'Our top tip for caring for cacti (and succulents): it's not the quantity of water that kills a plant, it’s the frequency,' says Jemma Charman, co-founder of Green Rooms Market. 'When you water them, give them a good drenching, and let the soil be bone dry before watering again.⁠ Over winter a cactus won't need watering at all. If you have them placed inside a decorative planter be sure to water them at the sink, waiting for all the water to drain away before placing back in the decorative pot. Being desert dwellers, cacti don't want their roots sitting in water for long periods of time, so a really quick draining soil mix is best, with as much as 70% grit.'
Tim Stephens adds that ''Soil is one of the most important components of a healthy cactus garden. Most people use soil which is far too organic, leading to poor plant health, excessive moisture retention, fungus and rot. To avoid this, the top 6 - 8 inches of soil in your garden should be a 50/50 mixture of organic soil and half an inch of gravel. Most sharp gravels will be suitable for this purpose but sandstone, pumice or granite are all excellent choices.'
'Fertilizer can be applied from spring-summer in most climates. If you cannot source a cactus specific fertilizer use a tomato fertilizer instead at a half dose. Keep an eye out for small white dots on your cacti. It is an insect pest called scale which is easy to eradicate if caught early,' advises Tim.
'Black spots can be scary but if they are hard they are usually okay. Black soft spots on the other hand signify rot. Consider cutting the rotted part out to stop the spread, treat the cut area with sulfur powder and allow it to dry/recover.'
If you live in a climate that really won't allow for you to grow cacti outdoors, they do make for great low maintenance houseplants.
'Desert dwelling cacti, characterized by their spiny forms, love hot and dry environments where there is little rain. This setting is best replicated indoors on a sunny windowsill with infrequent watering,' says Jemma.
'Cacti and succulents require very little care; in fact they thrive on neglect. Anyone with a sunny space, ideally south-facing will be able to grow cacti successfully indoors, as long as you are not an over-zealous waterer! If you have a very sunny, sheltered garden you can even grow cacti and succulents outdoors in pots.'
'Did you know, there are two types of cacti; desert dwellers and forest dwellers. Forest cacti look particularly different to the bulbous, spiny desert dwelling cacti that we are all familiar with. Forest cacti like Rhipsalis hail from tropical forests in Central and South America and are epiphytes that grow hanging onto trees under the forest canopy. These tropical cacti can be grown very successfully indoors, away from direct sunlight. They look particularly effective grouped together, trailing off a shelf or hanging from a rail or the ceiling, creating an instant jungle look,' adds Jemma.