What soil should be used for potted cacti, and how should they be watered?
We all know the cactus plant, and nowadays many people like to grow potted cacti, but do you know how to grow potted cacti?
As a potted plant, the cactus is clearly different from most potted plants. Most potted plants come from tropical rainforests and like humid air. And because their roots are thick, they grow fast, and they also need more soil, more fertilizer, and more water. But the stems and leaves of plants in the cactus family all store water, so they do not need frequent watering. Not only that, their roots are very fine, so you should use a smaller pot and less soil, and the pot and soil must have very good drainage, otherwise the roots rot very easily and the plant dies young.
Pot: When growing cactus plants, the pot must definitely be small, because cacti do not take up too much water, and if the pot is too big, water accumulates easily. So use as small a pot as possible; as long as it can hold the plant, that is enough, and the smaller the better. The pot material is best clay, first because it breathes easily and gives off moisture. Second, a clay pot is heavier and can bear the weight of the cactus. There is also one very important point, and that is drainage, so the drainage hole of a potted cactus must be large enough and must not be blocked.
Soil: The soil for cactus plants needs to lean toward sandy, and even fine crushed stone, all of which increase drainage capacity. This kind of soil is good for the growth of the cactus and for root growth.
Watering: Cacti fear overwatering most of all; going a long time without water is fine, but water them too much and the roots rot. They like drought and fear dampness most of all, and this is something we must pay special attention to. In winter and during the dormant period, you should wait even longer, watering again only when roughly the top inch below the soil surface has dried out.
Light: Most cacti grow in desert regions and are quite demanding about light. When we grow them, it is best to put them in a spot with plenty of sunlight, but with the potted growing method we use, in summer we should also pay attention to the duration of direct sunlight and avoid having them dried out by strong sun, which means replenishing water from time to time. Cacti usually die easily once the temperature falls below 5°C. In winter it should also not go below 10°C.
Repotting: Cacti do not need frequent repotting. If you really must repot, to avoid cutting your hands on the spines, you can fold newspaper into a thick pad and wrap it around the cactus. Wearing gloves is useless, because the spines will pierce through the gloves.
