| Cacti are normally grown simply because of their | | | | Another interesting flowering cactus is the spring |
| ability tothrive in dry climates. They are rarely | | | | cactus or |
| grown for the beauty oftheir flowers. When their | | | | Easter cactus. It has symmetrical flowers that |
| flowers do happen to bloom, they arejust as | | | | open very wide. |
| beautiful as any normal flower that you can grow. | | | | Nutrition and Watering |
| Infact, the rareness of the simple fact as having | | | | One of the major advantages of flowering cacti |
| a nice flowerfrom a cactus can add to the | | | | over other plantsis that they are very easy to |
| beauty. The shades of purple andred can match | | | | take care of. Their nutritionalrequirements are not |
| the beauty of orchids. | | | | difficult to meet and they do not need |
| Be Careful Smelling These Flowers | | | | muchwater. To give them the proper nutrition, |
| Often times, you can find little cacti plants with | | | | you should give itconstant liquid feeding with a |
| two or threeflowers that are the same size as | | | | decent amount of nitrogen. Thesoil should be |
| the plant itself. The crabcactus is the most | | | | allowed to dry fully after watering it |
| common species of flowering cactus. It hasvery | | | | beforewatering it again. The cactus needs quite a |
| bright and colorful colors, with stems resembling | | | | bit of light to growwell. It sometimes needs cool |
| crabclaws. The plant becomes round and woody | | | | treatment though, since warmtemperature during |
| as the plant matures. | | | | forcing can cause the buds to drop. |
| To ensure healthy growth of a crab cactus, the | | | | Flower Induction |
| soil should be amix of fibrous loam, sand, | | | | The flowers tend to bloom when the days are |
| leaf-mold, and broken up charcoal orbricks. This | | | | short and cool,followed by longer days at |
| will provide the right amount of nutrients | | | | moderate temperatures. If there is alot of light |
| anddrainage. | | | | that is preventing cooler temperatures, light your |
| Another stunning flowering cactus is the orchid | | | | house plants love, you shouldfind some shade for |
| cactus. Itblooms in the summer, showing off | | | | the plant. If you still can't provide a coolenough |
| amazing red flowers. Theflowers are large, | | | | temperature when needed, you can place the |
| growing up to six inches in diameter. Theflower | | | | cactus in acooler for a short time to get the |
| fades from one form of red to another from the | | | | desired result. It can betricky to get the flowers |
| outside ofthe flower to the inside. The stems are | | | | to bloom, but that's part of what makesthem so |
| flat and the plant growsabout three feet high. | | | | amazing. |