Question

Dear Greg

 I live in India..and have a strong desire to have a cacti garden...Do give me a few hints on how to begin..transplant and grow cactus plants.  How often should it be watered? Should it be kept in the sun or the shade? How should it be managed during the monsoons?

Thanks
Apollonia

Answer
Dear Apollonia,

I would start off with an easy to grow variety, like Cereus hildmannianus, common name is "apple cactus". They will grow in areas that get more rain, will take frost, and seem to take heat fairly well.

They do very well here in Phoenix Arizona, USA. We average 7 inches of rain (which is not enough for this plant (so if you have more rain, it should do well), we get into the high 20's in winter and over 115 degrees in the summer. We also have a "monsoon" season here, but maybe not as rainy as yours.

They will grow in full sun here and over all do very well. Hopefully you'll be able to find one, they are very common and easy to grow. Check out this website for more info: http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Cactaceae/Cereus_peruvianus.html

Hope this helps,

Sincerely,

Greg