CACTI AND SUCCULENTS I'll be the first to admit that I am NOT good with houseplants! Outside in the garden - no problem; inside - forget it - if it requires any kind of attention, it's going to die pretty quick! For that reason - I grow several cacti and succulents. They add life to a room and don't make me feel guilty if I don't tend to them all the time!
The true cactus is distinguished by the presence of areoles - the small bumps that occur all over the plant, from which the spines protrude; whereas the spines on the succulents grow directly out of the body of the plant.
This is a family of truly unique plants. The diversity of forms and textures add interest to a coffee table indoors, or an outside deck in summer. A succulent is considered to be any plant that has the natural ability to store water. Succulents generally have fatter leaves and thicker stems - which hold the moisture for times of drought (either weather-related or human neglect!). Actually, the result of neglect is quite often large colorful blooms on your plants - an added bonus! True cacti are a type of succulent; they are all members of the Cactaceae family. Although cacti and succulents are easy to care for, keep in mind a few simple things when shopping for them Larger plants with a low price may not always be the best deal - they are often dug from the desert and their roots severely damaged. Check the base of the plants at the soil line for any signs of softness - you certainly don't want a plant infected with rot or you will find yourself cutting off the remaining healthy part and rerooting it. Avoid plants whose new growth is pale and insipid looking - this is a sign that the plants have been poorly grown and are in sad condition. Check carefully for any present insects, particularly mealy bug (a non-moving insect that appears as grey or white spots).
As for general care - the amount of light that you give to your plants is one of the most important factors in their health. The majority of cacti and succulents require strong sunlight to grow well, preferably in a southern exposure window. As for watering, we have mentioned that they are wonderfully drought tolerant, however - during their growth periods (usually spring and summer), they absorb moisture rapidly and may need to be watered every 1 - 3 days. Don't allow the soil to become a hard crust that nothing will penetrate! All the soil should be wet at each watering and then allowed to dry to a point where it contains only a slight damp feel to the touch before the next watering. Watering during the dormancy period is drastically cut back - a light watering every few weeks will suffice, and this time there is no need to soak all the soil in the pot. Fertilizing with a high phosphorus food (5-10-5, 10-20-10 or 10-20-20) should be done only when the plants are actively growing - and personally I prefer the water soluble fertilizers, although there are many liquid, time release or pellet fertilizers available at your local garden center.
When repotting, make sure that you move up to a container that is only slightly larger than the previous pot - they don't like to jump into a big huge space after being cozy in their original pot for a few years! After transplanting - do not water right away! Give the plant a few days to settle into the new pot and for the roots to heal from the stress of the move. Water sparingly for the next few weeks.
No matter what your tastes may be - the cacti and succulent family will have something for you! Check with your local garden centers or call a garden club near you for more information - or watch these pages as we expand our information to you on a daily basis! And if you have any questions pertaining to this or any other article you see - please be sure to email us!
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