator of the first color version of the CSSA journal “Cacti and Succulents for the Amateur” that also featured show plants, shows and the growers of the pictured plants.

He is also known for his cactus and succulent nursery, Cactus Data Plants. CDP was started in 1975 and is still in operation today. Cactus Data Plants specializes in show specimens and rare cacti and other succulents with particular emphasis in Ariocarpus, Astrophytum, Mammillaria, Gymnocalycium, Turbinicarpus, Melocactus, Copiapoa, Fouquieria, Pachypodium, Euphorbia, Cyphostemma, Adenium and Adenia.

Woody and his wife Kathy now live in the beautiful mountains south of Santa Fe, New Mexico in a region called Cedar Grove. He has a small 1,200 sq. foot greenhouse, where he grows his unique plants. He is always on the move and travels frequently to do presentations and shows throughout the western United States. Woody is the proud parent of three children, Leah, Denver and Sarah, all of whom are now grown and out in the big world. Woody is also the proud grandparent of three grandsons, Indiana, Ashton and Logan. He is a retired high school teacher of 32 years and he taught Graphic Arts, Architecture, Art and Health.