Bringing to mind an untamed desert landscape, cacti can survive the toughest of climatic conditions and produce flowers of different hues. These survivors can thrive in your garden too, with a little care. Often the botanical names of cacti are hard to grasp and can put amateur gardeners off. The cactus will do well in your garden as long as you remember three things: food, light and water. A cactus bought home from a nursery is usually in a small pot and would have grown for a long time in the nursery by absorbing all the nutrients in the soil.
So while repotting the cactus, see to it that you plant them in fertilised soil.
Placing the plant near a window, where it is exposed to partial sunlight most of the day can help in the production of flowers.
Placing them directly under the sunlight is not adviced as they are prone to sun burns.
Old man cactus
The surface of the plant has white hair and can be washed to keep it clean. It’s said to grow up to 12 feet.
Care: The plant needs to be protected from direct sunlight. During the winters keep the plant dry.
Crown of thorns
Also known as Euphorbia milli, this variety produces flowers in hues like orange, pink and white-red throughout the year. It can grow up to a meter and has long, thorny branches.
Care: Water the plant moderately in summer and even lesser during winter.
Prickly pear
Also known as Optuntia, it’s found in abundance along the highway and in drought prone regions.
It is said to have nutritional and medicinal values.
The plant bears a fruit also known as tunas.
Care: These plants adapt themselves well to dry regions and have thick water-retaining stems.
Aloe Vera
Bursting with medicinal value, it’s especially used to treat skin ailments like rashes. It can be grown on kitchen window-sills and in gardens.
Care: As the plant itself contains lot of water, it will die if the water in the soil cannot drain quickly.
Yellow spheres
Also known as Echinocactus grusonii, it’s one of the most attractive cactus plants.
Care : Moderate watering once in three days is advisable in summer and once a week in winter.