How to Grow a Cactus and Succulent Garden

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A cactus and succulent garden

Some cactus plants have the largest flowers relative to their size. Succulents come in sculptural shapes and forms. When these plants are designed well in the garden, they can create a fabulous landscape effect.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

To grow a cactus and succulent garden, you need to know what makes these plants special. Succulents form a group of plants that hold most of their moisture in adapted leaves or stems. These adaptations frequently cause the leaves and stems to look like anything but leaves and stems. Cacti fit the bill. But to be considered a cactus plant, special adaptations called areoles which are capable of growing spines, hairs even leaves and flowers need to be present. Another curious attribute of the genuine cactus is that it can only be found naturally in the Western Hemisphere. All these plants need a very fast draining planting medium.
Step 2

Cereus in bloom

Design using the sculptural shapes as art. Most of these plants have evolved in interesting shapes to hold water and they are excellent for drought-tolerant plantings. The rounded, tall and spherical forms of both cacti and succulents mix with other plants, stone and rocks. Some have colorful stems and some of the cacti have the largest flowers in the world for the plant size. Grow these plants as design elements in your cactus garden.
Step 3

Not all cacti and succulents need desert conditions. Most do not do well in cold and wet together, though, and tend to rot. But if you mulch with gravel you will keep moisture from that critical area where the body joins the roots and make rot less of a problem. Planting them in good drainage is important. Giving them a sand or gravel mulch will help prevent neck rot.
Step 4

Grow your cactus and succulent garden in good light. Most of these plants can handle shade to sun and do not need to be fussed over. Many pests like rabbits and deer will not touch them unless they are desperate. And there is an amazing selection of large and small, round and spreading, sharp and smooth forms to choose from.
Step 5

Use cacti and succulents with other plants that do not need a lot of water. They are best planted when weather is warm and dry and, unlike most other plants, do better when NOT watered in. The roots tend to stretch out faster to seek water if the soil is dry.
Step 6

A garden using cactus and succulent plants mixed with other drougnt-tolerants

Design these plants with ornamental grasses, rocks/boulders and gravel to create a southwestern effect. Mix them with native plants for a wilder garden look. Set them in gardens with sculptures or statues for a humorous or formal design. Use your imagination and you can grow a cactus and succulent garden to be the envy of all your neighbors.

Comments

debraleebaldwin said

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on 1/27/2009 Applause for Gardengates! After reading an unfortunate amount of misleading info about succulents on eHow, this is refreshingly accurate. Great job! -- Debra Lee Baldwin, author, "Designing with Succulents" (Timber Press, 2007) and "Succulent Container Gardens" (2010)