GET STARTED WITH CACTI
Martyn Cox gets prickly with succulents
“Wear a tough pair of gloves when handling them”
The botanical names of some popular types of cacti – mammillaria, trichocereus and gynocalycium – could sound like the names of some prehistoric animals that once roamed this earth. There’s no doubt that these plants have some of the most difficult to pronounce names in the entire plant kingdom, but once you get your head around their tongue twisting names you’ll find they’re among the easiest plants you could possibly grow.
Perfect for raising in pots on a sunny windowsill, cacti largely originate from hot, dry regions of South, Central and North America. As they have to survive long periods of drought in their natural habitats, they store water in their fleshy stems. This makes them dead easy to look after as they only require the occasional drink to prevent shrivelling.
Lots to choose from
There’s great variety among them. Plants can form narrow columns or have flattish pads that are fused together, like the famous prickly pear. Others are spherical or have tapering, finger-like stems. They may spread into dense clusters over time or simply grow as a solitary specimen. Apart from their architectural good looks, many flower freely when mature.
Cacti do not produce leaves but have spines that grow from cushion-like growths, known as areoles. Some cacti have spines that are barely noticeable, soft to the touch or are hidden under hair-like growth. A number of species have really dangerous, sharp long spines or barbs that are quite showy, because they are curved, hooked or even multi-coloured.
Cacti always look good grown individually in pots filled with welldrained, soil-based compost, such as John Innes No.2 with some extra horticultural grit. however, it’s possible to make an attractive display by growing a selection of different types in a bowl-shaped container.
To avoid getting spines stuck in your hands when potting, always wear a pair of tough gloves and handle plants by folding up a strip of newspaper and clamping it around them. Don’t squeeze too tight or you’ll damage the spines.