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INDOOR GARDENING

© Michael Campbell

With rain every day for the past two weeks, and the meteorological office saying that this has been the wettest June since 1874, gardening had to be confined to inside the house for most of the time.

For me that means tending my cactus collection. Cacti are plants that you either love or hate, and I like them because of the challenge they pose to grow and flower in perfect condition.

Cacti have been increasing in popularity year by year, with more and more people joining the ranks of the enthusiasts. For those of you who have not already joined this group, I will briefly define a cactus and a succulent. cactus, or, to be more precise, the family of plants Cactaceae. Cactaceae are perennials usually bearing areolas or spine cushions, and can withstand drought because of their succulent stems or bodies which contain water storage tissues in their leaves or stems, or sometimes in their tuberous roots. So all cacti are succulents but not all succulents are cacti. If you are not confused now, you never will be, so let's get on and talk about growing the plants.

Growing cacti

When you mention cacti to most people; their first reaction is "Oh, they're desert plants, very handy you don't have to water them, I always forget to water my plants." Others will ask how often the plants should be watered. Unfortunately, it is quite impossible to give a simple answer, since so many variables must be taken into account.

The old idea that cacti need little or no water dies hard, but this is far from true, they just take longer to die than most other plants. I have seen plants that have been dead for years without their owners ever knowing, and thinking they were surviving without water for a considerable time without looking too unhappy. But cacti enjoy a good drink just like other plants.

Another mistaken idea is that cacti should never be watered from above - after all, in the wild rain falls directly on and around the species. I water my plants directly overhead with a hose turned on full blast. This cleans the dust from the plants and spines and leaves them looking fresh and clean.

What to grow in

Clay pots still seem to be the most popular. For the beginner, at least, they have the advantage of drying out more quickly so that one is less likely to kill the plants off through over-watering.