Choosing easy to care for cacti
THE planting of cacti is ideal for beginner gardeners because of their ease of maintenance. Cacti, being a desert variety, only need to be watered once in a while. In their natural environment, cacti thrive in extremely hot and harsh areas where water is scarce. They await times when the weather changes to bring torrential rains — that is when these plants would collect and absorb as much water as possible.
At other times, cacti survive on the little dew that is available. They have evolved to have thick body parts and thorny skin, to reduce transpiration or water loss. It is a miracle that these living entities have grown to thrive so beautifully. Notocactus scopa This is a prolific delicate silvery-white spiny round ball that is beautiful for displays. They are easy to grow and do flower occasionally, producing red and yellow flowers. However, our constantly humid conditions may delay blooming.
The planting medium needs only a 35 per cent sand and compost mixture. Ensure that it is rich in a slow release fertiliser for good growth. Water only when the top layer of the planting medium appears dry. Mammillaria elongata Also known as Golden Stars, this is a common cactus for the garden and indoors too. It looks like a pincushion with golden curved spines and white flowers even at the early stage of cultivation.
This is a sun-loving cactus, so if you wish to see it grow quickly, give it full sunshine or plenty of bright light.
Water when the top one inch of the medium is dry. Add NPK or organic fertilisers in a very diluted form. Again slow release fertiliser is best. Cereus peruvianus This tall column cactus has tiny spines along the ridges. It is suitable for home gardens and indoor décor.
Use rich sandy compost and gravel for potting. You can also choose the easier method of a ready-packed medium for cactus growing.
The plant needs a bright location and should only be watered when the top layer of the medium is dry. Again use a diluted NPK solution bimonthly, or incorporate slow release fertiliser in the planting medium at the time of planting. Other notes Almost all spiny cacti flourish indoors in a warm atmosphere. Cacti with leaves or leaf-like spineless stems do not like sandy compost; these include the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), orchid cactus (Epiphyllum), and empress cactus (Disocactus phyllanthoides).
They thrive well in a rich and well drained medium. Fertilise well during flowering.
Balanced nutrients rich in phosphorus and potassium will be beneficial to the health of the cacti.
Some cacti only bloom at night and can fill the air with their perfume for pollination. Dragon fruit Sometimes we may forget that the beautiful fruits we get in the market known as dragon fruit are actually from a variety of cactus.
Of late, diseases have wiped out many dragon fruit gardens. Perhaps this is the time to try growing this fruit ourselves.
The varieties to grow should be those with red or white flesh as they are easier to work with. Use compost and manure as fertiliser.
Pruning the excess branches would encourage the plant to flower and from there the pollinated ones will develop into fruits.
As these cacti do not have any erect stems, they will fall in all directions without the proper support.
This is best done right from the start during planting.
Many growers help the cactus to stand in a good position with full sunlight by using a post.
The post needs to be several feet tall – a convenient height would be five feet above ground.
Do try to include some cacti either indoors or outside in your garden. Send me an email if you have questions, comments, or suggestions.
Happy gardening.