|
Cacti
and succulents have become increasingly popular in Australia over the
last dozen years. Hardy, often visually stunning with distinctive
foliage and form, they are attractive in the garden all year round
whereas other plants may only be of interest for a short time during
their flowering season. The low water requirements of cacti and
succulents are also of great benefit during this time of drought and
water restrictions in Australia.
Cacti and succulents are very tolerant of tough
conditions but do require good drainage. They can also do extremely
well in pots, indoors or outdoors, with a specialist potting mix. At
Roraima Nursery we sell our own special mix. During Summer they may
require water only once a week – in Winter only once a month. An
occasional dose of low-nitrogen fertilizer will help them along. It is
often said that they thrive on neglect – most problems are caused by
over-watering. In fact, those plants that are grown hard, with very
little water and fertilizer, are often more attractive with better
shape and colour. This makes them particularly ideal for people who
don’t have much time to spend on their gardens, or who are away from
their homes for extended periods.
Roraima Nursery has the widest variety of cacti and succulents in the
Geelong region. Some of the more popular genera of cacti we stock are:
Mammillaria, Notocactus, Oreocereus, Gymnocalycium, and Lobivia. Among
our succulent range we have Aloe, Agave, Crassula, Gasteria, Haworthia,
Echeveria, Sedum, Faucaria, Yucca, Cotyledon, and Aeonium. Prices
start at $2.50 for a 2” pot.
Some of the more unusual plants among our range
include Dioscorea elephantipes (Elephant’s foot), Dracaena draco
(Dragon Tree), and Furcraeas. We also stock Brachychiton rupestris
(Queensland Bottle Tree), which start at $10.95 for a 6” pot. We can
order in trees up to 4m tall upon request.
We are currently building an extensive collection of cacti and
succulents (not open for public viewing) from which an even larger
variety of plants will soon be available for purchase. These will be
of particular interest to collectors and will be available through
mail order or online, or from the Nursery directly. |
|
