Plants put to test in show
Camera IconPlants put to test in show Credit: Supplied/Marcelo Palacios

Prickly competitors

Staff ReporterComment News

The Cactus and Succulent Society of WA (CSSWA) will host its annual State Championship and Show from Thursday to Saturday.

CCWA president Bob Hunter has been growing cacti and other succulents on and off for about 30 years.

The Kelmscott resident said growing plants was addictive.

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‘For most of us it’s a combination of growing plants and collecting,’ Mr Hunter said.

‘Most started with the odd plant, variously acquired, but more than two of anything in the same place at the same time is the start of a collection.’

Mr Hunter said to grow a good cactus meant getting the warmth, lights, pot draining and feeding right, as well as having an understanding of the plant’s growth cycle.

‘They are most often grown in a hothouse of some sort where light (light shade in summer), water (little in winter) and bugs can be controlled,’ he said.

‘To prepare for a show, plants are selected, protected, re-potted to ‘fit’ their size and match the pots of the others in the group and generally cosseted.’

The plants will be judged on their general growth, presentation and cleanliness, flowering and spine or leaf formation. For more information, visit www.csswa.org.au.