The homeowner who wants to start a home garden that is light on the maintenance needed may decide to buy cacti. This can be a good plan because while they provide a lot of visual interest to your indoor areas, they need less water than most plants and are quite hardy - although there are still care instructions that need to be followed to increase the life and longevity of a cactus.
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| A few types of potted cactus. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Cactus plants are used to hot and dry conditions; for this reason putting them in a windowsill with full sunlight is optimal. Depending on the cactus and the amount of heat it is getting you may not have to water it for weeks at a time (once a month is the generally recommended watering schedule). Cacti like coarse soil; it is recommended to use a soil that is meant specifically for a cactus instead of a generic mix. When a fertilizer is needed you should also purchase a fertilizer that is just for cacti.
When watering a cactus, you want to be careful not to over-water it. A good tip to prevent this from happening is to place the cactus pot in a shallow dish full of water. The plant will soak up all of the water it needs through the drainage hole in a period of 1-2 hours. Then pour the remaining water out of the dish, and don’t worry about it again for another month unless the plant is starting to get a shriveled look.
When handling your cactus, be careful! If the pot is not large enough to hold onto without your hands getting to close to the prickly part of the plant use a folded newspaper and place it around the plant. This will protect both your hands and the plant when moving it. If you do get a cactus thorn in your finger, remove gently with a pair of tweezers or a piece of strong tape.
Resources for Growing Cacti:
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