Do Cacti Like Fertilizer?

Types of Cacti

• Cacti come in two types -- jungle and desert, according to CactiGuide.com. Desert cacti are probably the type that comes to mind when you think of cacti -- they have spines and need little water -- but you've no doubt seen jungle cacti, too, especially if you have a Christmas cactus as a houseplant. Jungle cacti live in trees in the wild and require moister conditions for survival.

Soil

• Jungle cacti prefer loose soils that are very well draining. In this way they are similar to orchids; peat, pearlite, coconut husks, leaf mold or coir or a combination of any of those make great jungle cacti soil. Desert cacti prefer a nutrient-rich, rocky soil, according to CactiGuide.com. Jungle cacti and desert cacti can live in similar soils, but the desert cacti mixture should have more soil. The soil from your own garden is fine. Amend it with builder's sand, leaf mold or some small gravel, and experiment until you find the best, well-draining mixture that supports cactus growth.

Amendments

• Cactus growers seem to agree that bone meal is a good soil amendment for cacti. Bone meal is widely available at gardening centers. A couple tablespoons mixed in with the potting media should do the trick. If you practice vermicomposting, incorporate some earthworm castings into the soil mixture.

Fertilizer

• According to Texas A&M University, most cacti can be fertilized about once a month during spring and summer. Liquid fertilizers are great for cacti, but should be diluted to at least half strength, if not weaker. Commercial fertilizers are fine; just look for one with low-ratio nitrogen or you risk burning the roots. Fish emulsion is another excellent fertilizer and is also applied in a liquid form.