How to Grow Cactus and Related Plants

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By Gardengates
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Grow Cactus and Related Plants

Cacti and succulents are some of the easier plants to grow both inside and outside.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

If you live in a wet climate, you will do best growing cactus and related plants indoors with the best light/sun you can give them. If you want to grow them outdoors, plant them in soil that is mostly sand and gravel. These plants do not like to have their roots stay moist so they will need excellent drainage. If you are in a dry climate, allowing the soil to dry out will be easy and your soil mix is not as important so long as you don't plant them in a heavy clay.
Step 2

Plant cacti dry. Unlike most other plants, watering after planting is not helpful. If the soil is dry, the roots will grow out seeking moisture. On the other hand, cacti, like all living things DO need to be watered. They will rot easily if temperatures are cool (under 50'F) and roots stay moist. If you live in desert or chaparral conditions where the sun is hot and the air is dry, cactus and succulent plants can take plenty of water. If you notice the stems, pads or other parts of your plants start to shrink or shrivel a little, you are not giving them enough water. The better the drainage, the more you can water.
Step 3

A succulent garden courtesy of the 'Wild Ginger Farm'

There are many wonderful forms of water-storing plants. They come in all colors, sizes and shapes and are adapted to an assortment of environments. Some common families with succulents are echeveria, kalanchoe, aloe, agave, sedum, sempervivum, yucca and euphorbia.
Step 4

Most cactus and succulent plants can be propagated by seed or cutting. If a piece breaks off, let it dry out for a day or two then pop it back into soil. Most will root within a couple of weeks in the spring or summer. If they don't rot, they will take a little longer in the fall and winter.
Step 5

A cactus pot garden

Cacti and many of their related water-storing plants make fine pot plants for indoors or out. You can even do a whole garden of pots for a room or a patio. Easy to care for, these plants come in the most interesting and sculptural forms you will find in the plant kingdom.
Step 6

Yucca flower

And many bloom with extremely showy flowers!

Comments

vikki9 said

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on 8/21/2008 Interesting those cacti. Thank you.

on 8/21/2008 Good suggestions- thanks... I probably won't be growing a garden of cacti anytime soon though- I fell into a cactus garden when I was a kid...I'm kind of a cactus-phobic now :) Great article though!