Five Tips for Cacti Growing Success
Cacti are ideal houseplants. They don't droop or sulk at house temperatures, and compared to many houseplants, they need little care. In the winter, you barely need to water them, and in the summer, you can put them outside if you like.
What I love best about them is their astonishing variety. Some cacti have the same convoluted folds as the human brain; others mimic small stones. Some are covered with what looks like fine white hair, while others have large hooked spines. Probably everyone is familiar with the rabbit ear cactus, or the Turk's Cap. But many gardeners are also familiar with the sickening sight of a cacti that's keeled over. How could this have happened? Anyone is supposed to be able to grow a cactus!
The trick to growing cacti is to recognize that they are not particularly adaptable or tolerant plants. If you meet their needs, they'll flourish. If you don't, they'll sicken and die. Cacti don't give second chances. So here are five tips for growing cacti successfully. Make sure that you give your cacti:
Lots of Light
This is the secret of cacti-growing success; cacti must have lots of sunshine. A sunny Southern exposure is best; if you don't have this, a south-east exposure will also provide most cacti with enough light. Cacti aren't terrifically adaptable this way; if they don't have enough light, they won't flower, and will eventually sicken and die.
Living on the rainy coast, we need to be especially careful with cacti in the spring; they will scorch in those first sunny days after a long dark winter.
Little Water
Cacti are not like camels; they do need water. How much depends on the season. In the active growing season (spring and summer), they should be watered like normal houseplants. I water mine every week or so, letting the soil mixture dry out completely between waterings. (The best way to check this is to stick your finger into the soil; if it's moist, don't water.) In the winter, however, cacti go dormant, and should only be watered occasionally (just enough to keep them from shrinking). In my house, this works out to about once a month; how often you have to water will depend on your house temperature and humidity.
When you water, give your cacti only enough water to wet the roots. Never ever leave a cacti standing in water, as this will kill it.
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