Clean Up?

[templegatejohn]

Hi everybody,

Has anyone tried "drenching" their cacti with a soap solution (washing up liquid), after the winter rest. I have always used plain clean water, but think the soap solution would probably do a better job if it is not harmful. It would certainly be a big help on the Astrophytum species to clean up the "white flecking." This type of cleaning may be the norm. but I have not come across it in any books or heard about the method in England.

[ihc6480]

I would be cautious of using soapy water. Around my area during the spring we get a bug known as a box elder bug--the fastest way to kill them is with soapy water. My wife killed the bugs but wiped out a whole bed of Hen-n-chicks in the process. Of course she might of got cared away cause she hates bugs
Don't know about cacti but succulents didn't like it