Caring for popular In-Door Cactus/Succulents-Cactus plants are local to a wide variety of climates. From deserts and mountains to grasslands and even jungles they tend to be hardy plants which grow best with lower humidity. This does not mean, however, that they do not love their fair share of water. They also generally love bright light and as long as they are not displaying signs of ‘scorching’, ‘bleaching’, and/or stretching (towards the light source) then let them have as much as they want. As with all plants, each species of cacti and succulent comes with its own special care-sheet, and these are simply the general suggestions. Any time a cactus is moved from one location to another, it is wise to do it slowly so as not to shock the plant. Often direct sunlight, especially with coinciding high temperatures, will do more harm than good to cacti and succulents. Signs of this, as mentioned earlier, are bleaching and scorching. The plant will become faded, drawn, and discolored. When cacti suffer from scorching from too much intense direct sunlight the scars will often be permanent. Succulents are tropical plants which have fleshy roots, stems, or leaves and are able to retain moisture in any or all of these parts. For this reason, as with cacti, over watering is a sure way to kill a succulent.
When to water a cactus or succulent: For most moderate environments once a week is suggested, with care being given to ensure a good soaking (when the water runs out of the drain- hole in the bottom of the container.) A well balanced fertilizer-equal parts of Phosphorous, Nitrogen, and Potassium, diluted to ¼ strength- can be pre-mixed into the water to ensure adequate ‘food’ for cacti and succulents. An important note concerning when to fertilize: when the cactus/succulent is resting, or dormant, do not feed. Typically the time of rest is during late fall through the winter, although some species of cacti/succulent defy this and do most of their growing during the winter. Watering during such times of dormancy is also required less frequently.
Soil preparation and containment for cacti/succulents: While there are several top-grade pre-mixed potting soils available for cactus plants and succulents there is also a fairly simple method for preparing your own. The general mix for optimally providing for your plant is as follows: 1/3 horticultural-grade sand, 1/3 grit, 1/3 commercial grade potting soil (compost). Pumice or a fired- clay are optimal choices when selecting a horticultural grade grit for potting cactus and succulent plants. (Be sure that the clay component is fired, as any other grade of clay will clump and cause detriment to the plant.) The most relevant and vital aspect for containing cactus and succulent plants is DRAINAGE. The soil (and container) must allow for optimal drainage. This cannot be stressed enough when raising and caring for healthy cacti and succulents. Plastic and clay pots are equally adequate for raising cacti and succulents, although a heavier pot is recommended for those species which grow tall. Plastic, being lighter in weight, is probably not a good choice if the cactus or succulent to be contained is going to grow top heavy. Thinking ahead on this is wise, as repotting a prickly cactus takes much care, caution, and patience. Two additional notes on proper containment: first, the potting soil needs to FILL the container (gravel in the bottom is not recommended) and two, when watering, be careful to never use water that has been filtered through a softening system, as this adds harmful salts which will harm the plant.