How to Grow a Ball Cactus: Detailed Guide to Cultivation Methods and Precautions

The large amount of computer and electromagnetic radiation has led many people to believe that growing cacti, ball cacti, and succulents can absorb invisible computer radiation. Whether this claim has any scientific basis is temporarily unverifiable, but the ball cactus does indeed have some other uses.

How to Grow a Ball Cactus

1. Plenty of sunlight: The ball cactus likes a sunny environment, but scorching sun exposure will slow its growth rate. Of course, the ball cactus will not be scorched to death. If you want your ball cactus to grow faster, you had best find it some shade when the sunlight is too intense.

2. Not too much water: The vast majority of cacti originate from the hot, arid desert wilderness areas of South and North America. The ball cactus has a strong root system for absorbing water, and if you water it too much, its roots will rot. Some large ball cacti will not die of dryness even if they are not watered for one or two years.

3. Sand or soil: The ball cactus likes sandy ground, so you had best prepare some sand. However, water in sand evaporates very quickly. To help the ball cactus grow better, you can put a layer of soil beneath the sand. This can retain moisture to a certain extent, so you do not have to water it every day.

4. Fertilizing is mainly based on phosphorus fertilizer. Do not apply too much fertilizer at one time, otherwise the concentration of the soil solution will become greater than the concentration in the ball cactus root cells, water will flow outward, and the ball cactus will become dehydrated.

5. Avoid being rained on: The ball cactus is not afraid of lacking water, but it is afraid of too much water. Too much water can cause the root cells to die from lack of oxygen, so be careful not to let the ball cactus be rained on during rainy days.

6. Temperature: The optimal growing temperature for most cacti is 20-35 degrees C. The vast majority of species like a relatively large day-night temperature difference. Under conditions of below 35 degrees C during the day and around 15 degrees C at night, the production and accumulation of organic matter is favored, thereby promoting vigorous plant growth.

Ball Cactus Cultivation Methods and Precautions

1. How to spray water

In the care of the ball cactus, the most important thing is watering. The ball cactus is originally a subtropical plant that grows on grasslands and likes a moist environment, but it can also tolerate drought. The three seasons of spring, summer, and autumn are the peak growth periods; water promptly and keep the soil moist. When growing it indoors, frequently sprinkle water or spray indoors to increase indoor air humidity.

In winter, the indoor temperature should be kept above 10 degrees C, and water after the soil has dried completely. If the indoor temperature is relatively low, keep the potting soil on the dry side. When watering in winter, pay attention: it should be done in the morning on a sunny day, and mind the water temperature, which should be close to that of the potting soil.

Previously, in an article in Flower Growing Complete Collection, the editor saw 124 types of ball cacti. In fact, the ball cactus does not have only one form; the forms differ, and their growing habits are not entirely the same either. So when watering, first understand clearly what kind of ball cactus you have at home, and then handle it accordingly.

2. Fertilizing method

The ball cactus likes fertilizer and also tolerates it. When fertilizer is sufficient, it grows relatively fast. After repotting in spring, begin topdressing 1 month later, and in other seasons apply topdressing once every 20 days. It is best to choose fully decomposed liquid fertilizer, or use a 1000-fold potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution. No fertilizing is needed in winter.

So how should you fertilize the ball cactus? Do not be rough just because it is covered in spines; please be gentle. Use a fine-spout watering can to apply it slowly along the edge of the pot, and do not let the fertilizer liquid splash onto the body of the ball cactus, otherwise it can easily burn the body. In fact, the soil of ball cacti in homes already contains a large amount of base fertilizer, so under normal circumstances no topdressing is needed.

3. Repot in time

Usually, ball cacti in homes need to be repotted once every other year. Stop watering 2-3 days before repotting and keep the potting soil on the dry side, which makes repotting more convenient. When repotting, cut off some of the old roots, let them air for 2-3 days, and then repot them again. Remove some of the old soil and add new growing medium.

4. Avoid prickling

Although the ball cactus is easy to grow, you still need to be careful with all its spines, especially in households with children. Do not let children get too close to the ball cactus, to avoid being prickled.

Where Can a Ball Cactus Be Placed

1. Balcony

The balcony is a very suitable place to put a ball cactus. The ball cactus is a spiny plant. From the perspective of feng shui, the ball cactus can offend the "pointed-corner sha", so putting it on the balcony is fine, because this can dissolve outside negative energy. In addition, placing these spiny plants on the balcony can also guard against thieves.

2. Office

The office is also a relatively suitable place to put a ball cactus. In the workplace, petty people are bound to appear. If you place a pot of cactus in the office, it can block petty people and strengthen your resistance. In addition, placing a ball cactus on the desk can reduce the harm to people from computer radiation and release fresh air.

3. Living room

In fact, in traditional feng shui, the ball cactus is an ominous object, but when a family suffers a misfortune, you can place a pot of ball cactus to suppress evil. However, on ordinary days it is best not to place it in the living room, especially the bedroom. Placing it in the bedroom can easily cause disputes among family members.

When Does the Ball Cactus Bloom

First, under normal circumstances, if you want to see the ball cactus bloom, you need to cultivate it for at least 3-4 years, and the ball diameter must reach at least 3-4 cm. Depending on the variety of ball cactus, some are also divided into easy-to-bloom and very-hard-to-bloom types. Generally, those in the genus Gymnocalycium are relatively easy to bloom, such as Gymnocalycium baldianum. But for ball cacti such as the golden barrel cactus, Echinocactus grusonii, it is very hard to see it bloom; it is said that you have to wait ten or twenty years for it to bloom.

Growing ball cacti not only requires a certain amount of skill, but also requires placing the ball cactus in a suitable position and paying attention to the harmony of the environment. Only in this way can the effects of the ball cactus, as well as most of the so-called feng shui effects, be better brought into play. So people who care about these things can pay more attention!