Experienced grower's notes on Organ Pipe Cactus

I've been growing plants seriously for over fifteen years and Organ Pipe Cactus remains a reliable favourite. For anyone starting out: the most critical thing is providing the sunniest window or outdoor position available. Everything else follows from that.

root rot from any waterlogging in winter is the challenge that trips up most beginners and some experienced growers too. I've been growing mine in a greenhouse or conservatory staging for three seasons now and the results are consistently good. remarkable drought tolerance once established is what makes it worth coming back to year after year. rapid growth during the warm summer months is when I show it off — it earns its place fully then.