cacti problem

[Benacre]

I have one of those club shaped Cati but it has done nothing in the six years I have had it in a 3" pot it is in garden soil what should I do to get it to grow bigger?

also I have a tired and miserable (Like me)Christmas Cactus, how to I give that a kick too
Benacre.

[rustylady]

Benacre, would you thrive if you were kept in the same pot for 6 years and never fed?

It's not true that cacti thrive on neglect. They do not like wet feet, hence use specialist cactus compost or a very sandy/gritty mix. During summer water weekly and feed once a month. Only when temperatures drop to winter levels do you need to keep them dry. For your club shaped one, I would suggest treating it as above come spring, and if you get regrowth you could then repot (being very careful of the spines - make a paper "collar" to hold the plant with).

As for the Xmas cactus, these are different altogether - they are not desert cacti, but live in rain forests. They do not need huge pots, but do like a moist atmosphere and sufficient water. Again, keep moist, maybe repot when it warms up a little. PS Don't be miserable, spring is coming, I could still see the trees against the sky at ten to five this evening.

[Alice]

Benacre, I'm sure you're not tired and miserable - well visibly anyway.
as for your Christmas cactus here is my prescription.
In order to flower they need to experience a diffrence between day and night temperature and summer and winter. SO
As soon as spring comes (Feb maybe?)
Take it out of that pot it has been living in for years
Repot it in a free draining compost
Put it on a windowsill where it will get good light but not blazing sunshine
Leave it in an unheated room overnight
If you have curtains leave it on the outside of the curtains in the cold
At the end of May, or when all danger of frost is passed, put it outside where it will not get too much rain landing on it to spoil the segments,(give it a lid of some kind. I stick the pots in the hedge)
In September bring it indoors before the first frost
It will never stop flowering.
You really do have to put them outside for a while.
If you want to start some new ones
just break off some segments from the end of a "branch"
Leave them lying about for a few days to dry off a bit
Stick the segments into some compost - just deep enough to hold them there
and away they will go.
Good luck.

[nick the grief]

I have one of those club shaped Cati but it has done nothing in the six years I have had it in a 3" pot it is in garden soil what should I do to get it to grow bigger?

also I have a tired and miserable (Like me)Christmas Cactus, how to I give that a kick too
Benacre.

thats easy Benacre. In April/May Knock it out of it's pot & wash as much of the old compost off as you can.

Leave it on some kitchen towel for about 7 days to make sure any roots that are damages heal up. If you've only got the one Catus I would buy some Cactus Compost from a Garden centre or of you have some a 50:50 mix of JI No2 or3 & sharp sand & repot it into something like a 4"pot.

Leave it a further 7 - 10 days then give it a light misting over once a week to warn it that water is on the way . Increase to twice a week after about 2 or 3 weeks then youo can water it once a week rough ly by holding the pot in (but not under) some rain water, vount to 5 & take it out.

It should be OK this year but next year you can give it 2 or 3 weak (1/4 or 1/2 strenth) feeds with something like Tomirite.

Repot evert 2 to 3 years.

As to your Christmas "Cacti" these are strange in as musch as they don't live in a desert but in the jungle! So light shade & keep well watered and it should be fine.

[Benacre]

Thanks I will look forward to measuring it and I will have to post a photo.

Benacre

[nick the grief]

You'll be suprised how quickly they do grow. One of mine has put on about 8" this year !!

[Benacre]

That would probably get me more interested in growing Cacti.
I did once think they were boring but if I can get it to GROW I will be cock a Hoop!

[nick the grief]

That would probably get me more interested in growing Cacti.
I did once think they were boring but if I can get it to GROW I will be cock a Hoop!

Hmmm, I thought that and had 5 ...... now I've got about 300 !!!

If you want some "easy beginners" ones try Gymnocalyciums or Rebutias they will give you loads of flowers every spring and don't take much looking after. Don't dismiss them because thay are classed as "beginners" there are some more tricky.