Caring for cacti: tips and tricks

Cacti and succulents are some of the most popular houseplants because they're (mostly) very easy to care for. Follow these tips and tricks and watch your plants thrive.

Gentle is the way to go when dusting potted cacti, so brush them lightly with an old soft toothbrush or shaving brush. In summer, spray the plants lightly with water after brushing.

Protect your fingers when repotting a spiny cactus by making a gripper, or pincer, from a couple of sheets of newspaper. Here's how.

1. Fold the sheets from top to bottom into a 7.5-centimetre (three-inch) paper band.
2. Wrap the band around the middle of the cactus and grip the ends tightly.
3. Gently tug upward until the plant comes free of the pot.

First, a diagnosis must be made.

• If there are white wooly spots on your potted cactus or succulent, mealybugs are doing their thing.
• In the case of small beige or brown bumps on the plant's stems, you're looking at scale insects.

If you spy only a small number of either of these pests: Kill them by wiping them up with a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol.

For heavier infestations: Spray the plant with a solution of 250 millilitres (one cup) water, five millilitres (one teaspoon) corn oil and five millilitres (one teaspoon) dishwashing liquid.

Remove tiny cactus prickles from fingers by firmly pressing adhesive tape on the affected area and then ripping it off. For larger or more stubborn prickles, resort to a pair of tweezers.

Easily remove a small cactus or succulent from a pot by pushing a pencil into the drainage hole, eraser end first. As long as the soil is fairly dry, the root ball should emerge from the pot in one clump.

Cacti and other succulents make lovely additions to your plant collection. These tips on caring for them will boost your green thumb up a notch and keep them blooming and healthy for years to come.