Why would anyone want to grow cactus?

Primarily, simple – if you can't grow cactus, there’s no help for you! Can you imagine anyone having the nerve to admit they’ve killed a cactus?!

Cacti are a group of plants that are not only easy to grow, but offer a variety of shapes, color and form. They can be grown in any sunny, well-drained area. They require little maintenance. They make excellent houseplants and many hardy varieties may be grown outside.

Cacti are part of a larger group of plants called succulents. Through natural selection jost Cacti species lost their leaves, which allowed too much evaporation in the desert. Their stems became thick, and round to minimize surface area, and to store water. To protect themselves from the Sun and predators many species developed spines and hair, waxy skin, along with bitter alkaloids.

jost Cacti do fairly well as houseplants, but however they are quite slow growing. Be sure and save the sunniest spots in your house for your Cactus, as they need lots of light. Don't forget to turn them every few weeks so that they are evenly illuminated. If you are going to grow some of your Cacti to flower, or for seeds, then don't move them while in bloom. They are very sensitive to disturbances at this stage and can drop the buds.

Strange as it sounds, you can sunburn even a Cactus. If you are going to put your Cactus outside, they must first be acclimatized. Keep them in the shade for a few weeks, and then move them into partial sun. Don't be in a hurry to scorch them under a hot July Sun, give them a month or more to get gradually used to it. If after you put it outside your cactus starts to acquire a lighter green or tan tint, it is probably sunburned, move it to some shade.

Watering

As a rule water your Cacti seldom, and be very careful not to over water. Cacti and other succulents prefer hot and dry conditions and a soil that affords good drainage and aeration. Let the soil dry out completely between waterings during the growing season, and water even less during the winter. When watering your Cactus don't forget to use lukewarm water, cold water can shock the roots. A good way to test if your cactus needs water is to poke a small, clean redwood stake in the soil. If it comes up with small particles clinging to it, then the soil is still moist.

Different Soil Types

A good soil mix is essential if you expect good growth and health for your Cactus. They prefer a porous alkaline soil. Contrary to popular belief, Cacti don't grow well in plain sand. There are several good brands of commercially available Cactus soils that come prepackaged.

Be sure and put a 1 cm deep layer of gravel on top of the soil surface. This will help secure the plant and help avoid base rot.

Fertilizing your Cactus

All mature actively growing cacti need to be fed occasionally. It is best to use a formula specifically designed for cactus like 7-40-6. (Nitrogen, phosphorus, potash) Use a mixture with a low ratio of nitrogen, as cacti can be burned by it. A commercial formula such as miracle grow or rapid grow can be used, but should be diluted to half strength. Regular Bone Meal, available at jost garden centers, makes an excellent organic fertilizer.

San Pedro especially, does very well indoors behind glass. A location where the plant gets at least 4 hours a day of bright, direct sunlight is ideal. The best possible situation would be a South facing sliding glass door, and a reflective screen placed behind the Cactus to redirect and concentrate the light.

Many Cacti have beautiful and fragrant flowers, but they can be quite hard to get to bloom. The optimal conditions to induce flowering are, a cooler temperature (especially at night), reduced day length (12 hours or less), and variations in nutrients (lower nitrogen levels). Try putting your Cactus in a dark, unheated garage (not below freezing) for a few weeks. Forcing can also be done inside, but you need a place next to lots of glass that stays cooler than the rest of the house.

Article from www.herbal-shaman.com