Cacti care

[nabob]

Just bought one of those pots with assorted cacti in and wondered if I need to buy special feed for them or just use baby bio and water now and again!
Thanks

[carlton23]

Yes, Cacti feed is available from any gardening shop.

[Buenchico]

While I'm the world's worst gardener, I do know a thing or two about cacti. (I used to grow and exhibit them when I was a teenager).

Cacti need very little feeding, if any at all. If you insist upon using a commercial feed, buy a special one for cacti and only apply it very rarely.

The real trick with cacti though is to keep watering to an absolute minimum. During the summer months let the soil dry out completely, then wait a few more days, or a week, before giving them a little water. Give your cacti their last water for the year in October, then place them somewhere slightly cool but not actually cold. (e.g. somewhere like an unheated spare bedroom, which is still kept slightly warm by heat coming from the rest of the house). Then don't give them any water at all until April of the next year.

Most people who keep cacti have never seen them flower. If you starve them of water all winter, and then suddenly water them, they'll usually burst into flower fairly shortly afterwards (which is a sure sign that they're healthy).

Chris

[carlton23]

Just one little thing, cacti do survive extreme low temperatures in their natural habitat at night in the deserts, but not where frost is concerned.

[nabob]

Many thanks sorry for the delay!