Connie’s Capricious Cactus

A couple of years ago, I bought a two-inch tall cactus planted in a flimsy plastic container in the plant department of my neighborhood home supply store. It had a single red bloom. I at once transplanted it into a terra-cotta container large enough to allow the cactus roots to spread out. And placed it on an indoor window shelf where it got indirect sunlight. Since then, it has grown another red bloom and produced long wavy tentacles.

I call it my Capricious Cactus because it has taken on an aggrandizing personality. It seems to be saying, “I feel young! I feel strong! I am flexing my muscles so I can show the other plants on this windowsill who is the greatest!”

Is there a secret to the amazing growth of my Capricious Cactus? Well, in addition to allowing the cactus’ soil to dry out before I water it, I do feed it a secret potion. This potion is made from decades old liquid violet food. I make it one quart at a time: seven or eight drops of “Miracle Gro” in 32 ounces of water. It is the beverage of choice for all my house plants, but especially for my Capricious Cactus.