Cacti can be grown in one of three ways. You can either plant them in pots or as bonsai. Or you can simply put them into the ground. You can choose from a variety of nursery and cutting plants that you can put into the ground. Add some planting mix to the ground if it is difficult or impossible to dig. To allow drainage to be good, mix soil with coarse and special succulent soil. 7. Rework the soil: Spade and turn it, remove rocks and clumps of roots, and mix in compost and pumice. Although you don't have to take out stem cuttings, you can still use them for propagation.