How to Grow Potted Cacti? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Care Methods
Cactus is a very popular potted plant in home gardening and is recognized as an easy-to-grow potted plant, but keeping a cactus alive is easy while keeping it thriving is hard. Household care and management of potted cacti has also become a topic flower lovers often discuss. Below is an introduction to how to grow cacti well!
Growth Habits of Cacti
Cacti like warmth and fear severe cold. How much to water depends mainly on factors such as temperature, sunlight duration and wind strength. If the temperature is relatively low, cacti grow slowly and use less water, so watering should be controlled.
In winter, when cacti are in their dormant period, watering needs to be restrained, and it is best to keep the potting soil from becoming excessively dry. The lower the temperature, the more the potting soil should be kept dry. Keep them outdoors in a wind-sheltered spot with plenty of sunlight so they can receive more autumn sunlight, which benefits both overwintering and growth the following year.
Care Methods for Potted Cacti
Seed-grown cacti are indeed very easy to care for; neither watering nor soil needs to be very particular. However, some people buy cacti grown from cuttings, which look fine on the surface but actually have no roots. This mainly applies to small potted plants bought at the roadside and small potted plants bought at flower markets.
1. Watering management: Although cacti are succulent plants and relatively drought-tolerant, and will not completely die even if not watered for a month, they must be watered to grow healthily. In winter: water about once every 20 days or so, and it is best to choose the warmer afternoon hours for watering. If the room is relatively dry, you can spray water on the leaves to keep the stem segments emerald green. Once the whole plant enters the dormant period, watering can be stopped.
2. Spring care: As the temperature rises, the frequency of watering can be appropriately increased. The principle of watering is not to water while the soil is still moist, and to water thoroughly when you do water; do not water excessively, and do not go for long periods without watering. When the temperature rises to around 20°C, watering about once every 7-10 days is generally suitable.
3. Summer care: With high temperatures, large evaporation and vigorous growth, this is the season when edible cacti need the most water. Generally, watering is needed once every 3-5 days. When the temperature rises above 30°C, in order to maintain stem segment turgor and increase ornamental value, it is best to spray water on the cactus stem segments 1-2 times each morning and evening.
4. Autumn care: Gradually reduce watering. When watering potted plants, also pay attention to water temperature and water quality. Water should be neutral or slightly acidic in pH; if using tap water, it is best to let it sit for two days before use. In addition, the water temperature should preferably be close to the room temperature; in cold northern regions, this needs even more attention for potted edible cacti.
Notes on Getting Potted Cacti to Bloom
1. Sunlight: Cacti require plenty of sunlight. If a cactus is kept indoors for a long time and lacks sunlight, it will not bloom.
2. Temperature: Cacti need relatively warm environmental conditions. If the ambient temperature does not reach above 20 degrees, they will not bloom.
3. Watering: Never water too much, and do not let the potting soil become too wet; rather, it is better to keep it dry than wet. Especially during the dormant periods in winter and summer, watering should be restrained even more.
4. Fertilizing: Although cacti tolerate poor soil and drought, they are unlikely to bloom when they are both drought-stressed and lacking fertilizer. Therefore, appropriate water and fertilizer should be given during cultivation. During the growing season, apply a thin, fully decomposed cake fertilizer once every 10 days to half a month. Fertilizing should also not be excessive, as excess can also lead to failure to bloom.
5. Microenvironment: Pay attention to creating a local environment with suitable temperature and high humidity for the cactus, such as making an enclosed shelter with plastic film on a windowsill and placing the cactus inside for care. This not only makes it grow faster, but also gives it brighter colors and makes it easier to bloom.