Hello all.
My first post

Is there such a thing as companion planting for cacti?
If so does anyone have any info or links?

I had planned to set areas of mulch and flowering pants close to the cactus garden to foster a varied insect life but I'm only guessing that would help.

never heard of any specific companion planting for cacti, but i will be interested to hear.

Or... if companion planting isn't popular is there a minimum level of prevention you would do, such as a system poison for sap sucking insects, a layer of gravel for sciarid(sp) fly?

i use opuntias around the perimeter along with some other HUGE spiend cacti to keep cats away, if that counts


i read that wormwood is not liekd by butterflies/caterpillars i have lots growing here and i find caterpillars ON them! so i dont think much of that theory.

Companion planting for cactus...that is an interesting concept.

I think it is probable that some cacti grow better and actually benefit from having certain plants near them.

When i did a bit of reading on Toumeya papyracantha, it was mentioned that this cactus is often seen growing in or near Blue Grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis).

I was wondering if the T. papyracantha cactus and the Blue Grama grass and maybe a fungus all work together to ensure healthy cactus roots and increased nutrient uptake from this rather finicky specimen.

I also recall reading that Aztekium ritteri is usually found near a type of lichen and that Mammillaria theresae grows in and among mossy patches.

It could very well be that certain species of cactus have a beneficial relationship with certain mosses, grasses, lichens, fungi and even other plants...but getting them into your cactus pot might be another thing.

dvg