Spring Means Taking Care of the Cactus

With Spring just a couple of weeks away it is time to get out and do those green thumb projects. One of mine of course is Cacti. Winter killed many beautiful cacti with rot, still others remain that survived the cold wet winter.

First thing is to prep the soil from last year. Mix in new with the old and also top soil to bottom. The cacti seem to like nutrients that land on the soil as well as the bottom.

Make sure that the soil is well drained. Water retaining soil = rot. Also make sure any containers can drain excess water.  Cold hardy cacti will be starting to "wake up."  So don't forget to cut off rot and keep your cacti healthy. If your cactus is rotten, chuck it. Rot from borderline cold hardy can spread rot to otherwise healthy plants.

Let soil completely dry out before watering again. Also minimum for this time of year should be once to twice every two weeks.  Cacti in low light areas will need artificial light for indoors or access to a good light source by a window.

Also cacti are great for preventing break ins from burglars. If they want your stuff let them get stuck for it. I have always used a dog and cacti in tandem. So far, so good.  Yucca also require the same care as succulents, though not as hardy as cacti.  So much for Spring maintaining. Nutrients for indoor and outdoor include plant food, organicide for fungus, and of course beer and dog food my favorites.

So keep on having fun with painful planting. But in the end it is worth it for those spring and summer blooms.