Halp

[Gstrazd]

What Am I doing wrong

[7george]

Maybe you need to read several books about cacti and succulents. Or some forum topics about cultivation. No way to enplane you everything in one post.

1. It's better to divide those plants into separate pots because their requirements can be different.
2. Try to identify plants to provide proper care;
3. Lights from the lamps could be not enough or not needed during winter, I don't illuminate my plants.
4. Bring a friend and ask him about you mistakes.
5. Don't put ice cubes, this just cools the soil. Better use a sprayer from garden stores.

[DaveW]

When I started growing cacti in the 1960's everybody bought a basic book on them as George says. Now nobody seems to read books, but looks on the Internet. However a book is still a good start and most bookshops have beginners books on Cacti & Succulents. Unfortunately Cactus and Succulents are not really "interior decorators plants" suited to the interior of rooms. They are high light intensity plants and want to be near a window or on a windowsill.

For basic information if you don't have a book on them see the links below. If your growing season is not as the UK you need to modify any monthly information to adjust for your summer and winter in the first few BCSS links:-

http://society.bcss.org.uk/images/Cult/ ... atemix.pdf

http://society.bcss.org.uk/images/Cult/ ... atemix.pdf

If you are not used to UK terminology, we use the term potting compost in this link to mean potting soil, not the rotting plant material you spread on flower beds.

http://society.bcss.org.uk/images/Cult/ ... atemix.pdf

http://www.csssj.org/welcome_visitors/b ... lture.html

[TimN]

The important thing is that you're trying and learning. Everyone kills a cactus or three (dozen). My only advice for taking advice is consider the geographic location of the advice giver and how that relates to your environment. You need to adapt the advice for your situation. It will take experimentation and practice, but I find raising cactus very enjoyable, I hope you do too.