Cacti at Kew Gardens

This is the last in a series of three posts about Kew Gardens in London. In one day, we visited the temporary Orchid exhibition, the Palm House and a greenhouse dedicated to cacti. All three were memorable and I would thoroughly recommend a visit to Kew. Besides the three exhibition spaces featured on this blog, there are dozens of other glasshouses and specialised areas to see, not to speak of the Treetop Walkway, a viewing platform towering 18 metres above the ground which is accessible for free and offers mesmerizing views of London. Truly there is something for everyone. From the Japanese Gateway, to the Ginkgo, the Azalea and the Woodland Garden, several visits could offer a new experience every time. There are plenty of cafés and also a well-stocked gardening shop. 

 

For more information about the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, visit:
http://www.kew.org

How to care for cacti

These three beauties have flown with me from the Canary Islands to London in January and are thus very special to me.
Its not new to anyone that cacti don’t need much water. However there is a watering technique not everyone knows about, which helps in keeping cacti healthy. 

The dipping technique:
I water the cacti in the picture with this method every two to three weeks:

• When the soil is dry, fill a bowl or sink with cold water.
• Immerse the cacti pot until the soil is completely covered with water, but without the water touching the upper part of the plant.
• Hold the pot under water until no more air bubbles are released from the soil. A bit of soil may spill.

Now the plants are ready for another two or three weeks, depending on the temperature and location.