CACTI CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Phoenix Desert Nursery 3525 E. Southern Ave. Phx AZ

Watering schedule:
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 dish
soap and Malathion. Follow directions on the label for the
chemical, and use as much soap as you want. Wash the soap
and dead scale off the following day.