Cacti
Presenter: Kim Syrus
Episode: 20 (8 September 2007)
The one plant that is the ultimate in drought tolerance would have to be the cactus. Just watch any old Wild West movie they fill the dry deserts, dead mans gulch and even boot hill. Well amigos; there is no easier plant than a cactus to grow in your garden.
There are estimated to be over two and a half thousand different types of cacti. They range from tall upright growers and hair covered ones through to rounded beauties and unusually shaped forms.
You have one cactus but many cacti. They look great grouped together in pots especially mixed in with other plants like succulents.
The one thing most people associate with cacti is their spines. In fact the spines have been used as toothpicks, combs, sewing needles and fishhooks; a good reason to keep your cactus well away from the path!
It may come as surprise but most cacti enjoy being fertilized, just not too much. A light dose of a slow release feed every six months will keep them happy and healthy.
The most important thing cacti need is good drainage to stop waterlogging and rotting. Add plenty of gypsum and some sand when planting to help open the soil. Do this and they will survive well on only natural rainfall in the garden.
Spring is a great time to look at propagating cacti. The easiest way is to find one that produces small offsets called ‘pups’.
Take a sharp knife and a thick pair of gloves and cut the ‘pups’ off. Leave for around 2 weeks in a warm dry place until the wound has healed over, this reduces the chance of it rotting. Place the pup cut side down into a tray of sand or seed raising mix and leave for a couple of months, watering occasionally. Once the roots develop lift and replant in the ground or a pot.
If you want to plant your cactus in a pot use a special cactus mix or a half sand half potting mix blend. Either way the most important thing is that it is well drained.
Cacti love sunlight and plenty of it, they will do their best in a bright sunny position. If you keep them in the dark some develop a mind of their own and reach for the sky.
Cacti are plants that will sit in your garden and grow without any fuss or bother the only thing to remember is to pay them just a little respect.
Head out and get your copy of the latest Garden Guru newspaper. The spring edition is absolutely filled with great garden information. Available now at your local Mitre 10 and other good garden centres.
Products used:
Thrive Seed Raising Mix
Episode: 20 (8 September 2007)
The one plant that is the ultimate in drought tolerance would have to be the cactus. Just watch any old Wild West movie they fill the dry deserts, dead mans gulch and even boot hill. Well amigos; there is no easier plant than a cactus to grow in your garden.
There are estimated to be over two and a half thousand different types of cacti. They range from tall upright growers and hair covered ones through to rounded beauties and unusually shaped forms.
You have one cactus but many cacti. They look great grouped together in pots especially mixed in with other plants like succulents.
The one thing most people associate with cacti is their spines. In fact the spines have been used as toothpicks, combs, sewing needles and fishhooks; a good reason to keep your cactus well away from the path!
It may come as surprise but most cacti enjoy being fertilized, just not too much. A light dose of a slow release feed every six months will keep them happy and healthy.
The most important thing cacti need is good drainage to stop waterlogging and rotting. Add plenty of gypsum and some sand when planting to help open the soil. Do this and they will survive well on only natural rainfall in the garden.
Spring is a great time to look at propagating cacti. The easiest way is to find one that produces small offsets called ‘pups’.
Take a sharp knife and a thick pair of gloves and cut the ‘pups’ off. Leave for around 2 weeks in a warm dry place until the wound has healed over, this reduces the chance of it rotting. Place the pup cut side down into a tray of sand or seed raising mix and leave for a couple of months, watering occasionally. Once the roots develop lift and replant in the ground or a pot.
If you want to plant your cactus in a pot use a special cactus mix or a half sand half potting mix blend. Either way the most important thing is that it is well drained.
Cacti love sunlight and plenty of it, they will do their best in a bright sunny position. If you keep them in the dark some develop a mind of their own and reach for the sky.
Cacti are plants that will sit in your garden and grow without any fuss or bother the only thing to remember is to pay them just a little respect.
Head out and get your copy of the latest Garden Guru newspaper. The spring edition is absolutely filled with great garden information. Available now at your local Mitre 10 and other good garden centres.
Products used:
Thrive Seed Raising Mix
- Ideal mix for the germination of vegetables, herbs, flower seeds and propagation of plant cuttings.
- Formulated with fine grade of Pine Park.
- Nutricote to feed seedlings and cutting until they are planted out.
AS SEEN ON 
