Carbon dioxide is taken up at night and stored until photosynthesis can occur during the day. A problem for the home grower is that temperatures may not fall sufficiently for the plants to open their stomates to take up carbon dioxide. Warm summer nights or warm house temperatures may mean little or no carbon dioxide intake and poor growth. Each species will have different requirements, but good growth can only occur when night temperatures fall enough to allow adequate carbon dioxide to enter the plant. Cacti and succulents will survive in conditions that do not promote growth, but flowering is unlikely to occur.
SOIL Always use a soil mix specifically designed for cacti and succulents.
Otherwise, you may mix your own by using 40-50 percent good quality potting soil combined with drainage material such as sand, perlite, turface, aged bark, or poultry grit. In fact, they need plenty of water during those periods when they are actively growing. Each plant has individual needs. In general, if one is observant, the plants themselves will show when water is needed. New growth occurring in the spring is a sign to increase watering.