I have been fascinated by cacti since my childhood and I have spent quite some time with the ones I own today.

End of March is the time of year when I prepare them for the outdoor season. When temperatures stop going below freezing point during the night, I put them on my porch so they can enjoy direct sunlight. Preparation means examining each and every one of them closely, looking if they grow correctly and if they are comfortable in their pots. More than a few of them had squeezed roots and needed a new home, so to speak.

It is believed that cacti grow very slowly, but from watching mine over the years, I have to say that while some have stayed the same, many others have more than doubled their initial size. Two years ago, I had to put a clear pot over some of them during the winter so my cat would not play with them when she would jump on their table. One year ago, my cat was not able to get on their table because there was no place on it. This last winter, one table was not enough to hold them all.

Another myth about those plants is that they don’t need to be watered. They might originate from the desert, but in this natural habitat, they can spread their roots on very wide surfaces to grab the few drops of water that fall down. When confined to their pots, however, the plants cannot do this therefore they need to be watered according to seasons. During the winter, I let them dry, but the longer days get, the more I make them drink.

Today was a wonderful day. I felt so happy to spend quality time with my each and every one of my cacti. With such a close contact, I kind of felt like a mother to them. There might be some truth to this spiritual or New Age belief that it is possible to communicate with plants. After all, they are living beings just like us.

March 20, 2006 | Category: Uncategorized