When I was still in grade school, my parents got me my first small Cacti and Succulents when I tagged along when they were buying plants at the Manila Seedling Bank. I found them so cute because they were small, fleshy, and some of them, prickly. They're low-maintenance plants and had them for a few years in my room. When they outgrew their pots, I moved them out but I forgot all about them. Fast forward to 2016, my interest in them has been renewed. This time around, I wanted to have enough knowledge in caring for them.



The CACTUS CRAZE! is ongoing at the Hardin ng mga Bulaklak inside the Quezon Memorial Circle (QMC). The Bonsai and Suiseki Alliance of the Philippines (BSAPI) and Cactus and Succulent Society of the Philippines, Inc. (CSSPI) hosted garden shows to exhibit enthusiasts' masterpieces. There are also shops where you can get plants, seeds, pots, fertilisers and other materials mainly for Bonsai, Cactus and Succulent (CnS). It's not a very commercialised selection as most of the stores are owned by enthusiasts and some wholesalers from Araneta Center, Cubao and QMC. I must say, you can find unique cacti and succulents at the event but as for soil, stones and whatnot, I'd probably still go to the line of plant shops that are renting spaces at the QMC Plant Center or Araneta Center.




Some plants from the exhibits.

I went to the opening day last April 29 to attend the free lecture on Cactus and Succulent Care and Grafting Cactus by Sir Lino Rom. Technically, there's a minimal fee because the lecture venue is located inside the exhibit area where there's an entrance fee of P20. It was graced by some members of the CSSPI, headed by Ms. Becky Buenaventura. Sorry, I wasn't able to take a photo of Sir Nilo Rom because I was listening intently to the lecture. Harhar!


CSSPI President, Ms. Becky Buenaventura

Being a newbie to caring for CnS, I learned so much from the short but sweet lecture. While I've been reading a bunch of information from the internet and joining CnS groups, I would say that it's still a different type of feeling being able to listen to enthusiasts share their personal experiences in caring for CnS. I must say, we are very lucky that the seasoned ones are generous enough to share information to us, newbies. Here are some important points that I was able to pick up during the lecture:

1. There is a misconception that only cacti, not succulents, have spines. Some succulents also have spines. The main difference is that cacti have areoles or cushion-like lumps where the spines grow out of.

2. Most succulents need full sun.

3. CnS can die due to insect bites.

4. The frequency of watering depends on how much sun the CnS are exposed to and the general heat of its location. While others recommend watering every 1-2 weeks, it's a general rule that you water your CnS when the soil is already dry. Now that it's summer, or worse, El Nino, your plants may need their dose of water as often as 2-3 times a week. You should water the soil generously so that the roots can absorb enough water.

5. When you feel that you are watering enough but your CnS still shrinks, check the roots for rotting. Rotting may also be cause by bacteria. You can clean"your cactus by diluting a small amount of Zonrox or bleach in water to help kill the bacteria.

6. Soil drainage is very important as CnS do not like to be soaked in water or they will rot. For improved drainage, use river sand or pumice. Refrain from using perlite as it is unhealthy.

7. You need to acclimatise newly bought/acquired CnS, especially if you're bringing down plants from the highlands, by slowly exposing them to the sun. When you buy new plants, water them 3-5 days after delivery to let any broken roots, due to transport, heal.

8. If you are making your own soil mix, complete with compost, do not use the soil immediately as the heat will kill your plants.

9. Grafting is important to save plants. You also graft those without chlorophyll because they need a source of food. It is also important that the stock plant has a good rooting system.

10. You can only match a cactus scion (upper part) to a cactus root stock.

Sir Nilo also shared other information such as the soil mix that works for him and also how he grafts his cacti.



Some CnS from Sir Nilo Rom's Collection

I promised myself I would buy anything during my visit but I could help it. Here are the items I got:


Astrophytum asterias seeds from Sir Rye Capulong of Zen Cactus. The mother plant of which is the one in the photo below.



I also got a cactus and two succulents for P100 from Ate Elaine, one of the stall owners in Araneta.
  If you have time, try to catch The Cactus Craze! It's a great venue to learn new things about these unique plants and meet fellow enthusiasts.