How to Grow Cacti So They Bloom Successfully

Many people may not realize that cacti are actually members of the large succulent family, and there are many different varieties of cacti, some as small as marbles, some as large as giant trees, some shaped like loofahs, some shaped like hydrangeas, with wildly varied forms.

In the desert, cacti are one of the most common plants. Such barren and harsh growing conditions have shaped their unusual appearance. Please don't stop loving them just because they are covered in spines. With careful care, they can also produce flowers you will adore.

Although most people have never seen their flowers, this does not mean they cannot bloom. In fact, all it takes is the following simple steps for them to show you their spectacular side (please note that the cacti referred to in this article are desert and succulent types, not leaf cacti or tropical types).

I. Repotting

1. Repotting Time

In Zhangzhou, repotting and soil replacement is usually carried out once in spring (mid-March to early April) or autumn (September to mid-to-late October), and watering should be stopped 3-5 days before repotting. When repotting, first remove the plant from the pot, shake the soil off the roots, and cut off all old roots, rotten roots and half-dried roots. Be careful not to cut off the main root, the so-called "radish root". Healthy roots should be left only 3-4 cm long. Place the plant with trimmed roots in a cool, ventilated place to dry for 5-6 days, then replant. This way, new roots will grow quickly and well. If there are young plants beside the old plant, they can be broken off, their roots trimmed appropriately, and replanted separately to become new plants.

2. Preparation, Disinfection and Planting of Growing Medium

You can use 5 parts loam, 3 parts peat soil or leaf mold, and 2 parts coarse sand, plus a little slaked lime or old wall debris ash, to make a calcareous sandy soil or sandy loam with good drainage and aeration; for epiphytic types, you can use equal parts compost soil, coarse sand and peat soil, plus a little bone meal, to make a fertile growing medium that is neutral or slightly acidic, rich in humus, and has good drainage and water retention.

After the growing medium is prepared, spray each cubic meter with 400-500 ml of a 50-fold dilution of 40% formaldehyde. Apply it to the growing medium 10-20 days before use, mix thoroughly, and cover with plastic film. Open the film 1 week before planting, and plant after the chemical smell has dissipated. When planting new plants, place a layer of gauze over the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot to prevent pests, then cover the gauze with tiles or similar materials to facilitate drainage. Add potting soil to 2-3 cm below the rim of the pot to make future watering easier.

Since the soil is moist, there is no need to water immediately after planting. After 7-10 days, water thoroughly once. The planted plant should be kept in a bright place without direct sunlight. After about 10 days, new roots will sprout, then water once more and resume normal care.

II. Cultivation and Management Techniques

1. Watering and Misting

Cacti have distinct growth and dormancy periods. They should be watered during the growth period, and watered sparingly or not at all during dormancy. For epiphytic types, if the winter temperature is kept above 12°C, they can be watered and misted year-round; if the winter temperature is kept below 12°C, watering can be reduced as appropriate and misting stopped. When watering, follow this principle: "water thoroughly when dry, do not water when not dry"; the water temperature should be as close as possible to the soil temperature. In summer, water early (before sunrise) and late (after sunset); in winter, water between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.; and pour water directly onto the potting soil, otherwise it will affect the appearance of the spines. In addition, in summer, sprinkle water on the ground to increase air humidity.

2. Fertilizing

Follow this principle for fertilizing: timely, appropriate in amount, and according to the plant's needs. Fertilize in spring and autumn, once every 20 days, and choose to do it in the early morning or evening of a sunny day. If the potting soil is relatively dry, sprinkle a little water on the soil before fertilizing. A concentration of 0.05%-0.2% is suitable. Water thoroughly once the next morning for better results. Terrestrial types require fertilizer rich in potassium and phosphorus and low in nitrogen, while epiphytic types require more nitrogen fertilizer.

3. Light

Terrestrial types prefer sufficient sunlight, especially in winter when they need full sunlight exposure. Generally, tall columnar and flat-shaped cacti are more tolerant of strong light and can be placed outdoors in summer without shading; smaller globe-shaped types prefer semi-shade in summer. During the hot summer months of June to August, cover the top growth point and surrounding area of golden barrel cactus with a round piece of plastic film so that all parts of the globe grow evenly. Epiphytic cacti require semi-shade conditions year-round.

4. Temperature

The suitable growing temperature for cacti is between 20-35°C. Terrestrial types do not require very high temperatures during winter dormancy; while keeping the potting soil dry, maintaining a temperature of 4-7°C is sufficient. Epiphytic types, however, require higher temperatures in winter, preferably maintaining 10-13°C or higher. When summer temperatures reach 30-35°C, the growth rate of most cacti slows down, and sometimes the stems of certain species will turn yellow or become scorched. At this time, shading must be provided and more water sprinkled on the ground to lower the temperature.

5. Air

Most cacti originate from open desert areas with good ventilation and fresh air. Therefore, during the hot midsummer weather, ventilation and cooling of the cultivation site should be well managed. Cultivation greenhouses should be chosen in environments with good air circulation, and more ventilation openings such as windows and skylights should be installed to allow ventilation and air exchange during hot weather. If necessary, equipment such as exhaust fans, blowers or electric fans can be installed to enhance air circulation in the environment, helping cacti safely get through the summer.

6. Pests and Diseases

The pathogens harming cacti include bacteria and fungi, but the problems are not very serious. As long as cultivation conditions are improved, management measures are appropriate, and prevention and elimination of pests and diseases are combined, good results are easily obtained. The more common pests and diseases mainly include:

(1) Rot disease. Its pathogens include both bacteria and fungi. The occurrence of this disease is often related to improper watering, poor drainage of the potting soil, and persistently excessive moisture. After discovering diseased plants, immediately use a sharp blade to cut away the diseased tissue, apply charcoal powder or sulfur powder to the cut, and at the same time reduce watering or repot, and propagate separately by cuttings or grafting. It is best to regularly spray a 800-1000 fold dilution of 40% copper oxychloride suspension on the cultivation site and plants for prevention, but the main thing is still to improve ventilation conditions and avoid persistently excessive moisture.

(2) Damage by insects and other animals. These mainly include scale insects, red spider mites and slugs. To control scale insects, spray a 1000-fold dilution of 50% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate; to control red spider mites, spray a 600-fold dilution of 20% dicofol wettable powder or a 1000-fold dilution of 40% dicofol emulsifiable concentrate; to control rats and woodlice, spray a 2000-fold dilution of chlorpyrifos around flower stands and flower pots; to control snails and slugs, sprinkle lime powder around flower pots, or apply 8% metaldehyde granules; to control cockroaches and ants, place cockroach and ant poison or mix sugar water with trichlorfon to kill them.

Cacti have many uses in daily life. For example, placing a pot of cactus next to a computer or TV, when you have been watching TV or using the computer for a long time, looking at it more can also relieve eye fatigue.

I hope this article helps you know how to care for cacti and come to like them.