Cactus - "A friend for life"

GRAHAM Evans was 12 when he was bitten by the cactus-growing bug.

On Saturday morning, 32 cactus-growing years later, he was admiring more than 160 entries in 39 classes at the East Sussex Cactus Association's 43rd annual show.

Cactuses and succulents of every variety were on display at the 2nd Bexhill Scout Group's headquarters in Buckhurst Road,

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The classes ranged from restricted-pot entries for specific species to completely open classes.

A novelty class for "one cactus or succulent in an unusual container" had produced some humorous entries ranging from a old shoe to giant ceramic hand.

The society secretary explained: "Most of our entries are from Hastings and Bexhill but we also have members in Fairlight, Eastbourne and Polegate.

"The furthest-travelled today is from Maidstone."

Graham is delighted to spread the word about the delights of cactus-growing.

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"It's like most niche hobbies. It's bigger than you think it is. I first started growing them when I was 12.

"When I got started, my dad had a few growing around the house.

Then I found a nursery full of them and began growing them.

"From four, I now have a greenhouse with 1,400 of them

"What I like about them is that they are long-lived. More traditional gardeners buy a plant this year, grow it and replace it next year or grow another in its place."

Displaying an Aztekium Ritteri he has nurtured since 1977, Graham added: "With a cactus you have a friend for life'¦"

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The layman's age-old question had to be asked. What is the difference between a cactus and a succulent?

Graham said: "Most people think a cactus has spines and a succulent does not. If that was the case a rose would be a cactus!"

He explained that cactuses always have a pad called an areole at the base of the flower. Succulents do not.

"All cactuses are succulents but not all succulents are cactuses."

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Show judge Mal Weobley had his own explanation for the fascination of cactus and succulent growing.

"People think 'Cactuses - they don't need water'¦'

"That's completely wrong, of course.

"They also think cactuses only bloom once every seven years.

"Most of these here today bloom annually once they are established."

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