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March 16, 2007
Choosing a carefree cactus
Even if you don't have a green thumb, these plants will thrive.
DVORA WAYSMAN
What plant can you own for a lifetime, neglect for weeks at a time,
have in dozens of different varieties, is green but has no leaves
and can be grown just by breaking off a piece and sticking it into
the ground?
You don't need to be a genius to come up with the answer. The cactus
is the one plant that needs no pampering and will make a great gift
for friends who have never been successful in keeping any other
plant alive.
Not every gardener loves cacti, but those who criticize it the most
often don't know all the varieties available, some of which are
very decorative and have beautiful blossoms, even fragrant ones.
I have had one particular cactus for 20 years which began with tiny,
thorny balls. Now 10 times its original size, it has adorned itself
with a wreath of carmine, yellow and pink blossoms. There is a beautiful
cactus known as Queen of the Night, which is a snake-like climber
and in a single summer night will produce several big pink or white
fragrant flowers. Sadly, they fade late the next morning, hence
its name.
Cacti belong to a large family of succulents, which are fleshy,
juicy plants. Their water-storing cells are a reservoir of food
and moisture and in arid regions, enable them to survive long droughts.
They evolved from related plants that adapted to changing climactic
conditions. Once, they were probably ordinary leaf-bearing plants,
but as their environment changed, they either had to disappear or
develop a storage system for emergencies. They are nearly all natives
of the Americas, and can be traced from Canada down through all
of Latin America, from sea level to the highest mountains. They
are capable of growing 15 metres high and a metre in diameter, and
some have been known to last for several hundred years.
The Incas and Aztecs of ancient Latin America had many uses for
cacti. The large, spiked varieties were used for sacrificial altars.
Agave plants gave sisal fibre to make ropes and jute. The spikes
made arrowheads. From the stem comes a juice used in alcoholic drinks.
The Mayans prepared medicine against fever from cacti, and the Indians
used crushed cactus to heal bone fractures. Aloe vera is a well-known
remedy for burns. Some cacti are the source of narcotic substances,
such as tranquillizers. Today, there are 200 known cactus families
with 1,000 different species. Many public gardens have a cactus
corner, and I remember a spectacular cactus garden of unusual varieties
at Kibbutz Yavne in Israel.
During the winter, cacti in the garden need no watering, as they
are dormant. If you have them in indoor pots, a light watering or
misting every three weeks is enough, and you don't need any compost
or fertilizer until spring, which means that now is the time to
pamper them a little. The only help they need is an occasional "airing"
with a fork, and maybe a spray with tepid water to refresh and remove
dust from the foliage. The only real sin in raising cacti is to
overwater – they will turn yellow, grey or brown and droop.
If they grow too big for their containers, you can re-pot them in
April, using four parts red soil, one part pulverized brick or broken
clay, and one part powdered charcoal. That's what is recommended,
but I've found cacti to thrive in almost any soil.
Although anyone can grow cacti successfully, there are a few hints.
They need adequate light and will never produce flowers in full
shade. They need direct sunlight several hours a day. Water them
every three days in summer; once a week in autumn and spring. From
December to February, don't water them at all. They don't need any
special fertilizers and grow well without any artificial nourishment.
You can propagate them very easily from cuttings or side shoots.
Species with long stems can be cut into several parts, and each
will take root. They are a gift that goes on giving, because you
can start new plants every spring and autumn, and plant them in
hanging baskets or colorful pots, knowing that they should last
a lifetime. They are also ideal for a rockery.
They say that if you want to be happy for a lifetime, become a gardener.
And to make a cactus collection or a special cactus garden, you
don't need a green thumb – anyone can do it. Look for unusual
varieties and you'll find that they become not only a source of
pleasure, but a great topic of conversation.
Dvora Waysman is a Jerusalem freelance writer.
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