Whether you're a novice or an experienced indoor gardener, growing cacti and other succulents is fun and very rewarding.

The spiny, prickly Barrel Cactus; the plump-leafed Jade Plant; and the graceful Christmas cactus are just a few members of the Succulent family. Succulent, literally "full of juice", is a word used to classify a huge group of plants that has evolved the ability to store moisture. This group includes, but is not limited to, all cacti, which are known as "stem succulents". "Leaf succulents", such as jade plants, store moisture in their leaves. Because too much moisture in the soil or overwatering can be detrimental to these water-storing plants, it's best to pot them in a loose, sandy medium with excellent drainage such as Schultz® Cactus and Succulent Soil .

For the beginner, the perfect houseplant might be a classic "barrel" cactus plant, like the ones you see in old Westerns. Desert cactus plants need little water, so it won't hurt if you forget to water once in a while. In fact, most cacti native to the desert need a drink about every two weeks in the summer, when there's more light available for growing. In the winter, when growth slows down, desert cacti are happy with additional moisture once a month. When looking for a good starter cactus at the garden center, consult the plant's care tag. But you'll recognize desert cacti because they usually have the thick flesh and dense spines.

SPOTLIGHT FOR OCT-DEC 1998

Christmas cacti (Schlumbergera)

You might have received one of these very popular "jungle" cacti as a Christmas present. Christmas cacti are natives of the Brazilian rainforest where they grow attached trees without soil, collecting nutrients and moisture from the rain running through the forest canopy. The Christmas cactus' large, flat segments, often called its leaves, are actually segments of its stem.

To get the Christmas cactus to bloom during its natural flowering season, early December (the end of spring in Brazil), keep temperatures at around 60°F.

Lighting levels should be high to medium, such as the light in a southern or southwest windowsill. Allow the soil's surface to dry slightly between waterings for the best bud formation.

Your Christmas cactus may now be ending its blooming period. Keep its vegetation growing healthy and lush all year long by feeding it every time you water with Schultz Liquid Plant Food 10-15-10. When repotting your Christmas cactus, use Schultz All Purpose Potting Soil Plus, or a combination of Schultz Cactus & Succulent Soil with a little Schultz Sphagnum Peat Moss added for extra moisture retention.