About 5 years ago, Sheridan Cleland of MyPDFscripts wrote the below article on his blog. Soon after, the site disappeared. I wanted to keep the memory alive, because these practices by the studios have not changed. They have only become worse.
Cacti are one of my favorite types of plants to grow inside all year and outside in summer. Unfortunately, the ambient air tends to stay moist during most seasons, a condition which makes cacti unhappy. Cactus potting soil can enhance drainage, increase evaporation and provide the dry conditions that cacti favor.
Cactus is a naturally spawned plant in the desert biome, respectfully. It is renewable, as it can grow. It will grow up to 3 blocks tall unless placed taller. Cactus will break if there is a block next to it, or if it's not on top of sand, or another cactus block. All mobs will take damage if they collide with a cactus.