Companion planting?

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.

Quote :

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.

haha Kada!! Might give the wormwood a miss then...

Kada wrote:

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.

When I read this Kada I thought to myself that I had heard of this as well.
I looked it up in one of my herb books and it said it has been known to be dried for inclusion in sachets against moths, fleas and other insects, or made into tinctures and infusions to deter them.

I know thats pretty general information but I hope it helps.

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