Planting cacti

Cacti plants have exacting requirements in terms of the compost in which they grow. In their natural habitat the soil they grow in has a high proportion of sand and is very well drained. When re-potting cacti and succulents choose specific compost; such as Westland Cactus Compost, which contains added horticultural sand and grit for excellent drainage and organic matter as a source of vital plant nutrients.

Step 1
Choose a suitable planter for your cactus. It needs to be slightly larger than the container your plant is growing in. Add a layer of Horticultural Grit to the base of the planter to improve drainage.

Step 2
Add a layer of Cactus Compost on top of the Horticultural Grit, making sure that you leave enough room for the root ball.

Carefully remove the cactus from its pot. If it is very spiny then wear thick protective gloves or hold the upper part of the plant in a loop of folded newspaper to support it without damaging it while re-potting. Check the roots for damage and disease and carefully remove any showing signs of decay.

Step 3
Place the root ball into the planter so that the roots rest on top of the Cactus Compost. The cactus should be at about the same level in the compost as it was in its original container. Don't plant it any deeper or leave it more exposed. Fill in around the sides with more Cactus Compost, packing it down between the planter and the root ball firmly.

Step 4
Water gently to settle the new compost, but don't over water.