Cacti and succulents

Pour:
It's generally thought that cacti don't need water. It's true that they die more often from too much water than from too little. But they do need water, especially when grown in pots. Cacti are in the growth phase from spring to mid-October. They can be watered every two weeks.

Water carefully. Overwatering at once can cause cells to burst, leading to the death of plant parts. Cacti and succulents are dormant from mid-October until spring. Water them only when they begin to wilt. Water lightly if the air is very dry, but no more than once a month.
Only water when the soil is completely dry. Use water at room temperature and, if possible, low in lime (add a few drops of vinegar or citric acid to hard water). Water only the soil, not the cactus: Remove the spray head from the watering can. Water liberally until the water runs into the saucer. Wait 15 minutes and then empty the saucer. Never water after repotting. The damaged roots are sensitive and may begin to rot. Allow 7 to 10 days for the wounds to heal.

Fertilizer:
Starting in mid-April, add liquid fertilizer to the water every other time. You can use cactus fertilizer; however, tomato fertilizer or flowering plant fertilizer, diluted twice as much, is just as suitable and less expensive. Do not fertilize during the dormant period.

Cut:
Many cacti are not pruned. Some succulents need to be pruned to prevent them from growing too fast. This applies to the Crassula, for example. You can shape it into a small tree by regularly removing the inward-growing and crossing shoots, and by cutting back all shoots every six months to encourage denser growth and prevent them from becoming long and overhanging.

Orchids and Tillandsias

Pour:
If the roots are very white, place orchids in a container of water for 10 minutes every week, and every two weeks in winter. If the roots are light green, they have enough moisture. Spray the leaves of the Tillandsia with water twice a week in summer and once or twice every 10 to 12 days in winter. Spraying is only effective if done liberally. Spray the entire plant two or three times, from above and below, at five-minute intervals to prevent the leaves from drying out too quickly and to allow the plant time to absorb the water.

Fertilizer:
In nature, Tillandsias feed on dead plant matter, water running down branches, and animal droppings washed off by rain. Apply orchid fertilizer, diluted four times as directed on the label, once or twice a month in summer, once a month in fall, and every two months in winter. Spray at least once without fertilizer between applications to remove mineral residue from the leaves. Do not fertilize when it's too hot or when a Tillandsia is dehydrated or weakened.

Cut:
Just cut off the dry tips (they indicate a lack of water, so spray the plant more often).

Immerse ocher and tillandsia in water

You can also immerse these plants in a container of water for a few minutes. Then let the water drain away before returning the plant to the saucer. Varieties with a lot of scale, such as Louisiana moss, are difficult to water thoroughly by spraying and enjoy a soak. This way, you can revive even a dehydrated plant. This is the case when the leaves curl into teardrop shapes. Place such a plant in a container of water for 2 or 3 hours, and it will recover.