Getting the most out of nature’s strangest plants – cacti
THERE’S something strangely adorable about the humble house cactus, says
They may seem prickly and aloof, refusing to play nicely with their peers in the garden, but you’ll soon realise cacti have vulnerabilities too.
In fact, there is a whole host of misconceptions surrounding cacti – they don’t all have spines, they can flower gloriously, and, most importantly, they do need watering.
We spoke to Andy Baxter, director of The Internet Gardener
LUKE RIX-STANDING.
( and Emma Allen, garden manager at RHS Wisley (
to demystify these prickly characters
Cacti are practical, different, and sometimes disarmingly beautiful and, perhaps best of all, they don’t tend to die when you go on holiday and can’t find anyone to pop in and water plants for you.
For such tough little numbers, they can also erupt into effervescent florals. “For something so spiky and gnarly,” says Emma, “they have the most over-the-top, glamorous flowers.”
And there are enough different species to fill the Eden Project several times over. “There’s a huge diversity and range of cacti,” says Emma. “All kinds of different colours and shapes and sizes.” Novices might enjoy the ‘bunny ear cactus’ (aka the ‘polka-dot cactus’), so named for a striking resemblence to Mickey Mouse. “They’re perfect for beginners,” says Andy. “Low maintenance, and only need watering every three to four weeks during autumn and winter – slightly more during warmer months.”
The ‘hedgehog cactus’ (aka the ‘sea-urchin’) is equally entry-level, and is known for its large and beautiful flowers. “They require very little care,” says Andy, “and, as long as they receive regular sunlight, they should thrive.”
Cacti rank among the lowest maintenance plants, not bothered by central heating, structurally strong as an ox, and actively need to dry out before drinks.
The most important resource is light, and cacti are best kept on the sill of a south-facing window. Also make make sure they’ve got freedraining compost mixture, so work in grit or gravel, or coarse sand, as overwatering is a problem.
As for where to place them, traditionally cacti don’t thrive in bathroom humidity but can be happily integrated into any other room of the house.