It will always help to know where the plants come from and how they grow in their natural habitat. This gives us a clue how we ought to treat them.

All Cacti come from the New World (North & South America). Cacti do not grow in deserts as is commonly thought (nothing grows in deserts!), but in very arid semi-deserts. In some of the habitats cacti may not see rainfall for years, but usually the ground is very rich in minerals.

Some of the Cacti you may see in Mediterranean regions are not native there, but have been naturalised by man.

Succulents

Succulents on the other hand grow in almost all parts of the world, apart from the Arctic and the Antarctic. However some of the richest areas for Succulents are South Africa and Madagascar, but a fair number grow in North and South America too.

Growing Cacti & Succulents is a very absorbing hobby and once you are "hooked" it can become addictive! If you grow more then just a few you will need to familiarise yourself with the names, all of which are in Latin. At first this may be a little strange, but it will become second nature to you and later it is even becomes essential as your collection grows. You will be glad as you progress. Never buy a plant without a name! This becomes more and more interesting as you progress. You won't believe how many friends you'll make, even abroad, who will be only too willing to help you. When bringing in plants from other sources, always check for Pests, diseases and repot.

Most Cacti & Succulents may be grown from seed or cuttings. To start with, until you have a little experience, you may prefer to buy seedlings from a nursery.

Cultivation is very simple as long as a few basic points are observed. All these plants require a very open and free-draining compost. You can make up the compost yourself and I prefer to use J.I.(John Innes) No.2 type of compost for seedlings and J.I. No.3 for plants two years old and over. This compost should be mixed with horticultural grit at the rate of 3 parts J.I. Compost and 1.part grit. Mix well and it is ready for use.

Never use garden soil or old compost from a source where it may have been lying around for months. Don't be tempted to use builders grit or sand! whilst this makes good concrete, it does not make good potting compost.

Potting and re-potting When potting up use pots that are just the right size for the plant, never too large. Tap the compost around the roots, but never press it in. It will settle when the plant is watered later. Re-potting should not be necessary more than once a year into a next size pot. When plants are larger, re-potting only becomes necessary when the plant has outgrown the pot, or it does not grow well. It is best to re-pot plants at the beginning of their growing season in early Spring. After re-potting, never water until the plant has settled down for week or two in warm weather.

Do not water on cold, damp and dreary days!

I have found two basic instruments almost indispensable for the greenhouse: A moisture- metre (Hygrometer) and a min/maximum thermometer.

Observe the plants! They will almost tell you when to water, particularly the Succulents.

You may water freely in Spring and Summer when the plants are growing well. Water in the early morning once a week if the plants are in the greenhouse, or once a fortnight if in the house on a window sill. Try not to water on cool or wet days, so that plants have a chance to dry off after you have watered.

When you water, water well and then leave the plants to get on and grow. Watering little and often will bring the roots to the surface and make them susceptible to drought and they will not grow well. Never leave water standing in saucer, just give as much as the plant can absorb and water the compost not onto the plant! In time you should be able to feel by the weight of the pot when a plant needs watering.

Only a few plants grow in the winter, so no water should be given at all from about mid September until the end of March. For Winter growing plants consult an experienced grower until you have more experience.

If you are unsure whether to water or not, do as a Yorkshire man would say: "If in doubt, - do nought!"

Cacti in particular are resilient plants and can go a long time without water.

3 - 4 months after re-potting in Summer, when the plants are growing, you should add some food when watering. "Phostrogen" or "Chempak No.8" is best, but any fertiliser low in Nitrogen but high in Potash is very suitable for all Cacti and Succulents.

Cacti & most of the Succulents grow in semi-deserts and therefore need the best light we can provide for them.

Of course quite a lot of Cacti and Succulents can be successfully grown on a window sill, but you will have to be a little selective, a good grower will advise you.

If you are fortunate to have a greenhouse, you will be able to grow almost anything, but in Winter you may have to have a source of heat.

There is also quite a range of plants that can be grown without heat, but with the protection from the rain of a cold frame.

Luckily, Cacti have very few pests and diseases. The most common is mealy bug which may attack the plant and its roots, but watering with systemic insecticide will usually eradicate them.

The only other nuisances hat may bother you at times are dogs, cats, or mice. Butterflies may come in too and lay their egg, so watch out for caterpillars.

Another pest comes in the form of red spider, but it is only troublesome in hot and dry and unventilated conditions.

Important

Some of the most important points for growing successfully are cleanliness and good ventilation at all times. Ventilation particularly on warm or hot days is most important. It is best to leave the doors and windows open all day and even on warm nights. This will prevent a lot of unwanted problems.

Always clean up any debris from staging and under it, because they will harbour pests that will be a nuisance. Keep the glass clean.