CACTUSES AND OTHER SUCCULENTS 169 



plant or cutting) is only a very little below 

 the surface of the soil. After potting, give 

 a little water, to settle the soil, and no more, 

 ordinarily, until the plant begins to grow. 

 Lightly syringe on all bright days. If the 

 potting is done in early summer, and the 

 plants are plunged outdoors, the water which 

 they receive from the syringing will be suffi- 

 cient for all their needs until growth begins. 



IMPROPER WATERING AND ROT 



Too much watering, or too rich and heavy 

 a soil, will cause rotting of the plant at the 

 soil line — the commonest cause of loss in 

 amateur collections. This can only be 

 avoided by watching, and giving water only 

 when the soil becomes dry. When you do 

 water, give enough to thoroughly dampen all 

 the soil in the pot. 



WHEN TO REPOT 



A properly potted plant will not need 

 shifting for some years, and will do all the 

 better for not having the roots disturbed. 

 If the soil becomes water-logged, or sour 

 (perhaps growing moss), repot at once. 

 Mealy bug sometimes attacks the roots. As 



