How to grow a ball cactus? Succulent herbaceous plant cultivation methods

The ball cactus is a common type of household flower plant. The ball cactus is commonly known as the grass ball, also known as Echinopsis tubiflora and Echinopsis multiplex, and is a perennial succulent herbaceous plant of the family Cactaceae. So do you know the cultivation methods for the ball cactus? Today, the editor will explain them to you. Friends who like ball cacti, come and take a look.

Temperature

The ball cactus likes high temperatures and dry environments. In winter, the room temperature should be kept above 20°C during the day, and the nighttime temperature should not be lower than 10°C. If the temperature is too low, it easily causes root rot.

Light

The ball cactus requires plenty of sunlight, but in summer it must not be exposed to strong direct sunlight and needs appropriate shading. For indoor cultivation, light can be used to illuminate it so that it grows robustly.

Potting soil

For potted ball cacti, the soil should be sandy soil (or sandy loam) with good drainage and air permeability that contains calcareous material. It can be mixed from 2 parts loam and 2 parts leaf mold, 3 parts coarse sand, plus 1 part limestone gravel or old lime wall debris discarded when old buildings are demolished. It can also be mixed from 2 parts loam and 2 parts coarse sand, with 1 part each of broken brick, leaf mold and old ash wall debris. When planting, a small amount of broken brick and tiles should be placed at the bottom of the pot to ensure smooth drainage.

Planting

Planting and potting are best done in early spring. The flower pot should not be too large; it is best if it can hold the ball body with a little gap. If the flower pot is too large, the water cannot be absorbed after sufficient watering, the air in the pot is not circulated, and the root system is easily rotted. A small number of straight-root types, as well as Lophophora williamsii and giant elephant cacti, require deeper cylindrical pots. Types with shallower root systems, such as silver-haired balls and offset-producing cacti, can use shallower ordinary flower pots.

Repotting method

For potted cactus flowers, it is advisable to use highly breathable clay pots, with broken brick particles placed at the bottom of the pot as a drainage layer. The root clusters of cacti are relatively small, so the planting pot should not be too large; the pot diameter should be close to the diameter of the plant body, for a beautiful and harmonious look. When repotting, part of the old roots should be cut off, and after drying for 4-5 days, plant it in the pot. It should not be planted too deep; it is best if the root neck of the ball body is level with the soil surface. To avoid causing root rot, do not water newly planted ball cacti; just spray 2-3 times a day. After half a month, a small amount of water can be given, and only after one month, when new roots have grown, can watering be gradually increased.

Watering

In summer, the best time to water is early morning. In winter, it should be done in the morning of a sunny day, while in spring and autumn, either morning or evening is fine. Under normal circumstances, do not pour water from the top, otherwise after a long time the ball body will have ugly spots. Under normal circumstances, watering must be thorough. For this reason, the soil must be loosened frequently so that the potting soil can easily absorb enough water evenly.

The above is the editor's introduction to ball cactus cultivation methods. I hope it is helpful to everyone. If you want to learn more related information, please continue to follow No. 1 Home Network.