MEH pls help I am really stuck

[CactusHelpPls]

Hey guys, I have just purchased a cactus and have absolutely no clue about it whatsoever. I am not sure if it is even a cactus or a succulent!! If someone could point me in the general direction of its name and whether it is suitable for being grown indoors then I would be very appreciative. Any other information would be lovely. Thank you very much!!

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[teo]

Looks like a cactus, maybe a Rebutia but an image with more details would help.

[greenknight]

I agree with teo. It should be quite suitable for growing on a windowsill, but it needs a cool winter rest to have much chance of blooming - http://www.cactus-art.biz/note-book/Dic ... r_rest.htm

[CactusHelpPls]

THANKS

Also, can I use diluted Orchid fertiliser? (I know I should only apply it extremely rarely)

[toadstar]

It might be a bit nitrogen rich. If you have tomato or general purpose plant fertilizer then that would be better. You'd want to apply it diluted, semi- regularly during the growing season.
http://cactiguide.com/growcacti/

[greenknight]

Agreed - you want a formula that's lower in nitrogen - "bloom food", tomato fertilizer and the like, or "Cactus fertilizer" which is pretty much the same thing. I've been using African Violet fertilizer since I gave up on African Violets due to Cyclamen Mites - it doesn't take much for Cacti, so it's lasting a long time. Here's an article that explains more - http://www.cactusinfo.net/fertilize.htm

I fertilize only once or twice a year, but I use a potting mix that's richer than many others use. Summer humidity is very low here, the plants dry out quickly, so I can use a mix with more organic matter that retains more moisture (and also more nutrients). Which brings up another point - you may want to change the soil. Here's a thread which explains - http://www.cactiguide.com/forum/viewtop ... =25&t=9222

No great mystery about the potting mix to use, it just needs to contain extra grit than commercial mixes so it drains better. I use equal parts of standard potting mix and pumice granules, in more humid areas more grit than that is advisable. Pumice is great, but expensive in most areas, many other things will work. See - http://www.cactiguide.com/article/?article=article8.php