Gone Gardenin’ – Cacti and succulents spice up indoor, outdoor landscapes

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/11/2012 (4679 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The use of cacti and succulents in our outdoor gardens has become a common practice; more and more gardeners have fallen in love with these unique plants, which can add so much interest to the landscape.

Many people also grow cacti and succulents in their indoor gardens with the plants we move from the outdoors inside for the winter.

Over the years I have collected quite a few cacti and although I do not often put them outdoors for the summer, I do enjoy their unique beauty in the sunroom during the summer when they are virtually the only plants located in that space.

During the late spring and summer, many of my cacti will put forth bloom, and although the blooms are fleeting, they are exquisite.

This July, I was indeed lucky that one of my cacti produced a wonderful pink blossom — which lasted only two days — the very day of our local fair. Without any trouble it won a prize — although I am sure many visitors to the fair the second day, when the bloom had collapsed, wondered why the plant received a prize! (Luckily, the judging is done at the beginning of the fair, not on the second day.)

Cacti begin to bloom as the day length increases and the temperatures warm up in the spring. During the winter, however, the only cactus that I expect to bloom will be my Christmas cactus, which sets bud in response to a shortening of day length and cooler temperatures.

Most cacti go into a semi-dormant state during the winter, particularly if they are kept in a cool environment similar to my sunroom. Care of cacti during this time requires some special attention.

Firstly, it is important to realize that most of the plants will not be in active growth mode during this time so they require few nutrients or water. Never fertilize cacti during the winter.

Reduce the amount of water that the plants receive, just giving them enough so that they do not become desiccated. Of course, cacti have the ability to store water in their fleshy tissues, so they can endure prolonged periods without water at the best of times.

Not being watered for long periods of time during the winter will be no hardship as the plants will be using very little water in their semi-dormant state. I generally only water my cacti every month or so during the wintertime.

I also keep them quite cool by positioning them on windowsills in the sunroom where temperatures, while always above the freezing mark, are quite cool, especially on cold winter nights. Most of the cacti that we grow indoors will not survive sub-zero temperatures.

Any cacti that have been brought indoors after having been used in the outdoor garden are best potted into pots that are not overly large, since cacti do not perform well when they are over-potted.

If window space is at a premium, several smaller specimens can be combined and planted into a dish garden, which will take up less space than if all the plants were individually potted.

Cacti always should be planted in a very porous soil mix that contains course sand or fine gravel, with little peat in the mix. If cacti are potted in heavy clay soil that holds too much water and does not drain properly, the plants might very well rot during the winter when exposed to cool temperatures, particularly if they are given too much water.

Cacti are generally not subject to pest problems, so you do not have to be on guard for insect infestations. The plants may become dusty over time and it is a good idea to remove any accumulated dust, not only to keep the plants healthy, but also to keep them looking their best.

I simply bring a potted cactus close to my face and blow as mightily as I can on the top of the plant. A more dignified method might be to put your vacuum on the “blow” mode and use it instead of your lungs!

Caring for your cacti collection will give you some gardening pleasure during the winter months and will ensure that your cacti come through the winter in fine shape.

They will then be in good condition to provide enjoyment next summer, whether indoors on a windowill or in your outdoor garden.

Albert Parsons is a consultant for garden design and landscaping who lives in Minnedosa.

» communitynews@brandonsun.com