John Pilbeam - Happy Cactus: Choose It, Love It, Let It Thrive

To help you better understand your cactus or succulent, and to make sure it thrives, its useful to dispel some of the myths that surround these plants.

MYTH: CACTI ARE DIFFERENT FROM SUCCULENTS

TRUTH : All cacti belong to the group of plants called succulents, which are adapted to store water in their leaves, stems, and sometimes their roots. However, only cacti have round, cushion-like areas called areoles where spines can develop. In other succulents, there are no areoles although there may be spines.

MYTH: THEY ARE ALL DESERT PLANTS

TRUTH : The ability to store water allows cacti and succulents to survive not only in hot, arid environments with limited rainfall (eg Echinocereus ), but also on rocky outcrops (eg living stones), or as epiphytes, growing on the surface of other plants (eg Christmas cactus, which grows on trees in rainforests).

MYTH: THEY DONT NEED WATERING

TRUTH : Cacti and succulents in the wild require seasonal rainfall in order to grow and produce flowers. See for .

MYTH: THEY ALL REQUIRE HOT, SUNNY CONDITIONS

TRUTH : Although many cacti and succulents need full sun during their growth period in order to thrive and flower, some require bright but indirect light (eg Chihuahua flower) to prevent their leaves becoming scorched. During their winter rest period, they need to be kept in a light place, but not below 5C (41F).

MYTH: THEYRE INDESTRUCTIBLE!

TRUTH : Cacti will only survive if cared for properly. This includes using the right, gritty, compost, not overwatering, and keeping them free from frost (eg dwarf Turks cap).

MYTH: THEY GROW SLOWLY

TRUTH : Some cacti quickly produce a whole clump of new stems (eg crown cactus). Other fast-growing cacti include some trailing species that are suitable for growing in hanging pots.

MYTH: THEY DONT FLOWER EASILY

TRUTH : If they are given a winter resting period, and cared for correctly in spring and summer, most cacti will flower reliably. Many will produce spectacular blooms (eg glory of Texas), and some from an early age.

There are a few things to consider when choosing your perfect cactus or succulent and some important points to look out for when buying one.

Think about the practical side of growing your cactus or succulent (eg where youll grow it and how much time you have) and also its aesthetic appeal (eg flowers, leaf-shape, and overall size).

WHERE WILL I GROW IT?

You can grow cacti and succulents indoors or in a frost-free greenhouse. There are species suitable for small windowsills (eg ). You can also make a great showpiece for a wide windowsill by growing several cacti or succulents together in a large, shallow container.

Cacti and succulents can be grown in a wide range of containers, as long as they have at least one drainage hole to prevent root rot.

TYPES OF POT

Plastic, terracotta, or glazed ceramic pots and hanging containers are most suitable for cacti and succulents. Metal containers are not recommended because they change temperature too quickly.

PLASTIC POT

Plastic pots are suitable for any surface, usually have several drainage holes, and are the cheapest option. As they are lightweight, they are not suitable for tall or top-heavy plants.

TERRACOTTA POT

Terracotta pots are considerably heavier than plastic pots, and their weight provides stability for plants that are tall or top-heavy. They are also porous, which helps to improve drainage and prevent waterlogging.