Caring for Cactus plants

[Jesse]

I bought some cactus plants last year. They flowered well sitting on my kitchen windowsill. I've pretty much left them all winter with only a teeny watering on occasions. Now that it's spring should I feed them with anything and would they need potting into new soil, there are four in one pot.

[Jesse]

[slowfood]

Hi Jesseveve,

I don't know very much about Cactus, but, what sort are they, Forest types or a Desert type? Apparently they need slightly different treatments. Reading from 'The houseplant expert' For Desert types. The secret lies in the fact most cacti will only flower on new growth. This calls for summer care and winter neglect. Another point to remember is that flowering is stimulated when the plant is slightly pot bound. It does not say anything about feeding?!

Try some websites on you particular type?

Brad

[Jesse]

Thanks Brad, I have no idea what type they are, oh dear  :-[ Will do some Googling and see if I can find out something more about them. Thanks for reading up on them for me  :)

[slowfood]

Good luck.

[Jesse]

Found a site with some information (incase anyone else was interested), pretty sure mine are desert cacti. The internet is wonderful!

http://www.bcss.org.uk/growing.html

[Kerry]

you can get proprietary cacti and succulent feed, Jesseveve, this is what i use. i was a bit sceptical, but my plants really perked up after i'd fed them, and flowered. and the flowers are stunning, such bright colours.
the feed comes in powder form which you dilute into water and just water on as usual.

[wardy]

I grew some cactus from seed years ago and still have one which I neglect totally.  It is covered in dust and needs repotting but is so lethally prickly I gave up  It doesn't get watered between October and March but I usually water it from April if I remember.  It has never done anything so maybe I should try looking after it and it may flower

[Mrs Ava]

I have to be so careful with cacti....I kill them with kindness!  I water them as much as I water my banana plants, and of course, they don't want to sit in water!  I shall have to get myself some cacti grub as I have quite a collection now and would love to get them into flower.