How to grow a Moon Cactus? Detailed guide to cultivation methods and precautions
The Moon Cactus potted plant is a common household plant belonging to the Cactaceae family, so care is simple, but this plant is a perennial bloomer, so daily care should not be taken lightly. Below we look at the cultivation methods and precautions for Moon Cactus.
Cultivation methods for Moon Cactus
Moon Cactus likes sunlight, is drought-tolerant, tolerant of poor soil, and also tolerant of shade. For potting, choose a sandy soil that is well aerated, well drained, and rich in lime. Moon Cactus is not suited to overly moist soil or an environment with too little light. Watering should be sparse rather than heavy; water once every 3-5 days, keeping the soil slightly dry, which makes the plant grow slowly, thick and plump, with a graceful shape. Moon Cactus generally does not need fertilizing; each year when repotting, place a small amount of crushed bone meal or organic fertilizer at the bottom of the pot as a base fertilizer, but never apply high-concentration chemical fertilizers, otherwise fertilizer burn will occur and the loss will outweigh the gain; you can also use organic fertilizers such as sesame paste residue to make a liquid fertilizer, dilute it, and pour it onto the potting soil.
Watering Moon Cactus should follow the principle of "alternating dry and wet," preferring dry over wet. There is no absolute interval for watering; it should be adjusted flexibly according to weather, temperature, light, ventilation and other factors. Moon Cactus should be given reduced water and fertilizer, otherwise root rot is likely, or it may grow leggy and deformed, showing a "reversion" phenomenon, growing into a columnar shape and losing its ornamental value. When overwintering in winter, the Moon Cactus family should be moved indoors promptly when the outdoor ambient temperature falls below 5°C, placed in a sunny spot, and kept at a room temperature of 5-10°C for safe overwintering. If the temperature drops suddenly, you can cover it with a plastic bag to keep it warm.
Precautions for growing Moon Cactus
1. Watering: Moon Cactus can adapt to climates and environments and can be kept in a moist state, so watering should be heavy and infrequent. Under normal conditions, water once every half month; in hot summer, once a week; in winter and the plum rain season, watering can be paused to avoid root rot and necrosis.
2. Humidity: In the rainy season, or when kept long-term in a damp, shaded environment, Moon Cactus is often affected by bacterial infection, so during each rain it should be sheltered from the rain, keeping the leaves dry at all times. The suitable humidity is about 40%, and must not exceed 60%.
3. Light: Moon Cactus's living environment favors damp, shaded areas, yet it needs ample light. Moon Cactus also has an anti-radiation effect. The temperature should be kept at about 10°C; below 5°C it needs to be moved indoors. Daily light exposure should be guaranteed for more than 5 hours.
4. Winter care: Moon Cactus is unusual in its survival; in winter it can be kept indoors directly, while outdoors it can simply be wrapped in plastic wrap, but if the temperature exceeds 25°C, the plastic wrap should be opened for ventilation.
5. Pests and diseases: The care of Moon Cactus is very similar to that of cacti, and it has few pests and diseases, but when grown in a stuffy, poorly ventilated environment it can contract red spider mite disease. In this case, spray carbendazim and ventilate promptly.
Propagation techniques for Moon Cactus
Like other cactus-family plants, Moon Cactus is very easy to propagate and establish. Moon Cactus is propagated by cuttings, which can be done throughout the year, with April-May being best. The specific method is: select a small modified stem of Moon Cactus, cut it off and let it dry for 1-2 days, wait until the cut surface has dried, then insert it into the soil, do not water for the time being, press the soil firm and cover it, and spray some water to keep it moist. Generally, under suitable temperature conditions (14-23°C), roots will form in about 20 days and it can be transplanted. Cuttings taken during the plum rain season and the hot summer days have a lower survival rate.
How to make a Moon Cactus bonsai
To make a medium-sized Moon Cactus bonsai, you need 7-9 cuttings of different lengths. Plant 2-3 longer cuttings and 1-2 shorter cuttings at one end of the pot, and plant the remaining 3-4 cuttings at the other end of the pot. The cuttings should have a certain layering, achieving an effect of alternating heights, appropriate spacing, uneven lengths, and shorter in front and taller in back. Leave a certain open space between the two groups of cuttings, like a patch of grass between two great mountains. To prevent the cuttings from tilting or falling over, several water-absorbing stones or small bricks should be buried in appropriate positions.
To make a Moon Cactus bonsai, choose an oval or rectangular pot about 6cm deep. The size and depth of the pot should be positively correlated with the size and number of Moon Cactus planted. For making a Moon Cactus bonsai, "rough-code" Moon Cactus is preferred, especially Tiger Head Moon Cactus. Tiger Head Moon Cactus is powerful and rugged, with many wrinkles, much like the rolling peaks and ridges of nature.