Cactus & Succulents

They need a very free-draining, gritty compost that dries out quickly. Cacti and succulents evolved in dry places and store water in their leaves, stems or roots, so they are adapted to short bursts of rain followed by long dry spells. In a compost that stays damp, the roots never get the chance to dry out and quickly rot. A specialist cactus and succulent compost is much grittier and more open than multipurpose, so water runs through fast and air reaches the roots.

Ordinary multipurpose compost is designed to hold onto moisture, which is the opposite of what a succulent wants. Sat in damp compost, the fleshy roots stay wet, lose oxygen and rot, often before you notice anything wrong above the surface. Root rot is the single most common way cacti and succulents are lost, and using the wrong compost is usually the cause. A gritty, fast-draining mix removes most of that risk.

Far less than most plants. Water thoroughly, then leave the compost to dry out completely before watering again. Through spring and summer that might mean roughly every couple of weeks, while in winter, when the plants are resting, most want little or no water at all. The golden rule is that a succulent would far rather be too dry than too wet. If in doubt, wait.

Use a pot with drainage holes, ideally only a little larger than the plant, and fill it with gritty cactus and succulent compost. Sit the plant so its base is at the compost surface, not buried, and firm it in lightly. Wait a few days before watering, especially if any roots were damaged, to let them heal and reduce the risk of rot. A layer of grit over the surface helps keep the neck of the plant dry.

Plenty. Most want the brightest spot you can give them, and many are happy in direct sun, which keeps them compact and well coloured. Too little light makes them stretch, pale and grow soft, weak growth that flops and is more prone to problems. A sunny windowsill is usually ideal, though a few sensitive types can scorch behind glass at the height of summer.

Ours is built to drain fast and dry quickly, mirroring the open, gritty ground these plants come from, and it is enriched with pure worm casts. The worm casts add gentle, slow-release micronutrients and support healthy root development without holding extra water, so the plant gets fed without ever sitting wet. It is a genuine specialist mix rather than multipurpose compost with a different label.