My cream clivias are drooping and damaged when normally they give me weeks of pleasure.

Therefore my plan this week to write about tough plants - that is cactus and succulents although they are also suffering from the weather and will need a little care.

One such example is agave - their big large leaves are showing amazing damage caused by odema, not insect mites as was first thought.

Cut off any leaves that look sick; they won't recover.

Succulents require more water than cactus and are extremely popular as houseplants and patio specimens.

Portularia afra (Jade) will grow indoors, in the garden or in pots in sun or shade - this versatile plant is thought to be lucky.

Crassula ovata is a round leafed succulent with strong fleshy stems, together with its family member, Crassula 'Coral Jade' is highly sought after as a mature plant. Coral Jade gives the wow factor - its bright green coral growth is aptly named.

Kalenchoe Flapjack has upright leaves which are pink and green, a great specimen plant.

Another kalenchoe, Pixie Bells is covered in flowers in spring.

These delicate, bell-like blooms are reminiscent of Christmas Bells.

Chocolate colours are sought after.

A newer introduction Sedum Chocolate Blob is a small leafed ground cover, which bears dark pink flowers in autumn.

This looks great planted in a pot with Echiveria Black Prince.

The cacti family is extremely extensive, providing small spreading plants as well as tall unusual species, most of which are covered in spikes, flowers are generally short lived.

It is the unusual varieties which make collector's items whether they flower or not.

Euphorbia trigonia is a favourite - its is hard to believe that this desert-like creature is in the same family of Christmas Poinsettias.

Some of my favourite cacti are Pilosocerevs azvreus which is tall, blue and spikey.

Parodia has clusters of green spikey balls, and Rebutia grows multiples of white furry covered balls.

Espostoa is a very hairy cactus with upright growth, so hairy the green of the plant can't be seen.

Mammillaria is an interesting family of flowering cactus - babiana is spectacular as it matures and bears bright pink flowers.

When potting cacti and succulents it is essential to have a very free-draining mix - ideally one that contains coarse river sand, and potting mix.

You can mix your own although there are good mixes available such as Searles Cacti and Succulent Mix.