Cacti. The Prickly Truth

A practical guide to home-growing cacti from an experienced collector. The author breaks the stereotype that cacti “grow on their own” and explains in detail how to actually care for them: how to water, choose the soil, provide light, transplant, and treat plants.

Daria Pozharova is a cactus grower, a participant in nationwide exhibitions, and the author of a popular blog about spiny pets. Her collection includes over 5,000 mature specimens, including rare desert species.

We often believe that cacti can withstand any conditions, but in reality they often die specifically because of “too much care”: too much water, unsuitable soil, and insufficient lighting. They are not just decorative “spiky balls,” but living organisms with their own rules and needs.

The book takes the reader through all stages: from purchase and adaptation to flowering, wintering, transplants, and grafting. Common mistakes, stubborn myths, major diseases, and ways to save plants are covered. Step-by-step instructions, tables, and checklists will be useful both for beginners and for those who have long been interested in cacti. You’ll also learn which species bloom in winter, how to acclimate plants brought from abroad to local conditions, and what hides behind the mysterious field numbers.

After reading, cactus care will become clear and calm: instead of doubts you’ll have confidence, and instead of random actions, a systematic, professional approach.

The edition includes additional PDF material available for download on the audiobook page on the site after purchase. Daria Pozharova, text, 2025; AST Publishing House, 2025.