All the photos on the Cactus/Succulent Genus pages were taken by Manchester Branch members.
Where given, maximum sizes refer to the largest size in the wild - not in domestic cultivation. Sizes of cacti and flowers are given in inches.
Minimum temperatures, where given, are the temperatures at which the plant will die. Nearly all cacti should be kept at 5-10 C over winter (average), but some will take brief periods of colder temperatures (one night maximum). The average temperatures they should be kept at are shown in brackets after the minimum.
Watering instructions, where given, refer ONLY to the growing season end of March - October. Cacti should be watered only very occasionally from the end of October - March (only if the soil becomes very dry), the reason being that they are dormant over this period, do not take up water, and so there is a real chance that the roots wil rot.
Symbols:-
W - Water sparingly
WW - allow to dry out between waterings
WWW - Water freely
S - prefers shade
SS - full sun or partial shade
SSS - Full sun