Larger than life

I’ve seen the huge cacti at Kew Gardens. How can I encourage my own to grow? To imitate their natural habitat, try to keep them as dry as possible by watering infrequently and sparingly from mid-autumn to early spring. This is their enforced winter rest, where plants should ideally be kept in a cool, dry, airy place. However, given the extra warmth from central

QAheating, it’s a good idea to lightly water or spray plants once a month to prevent their roots from drying up. From early spring, water plants gradually, then once a week from late spring and throughout summer. Allow the soil to dry between waterings.

Feed every four to six weeks, using a succulent-specific feed during the growing season (early spring to mid-autumn).