Cacti on your Windowsill

TENACITY

I've walked through gardens filled with roses,
Held mystic orchids in their prime,
Breathed the lingering scent of lilacs
In the glowing summertime.
I've worn gardenias and carnations
And smelled a honeysuckle vine.
I've seen woodlands rich in flowers
And foliage green and fine.
But the plant that most impressed me
The memory's with me still,
Was a prickly little cactus
Flowering on a naked hill.
Florence Cardinal

My thanks to my mother for the use of the above poem. It fits in with my article this month on cacti.

Cacti come in many varieties. In fact, there are even two branches in the cacti family -- the desert cactus and the forest or jungle cactus. Let's start with the desert cactus.

Desert Cacti

There are hundreds of varieties of this prickly fellow, from the tiny ball cactus to the huge desert giants. The smaller varieties make excellent house plants that require little care. Although cacti do bloom, and many of them have truly delightful flowers, it can take years to get some varieties to flower. It's best to grow them as a foliage or novelty plant and treat the blossoms as an added bonus.

Temperature - These plants like an average temperature in summer, with cooler temperatures during the winter dormant period. However, keep them away from windows where they may be in a cold draft or may be frost damaged.

Water - Contrary to what many people think, cacti do require water. In fact, during spring and summer, they can be watered as you would any house plant, whenever the surface of the soil becomes dry. Do make sure, however, that there is good drainage, as cacti don't like to stand in water, and could rot. In winter, during dormancy, decrease the water supply, using just enough to prevent the plant from shriveling up.

Light - Cacti are desert plants. They love lots of sunlight, so keep them in a sunny window. But even these hardy denizens of the desert need a bit of shade during really hot sunny days. Remember, glass amplifies the light and heat, and this could burn your plants.

Propagation - Cacti can be propagated using stem cuttings or offsets. Most cacti root very easily. They are also easy to grow from seed. It's so much fun to buy a package of mixed cacti seed, plant them and watch the infinite variety of plants that comes up. For potting soil, use a ratio of two thirds ordinary potting soil and one third sand or perlite

Forest or Jungle Cacti

Jungle cacti are Epiphytes. This means that, in