Watering
The watering schedule can vary greatly based on the specific plant, type of soil and amount of sun exposure in your garden. Generally, cacti and succulents are very drought tolerant and like a sunny or partially sunny location with soil that allows good drainage. During summer, to encourage rapid growth, water twice monthly. (Small plants require 1 to 2 gallons and large plants 5 to 30 gallons per application). Turn off the water in Nov. and restart the watering program in April.

Lighting: Many Cacti and desert plants do best in full sun and many others do best in morning sun with filtered afternoon sun. Many plants that do best in full sun can tolerate shady conditions, and some plants that do best in morning sun can
tolerate full sun if given extra water.

Nutrients: Ideally, cacti and succulents need regular feeding during their growing season (Spring-Summer). Rose food is ideal. But you can skip fertilizing with minimal harm.

Soil Mixture for landscaping:
Desert plants like soil that provides good drainage. If the garden soil lacks drainage, add mulch, gravel, sand, perlite or pumice.

Soil Mixture for container gardening: (Add 20 % perlite to bagged potting soil) Cacti have adapted to survive in rocky, sandy soils with limited nutrients. The ideal soil will drain
rapidly and yet retain some moisture. Succulents and cacti do not require a great depth of soil. Make sure that all containers have drainage holes. When growing plants together in one container, select plants with similar cultural needs and growing seasons. Many slow-growing succulents do well when planted with cacti.

Pest and Diseases: Cacti do resist pests and diseases, but can become infected with mealy bug and Cochineal scale as well as numerous fungal and viral attacks. The symptom of fungal and viral damage are large black areas that can spread. These infections can be removed with a sharp knife -- using 10% bleach to disinfect. The best remedy for Cochineal scale and mealy bugs is to use a hose sprayer and apply a mixture of dish soap or insecticidal soap and Malathion. Follow directions on label for the chemical, and use as much soap as you want. Wash the soap and dead scale off the following day.