Dear Jessica: I have some cactus plants that I bought at CVS about a year ago. Each pot contains three cactuses. I've always kept them by the front window so they could get some sun each day. I've liberally been spray misting them with water every several days. Within the last several weeks, one of the plants in each pot began to decline. I'm not sure what I should do.
_ Keith Amato
Dear Keith: Your ailing plants are Acanthocereus tetragonus (sometimes called Cereus tetragona, for short) and these types of cactuses require slightly more water than most others. They also prefer smaller pots. Cactuses in general should never be planted in glazed containers, as yours are, because the glaze prevents moisture from evaporating; and pots should always have sufficient drainage holes. In addition, sometimes pre-planted arrangements (especially some found at non-horticultural retail outlets) contain groupings of individual plants that look nice together but have different cultural requirements. A shade lover, for instance, might be planted with one that requires more sun to thrive. In your case, the plants' water requirements weren't compatible.
