Growing Desert Cactus

Rain water is always better than tap water, but most species of succulents and cactus plants will tolerate chlorinated municipal water. Pouring a stream of water over these plants with a watering can, as if they were a spider plants, should be avoided, because this method produces conditions more favorable for growing fungus then succulents. When the plants are in a growth cycle they will be interested in plenty of water, and bottom watering is the best method. If the plant is not in a rapid growth cycle its better to avoid soaking the roots and a lit occasional misting can be a good way to regulate water. Wetting these plants from the top with very lit mistings will require avoiding two potential problems. The first is that ugly deposits from tap water can accumulate on the skin of succulents and using rain or distilled water can avoid this problem. The second thing that needs to be avoided is wetting the bodies of these plants while they are in sunlight. A wet cactus in the sun light can cause sun burning which can lead to scares or even fungal infections and death. Bottom watering is the easiest and best way to maintain these plants, but the soil almost always needs to remain dry when the plants are resting.

Watering needs to be done according to the growth cycles of succulents and cactus plants, and knowing when to expect this is only somewhat useful. Some succulents do most of their growing during the winter then rest during the summer months, and these need plenty of water. Other succulents and most cactus plants do most of their growing in the spring and if they're going to bloom they will do so at the end of this spring growth cycle. A few species of cacti will do most of their growing and blooming in the cool fall weather at the end of a hot dry summer. The best way to understand when the succulents are likely to go into a growth cycle is to know the species name and do some research, but what holds true in habitat will often fail in house plant conditions.

As a four seasons house plant it is difficult if not impossible to imitate the natural watering cycles succulents and cactus plants have and expect them to grow and rest exactly as they would in nature. The timing of when to water and when to keep the pot dry is best regulated according to signs of growth from the plants own sense of timing. The beginning of watering cycle in the spring can be determined by watching for signs of new growth such as the emergence of new spines or even a flower bud. When the plants have finished growing and or blooming then it is time to start drying them out. For most of these plants there should be two wet and two dry cycles and when they need water they can be incorporated into the same routine as other houseplants. The most important adjustments that will insure the long term survival of succulent and cactus house plants is to stop watering them when they are resting, and resume watering when they begin to grow.

Over watering can cause swelling or elongation of succulents and cactus plants, and it's important to avoid mistaking these conditions for growth. When plants are in their resting cycle they won't show the emergence any new spines or fresh skin, but they can look like they are growing if they are over watered. This is very bad and the plant is actually under stress and can die from too much water. In this situation it is important to stop watering the plant and keep it warm until it dries out again. If the soil is extremely wet removing the plant from soil completely and letting the roots dry out can often save the plants life. An unpoted plant can be dried out for several weeks under a plant light or by indirect sunlight. Later the water stressed plant can be potted in mostly dry soil and allowed to finish out its rest period in a dry condition. This has to be done before any fungus has started to set in for the procedure to be effective, because once fungus has started in an over watered plant it's time to start making funeral preparations.

Note: Lithops are an exception in that when they show the emergence of new leaves they need to remain dry even though they look like they are growing.

When plants are resting in their summer cycle an occasional small watering will be fine for most species as long as they can dry out between watering. Some succulents and cactus plants will actually delay their spring growth cycle until summer in more northern climates in which case they will need plenty of water. When this happens it's important to remember that these plants will be very happy to remain dryer when they are ready to rest in the fall.

In the late fall it is a good idea to bath the plants and wash off any dust and sticky residues that may have accumulated to prepare them for their long winter sleep. Some species produce small amounts of sticky secretions, which may hardly be noticeable to us, but can become an invitation to fungi if the plants are left unclean. Growth for most species of cactus will be hardly noticeable in the fall washing can be considered the last watering for the next 5 to 6 months.

During the winter for most species withholding water completely is the best method. Many plants will show signs of shrinkage during this dry period but this is normal and good as long as the roots do not disintegrate. Before deciding to water cactus plants because of shrinkage it is a good idea to examine the roots. The plant can be removed and replanted in their soil if the roots are kept dry before, during and after this procedure. If the roots are healthy and the body of the plant isn't producing any new spines it's better to continue to keep the shrunken plant dry. If the fine roots are becoming brittle and disappearing then very small amounts of water may be needed and this is best done by misting the plant after it is repotted. Even if the plant is shrunken and the roots are breaking off it is still better to avoid getting the roots wet. In all cases it's best to continue to avoid any kind of heavy watering until the plant shows signs of wanting to grow again in the spring.

In the Spring after plants have been in their winter rest, it is very important to withhold watering until the plants actually begin to show signs of growth. It is often the case that succulent and cactus plants are the most vulnerable to rot from over watering just before they begin to enter a new spring growth cycle. Some species accept watering before they are ready to grow, but it is very risky to attempt to push any plant into a growth cycle with water too soon. There will be some plants with indications of growth that are difficult to see and obviously watering can't be postponed indefinitely. If the plant has been kept completely dry through the winter and has rested for over 6 months it may be safe to resume watering without seeing signs of growth as long as the plant has daytime warmth and enough sun.

When the plants are ready to grow the best way to give them their first spring watering is to soak the roots by setting the pots briefly in bowls of water. In more northern climates most species of cactus plants will be interested in growing in late spring or early summer, and it's important to patiently keep these plants dry until the plants decide for themselves that spring has finally arrived.

You can find more information on windowsillcactus.com

# posted by Adv. Blogger @ 12:07 AM 0 comments

Supplies that may be helpful when potting succulent and cactus plants are a pair of tongs and a brush.

For succulent and cactus plants a pair of tongs are sometimes helpful for handling thorny and spiny situations situations.

A sumi brush is stiff and soft enough for cleaning away insects and debris.

# posted by Adv. Blogger @ 9:31 AM 0 comments

Do you like to decorate your home with artificial plants? Would you like to know the types of artificial plants available for your indoor decoration?

The plants that you are using in your home may not provide you a natural appearance and may require more attention. Therefore you may not be feeling as contented as you could be, with an artificial cactus plant.

As you imagine you are away from all your worries right now, the artificial cactus plant can help you in this. These cactus plants make a great gift, and not to mention the atmosphere change they can bring to your home with their greenish colour.

You can decorate your home by placing an artificial cactus plant in the hall way or near to the steps, etc. These artificial cacti bring a natural look to your home and the appearance is pleasing to the eye. With the help of natural appearance you can feel more relaxed and happier. It requires only a little care, therefore you can still enjoy your own time with no worries. They are manufactured from high quality materials to provide a realistic appearance in your home.Besides you can get these cacti at the best prices in the market.

In addition, it will save you money and time!

Interested to know more about artificial cactus plants? You can find more information about artificial cati on http://www.artificialflowerz.com/

# posted by Adv. Blogger @ 2:45 AM 0 comments

The natural habitats for Stapelia species is Africa and they are sometimes named 'The Starfish Cactus', 'Starfish Flower' or 'Carrion Plant'. They grow as soft stems that spread like clumps of grass without spines or thorns, and produce some of the most beautiful flowers of all succulents. The flowers usually have a hairy look perhaps to imitate the appearance of a small dead animal. They are known as carrion flowers because when the bloom opens it gives off a deep rotting smell imitating dead animal matter. The stapelia flowers usually attract flies as pollinators instead of nectar seeking insects like honey bees, so if you like their beautiful flowers be ready for some bad smells too. Usually the odor is only strong enough to notice if you are very close to the flower, but some species can fill a room with a death like smell. Fortunately the odors are only strong for about a day if they are going to be noticeable at all.

Unlike many other succulents Stapeliads need to be uprooted, sorted and repotted every few years. Flowers occur only on new stems and each stem will only live for a few years before it is likely to rot. Every few summers it's good to sort out the new growth and dispose of the older stems to keep these plants healthy and improve flowering potential. They may grow a little in the spring, but do most of their growing in the late fall and early winter when they are most likely to bloom too. It's best to sort out the stems while the plants are resting in the summer before they begin their fall growth cycle. If this is done in the winter after they've flowered be sure to take extra precautions to keep them dry, because damp cool conditions when the plants are resting is an invitation to fungal infections. In any season it's best to lay the stems out for several days before replanting them and then pot them only in dry soil and with hold any water until they begin to shrivel or start growing again. Any time when there is a dead or dying stem in the pot it is important to remove it immediately and completely before other healthy stems can become ill too. Stapelia growth cycles make new generations and the older stems have to be removed as they become ill and die so the new ones have a chance to grow and flower.

The flowers will give off odors when they completely open and if the plants need to be relocated when it blooms it's best to move the plant before the buds form, or after the flower begins to open. Moving the plants as they are developing buds may cause it to spontaneously abort its flowers all together. These varieties flower easily as house plants in colors that range from pink through dark purples and yellow through orange and tan. They will tolerate lots of rain in the summer months, and keeping them outdoors in filtered light will encourage them to flower after they are brought in for the fall. They will tolerate very hot weather outdoors as long as they have partial shade, but they need to be returned indoors if temperatures are going to go below the 40s. It's good to keep them out in cool fall weather for as long as possible, because seasonal temperature cooling will help prompt them to bloom.

The most challenging part of growing these plants is keeping them alive in the winter months, because they can be very susceptible to fungus rot. An easy and effective watering strategy is to drizzle them with very small amounts of water on a biweekly basis and never bottom water the pots in the winter. When winter ends and they begin to grow again, they will require much more water and soaking the pots from the bottom will no longer put the plants at risk for rot. In the spring they will grow well in partial shade and leaving them out in the rain may provide them with the water they need. In the summer months they will tolerate heavy rain, but will be just as happy if the season is dry. In the fall keep them outdoors until the night time temperatures drop below the 40s, and this will prompt them to bloom in early winter. As soon as they are through blooming it is time let the pots dry out and resume only an occasional lit watering schedule until spring returns. Caring for Stapeliads as four seasons house plants is easy as long as their needs are met with each passing season.

# posted by Adv. Blogger @ 4:37 AM 0 comments