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.
Desert Cactus: 1  Leafs are needle like spines to reduce water loss by transpiration. 2  The stem is short to prevent wind from blowing it away. 3  Roots are very long and deep into the soil to have access to underground water and rain water.