If you want to do some gardening but do not have enough time for maintenance, Cactus and Succulents can be a good choice. Cactus and Succulents are low maintenance plants to splash color in a barren landscape, as their water requirements are very low they are almost plant and forget type. You can grow many of them for striking foliage or individualistic shape. Also we should not forget

the colorful blooms. There are about 2500 species in cactus family. Succulents do not belong to any particular family but represent almost thirty different ones. Succulents are the type of plant which can store water for their use. It can be said that every cactus is a succulent, but every succulent is not a cactus. You can easily identify cactus as almost all of them do not have foliage and most of them have thorns. Now we should think, why do cacti has thorns ? Cactus normally from the areas where they get water rarely and thorns are the answer to counter this problem. Stomatal openings in leaf is a major source of water loss. So cactus have adapted to become leafless to reduce water loss to its minimum. Also thorn is a protection from herbivorous animals. Some of the Succulents do not have thorns. So they are a safer bait for houseplant.

and succulents are taking an important part in outdoor gardening. Agave, Beaucarnea and Aloe are being used in landscaping, extensively for their special shape. Euphorbia milii is a good choice for colorful blooms, as they bloom profusely and the flowers last for a long time. Desert Rose(Adenium Obesum) is a good choice for bonsai. Also the flowers of Adenium Obesum are very attractive. Some cacti are very much effective in fencing.

S oil requirements for cactus and succulent vary widely, but after extensive testing we have come to a general formula, which you have to adjust little bit for a particular type of plant. Though cactus and succulents can be grown in poor soil condition, they will perform much better, in a nutrient rich and porous soil. Mix two part of coarse sand with one part of soil, one part of small sized coco-peat and one part of grounded coco-husk. For fertilizing add one spoonful of bone meal with it in an 8 inch pot soil. Do not add high nitrogen content fertilizer to these types of plants as they cause weaker tissues and less or no bloom.

C actus and Succulents are almost zero maintenance plants. But remember watering, rather over-watering can kill these type of plants. The water requirement in their dormant period is almost nil. Watering from bottom is the best idea. Always water, when the soil is extremely dry. Wet soil can cause stem or root rot and also increases the chances of fungicidal attack. In general, cactus are succulents are least infected by insects and disease. But sometimes they can be infected by, mites, spidery mites, mealy bugs and scales. Spraying of a light insecticide will take care of the problem. It is better to mix a fungicide also with the above, which will reduce the chances of fungal attack. These plants does not required frequent repotting as other plants, may be once in every 2-3 years. During repotting, cut any damage stem and root. Do not water immediately after repotting. Let the plant heal first, wait for at least seven days and then start watering slowly.

J ust one more thing.Cactus and Succulents will grow better in a porous clay pot. If you use them indoor and wants to put them in ceramic or plastic pot, better use a bigger sized one. So that, you can put the clay pot inside. Also for cactus, keep them out of reach of small children and pets, as the thorn can harm them.