You can start your succulent and cactus collection with cuttings of existing plants or with a pre-built variety garden.

When author Kurt Kamm is not writing firefighting mysteries, you can find him on his terrace pacing among his pots of plants: 112 cactuses and succulents, at last count.

Clean and sleak, these handmade terra cotta planters will add a bit of modern panache to your garden. They are handmade in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, using local clay fired in a rice husk kiln.

Cactus and other succulents grow well indoors, as long as they get a few hours of bright light each day. They require only a little water once every week or two, and they can live for many years ...

Then, choose a pot only slightly larger than the one in which it was growing. To help with the stability of these sometimes top-heavy plants, grow them in heavier clay pots rather than plastic.

Once they start, transplant into well drained garden soil or pots of cactus potting soil to encourage growth. Prickly pear is one of the most diverse and useful cacti for home gardens.

About 20 years ago, Omaha gardener Wayne Fitzhugh had planted a few cactuses in an area of his Dundee yard, in a plot he called wasted space. He’s been adding ...

And bloom they will! ‘Tis the season to enjoy these hardy beauties. If you have questions about growing Christmas cactus or other holiday plants, contact the Garden Hotline at [email protected].

Use the method employed by expert cactus growers and water from the bottom. About once per week during hot weather, or whenever the pot feels light, place the potted cactus in a shallow saucer ...

Christmas cactus do well with a light, well-draining mix formulated for succulents. To make your own potting mix for this and many other types of plants, go to UF’s publication at bit.ly/2j7MNa9.