THE DESERT PLANT LIFE 
A worthwhile monthly magazine devoted to Cacti 
and Succulents. $1.50 per year. Address Box 68, 
Pasadena, California, or order from me. 
CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 
Ideal Soil Mixture 
Mix 1 part sand, 1 part garden soil, 1 part leaf 
mould, 1 part well rotted manure and screen. To 
this mixture add 1 tablespoon of air slaked lime and 
1 tablespoon of powdered charcoal to a 5-in. pot. 
The lime should not be used with Epiphylla and re¬ 
lated genera. 
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Cacti 
Globular forms require a small amount of mois¬ 
ture if grown in pots. It is well to have very coarse 
sand, gravel or broken stones directly under the 
plant. 
Columnar forms may be planted directly in the 
soil mixture. 
A half cup of water to a 5-in. pot each week is 
sufficient during the growing season for the larger 
cacti. During the cold or dormant season it is well 
to water very sparingly. Epiphylla, either in pots or 
in the ground, require shade and plenty of moisture. 
Cactus plants in the ground do best if kept slightly 
damp during the growing season. 
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Succulents 
Succulents, generally speaking, will stand more 
water than Cacti and a richer, heavier soil. My 
plants are field grown and very sturdy. They are 
not at al like the tender plants grown under glass 
and can be grown out of doors anywhere in the 
United States during the frostless season if given 
good drainage so that the base of the plant is not 
kept unduly wet. In winter water sparingly. 
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FERTILIZER 
Any good commercial fertilizer may be used, or 
weak manure water, given at two week intervals 
during the growing season only, gives good results. 
One thing to remember is, that in the limited root 
space of a pot or bowl, a plant never reaches its maxi¬ 
mum size and many plants in one bowl will remain 
small. 
