Cactus Care: How to Grow Cacti and What to Note When Repotting

When it comes to cacti, everyone is surely familiar with them. The editor first learned about them by hearing that cacti can survive in arid deserts, and now more and more potted cacti are appearing. Home-grown cacti need to be repotted every 1-2 years. What are the precautions for repotting? Let's take a look together.

Cactus Care Methods and Precautions

1. Soil

Soil is the source of resources from which plants obtain nutrients to grow and survive. Most of the water and nutrients in the soil are absorbed and used by plants, so choosing good soil is very important for plant growth. Potted cacti are suited to soil such as well-drained, airy calcareous sandy soil. Avoid cultivating cacti in overly fertile soil or soil with high salt content.

2. Fertilizing

Cacti do not need fertilizing at all times. During the cactus growing season, fertilize moderately to meet the nutrients needed for its growth. Generally, liquid fertilizer made by grinding fish intestines, soybean cakes and the like is used for fertilizing. The concentration must not be too high or too low. Lime water can also be applied moderately to adjust the acidity of the soil.

3. Watering

Although cacti are tropical plants and can survive without much water, for their good growth they should be watered appropriately according to the season and the plant, usually in the morning and evening. The amount of water also needs to be adjusted according to weather changes, generally watering once every 1-2 weeks, so that the cactus can grow well.

4. Temperature

The suitable temperature for cactus growth is 20-30 degrees Celsius. Above 35 degrees Celsius is not suitable for its growth. In winter, be careful to keep its growing temperature above 5 degrees Celsius, otherwise it will be damaged by cold. In spring, it will grow at 15 degrees Celsius. In summer, when temperatures are high, it will begin to go dormant. Only when autumn arrives will it begin to grow.

5. Light

When cultivating cacti, they are placed outside the window, because they are sun-loving plants and strongly heliophilous plants. Under sunny conditions, their growth can reach its best. Therefore, sufficient sunlight should be provided during cultivation, especially in winter when light is even more needed.

Precautions for Repotting Cacti

1. The best time for cactus cuttings is May to June. Of course, if there is a greenhouse, it can be done year-round.

2. The substrate configuration for cacti must be good. They can resist drought, but must not have water accumulation, and the substrate must be kept moist.

3. Select better stem segments from a harmless and robust finished mother plant for cuttings. One point to note here is that after taking the cuttings, the tools must be disinfected with alcohol.

4. Do not insert the cuttings immediately; first place them in a dry greenhouse environment.

5. For all varieties that are difficult to cultivate, some hormones must be used to greatly increase their survival rate. When taking cuttings of most varieties, hormone treatment is not necessary.

6. The indoor temperature should be suitable, and choose small-sized varieties with many flowers.

7. The soil should be good, able to breathe, with excellent drainage and containing calcareous sandy soil. Newly planted cacti are best watered only after half a month. Watering should be controlled, and by no means fertilize in winter.

8. Under ordinary residential conditions, make good use of indoor space and suitably cultivate all kinds of beautiful cacti. Seeing them in the alternating spring and summer seasons can relieve fatigue.

What Kinds of Cactus Varieties Are There

Leaf-shaped

Usually shrubs or trees. Stems tender, spines relatively hard. Often drops leaves during the dormant period. Radially fairly symmetrical, with multiple colors such as white, pink and violet. Its fruit is fleshy and spherical. The whole genus has 2 series and about 20 species: small-flowered with small leaves, 1.5 cm; large-flowered with large leaves, 8 cm.

Pad-shaped

Has a thick, sturdy main trunk, with stems and leaves in a flat shape. Most of its leaves fall early and are cone-shaped. It has glochids that most genera and species do not have. The aril is hard and the seeds are large. This genus has about three hundred species distributed throughout the Americas.

Epiphytic type

About 3 ribs, jointed stems. It has many aerial roots and can grow to about 10 m. Funnel-shaped flowers open relatively late, usually with red fruit, and the scales of the flower tube are leaf-shaped.

How to Handle a Rootless Cactus

First, treat the wound well. It can be dipped in some plant ash to disinfect and sterilize.

Then place the plant in a cool place for a few days until the wound is completely dry, and then it can be planted. By no means plant it before the wound is dry, as this easily causes the plant to become infected and rot, making it difficult to keep alive.

The Potting Process for a Rootless Cactus and Future Care Management

Prepare a container and nutrient soil in advance. For the container, it is suitable to choose a clay pot of appropriate size that is loose and has good air permeability and drainage. Bury the cactus body into the soil to a depth of about one quarter of the body. Fix the plant in place and do not rush to water. It is best to wait until small roots begin to emerge from the root area before giving a little water.

When watering, be careful to avoid getting the body wet. Generally, do not water directly from above; instead, water an appropriate amount into the soil near the plant. Place the plant in a place with sufficient light and good ventilation. Under normal management, new roots can emerge in about one month.

The above is a general introduction to cactus care methods. Cacti are light-loving plants, so sufficient sunlight should be given during the care process. Although their vitality is tenacious, daily care during the growing process is still indispensable.