They live in the arid desert. They survive extreme temperature variations. They live well with two millimeters of rain per year. There’s no doubt about it, cacti are tough. When you look at a cactus, you immediately think of Clint Eastwood in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. And yet. Yet. Some people find a way to kill a cactus… How? Why? Let’s study the question.
First, let’s get to know this huge group. Almost all cacti are native to the Americas. It is a large family of more than 3,500 species, and the desert is not their exclusive habitat. In fact, cacti can be found in mountains, on beaches, and in forests. Here, we will focus more specifically on cacti from arid environments, whether they are ball, candelabra or racket. Christmas cacti and Easter cacti will not be discussed here.
Not Everyone Can Be a Cactus
Having needles doesn’t necessarily mean you’re looking at a member of the cactus family. Well, a rose bush… we kind of suspected that, but it’s a little less obvious when you look at some euphorbias with their succulent trunks and almost no leaves. You can recognize a real cactus by the pad at the base of the needles.
Indoors, cacti thrive on the edge of a very sunny window, south or west side. This light is essential to their happiness. This passage inside in winter is a dormant period for them. The soil must remain very dry. For my part, I do not water my cacti at all in winter. Not a drop. But many experts recommend occasional watering, allowing the soil to dry out well between waterings. Also, since they live in slow motion, it is in their best interest to keep them in a cool room. If it is too hot, they will dehydrate more quickly.
In the summer, your cacti will thank you for placing them outside in the sun or partial shade. In fact, it is highly recommended to place them outside for the summer. Don’t forget to gradually acclimate them to natural light by placing them in dense shade for a few days first. Once outside, cacti will be satisfied with rainwater and a few waterings along the way. Again, too much water and it’s over. If you like, you can add a small dose of tomato fertilizer, why not. In the fall, you can wait a few days after the first light frost to bring them indoors. Yes, cacti can take a little -2? (28?).
Repotting cacti is done in the spring. In general, cacti like to be packed tightly in their pots, but a cactus will eventually get bigger. The soil must be very dry before repotting, and avoid watering the cacti after. Damaged roots are very susceptible to rot. There is a cactus potting soil on the market that can be replaced with potting soil for African violets, or use regular potting soil and add sand. Drainage of excess water is an important factor. Of course, repot cacti with good thick gloves. You can also use a strip of folded newspaper that wraps around the plant. It works quite well.
As for the varieties, they are rarely identified in garden centers where an assortment is sold rather than precise species. Let us nevertheless mention the most classic ones, such as the Mammillaria (Mammillaria spp.) (small balls always in flower), old man’s heads (Cephalocereus senilis) (grandpa cactus) and the Peruvian apple cactus (Cereus repandus) (elongated).
So it’s really quite simple, after all, to grow cacti. You choose a beautiful cactus, in a beautiful pot, you give it a thumbs up and off you go!
