Where to put the cactus
Place the plant in a bright place, on a windowsill or next to a window.
If there is not enough light, the cactus will stretch and become deformed over time. In the warm season, when the temperature does not drop below +16–18 °C, take your green pet to the balcony. But don't forget to make sure it doesn't burn. Place in the shade or cover with paper or gauze for the first few weeks. And remember that when a plant is burned, pale and discolored areas first appear, and then light brown dry spots that do not go away over time.
If you want the cactus to bloom in spring or summer, let it overwinter at a temperature of about +10 °C. Just place the plant between window frames or in another cool place and cover it with a film or glass screen.
If this is not possible, leave the cactus in its original place.
Transplanting a cactus at home + soil
It is best to replant the cactus from the end of March to the end of May. Young plants are replanted every year, and adults (from 4 years old) every 2-3 years before the start of active growing season (March).
Transplant plan
- Do not water the flower 3-4 days before replanting to make it easier to separate the soil from the roots.
- Be sure to use a drainage layer (2-4 cm) at the bottom of the pot - stagnant water is contraindicated for cacti (especially for epiphytes). Fill the holes with shards, pour fine crushed stone, expanded clay, charcoal or coarse sand on top.
- Depending on the depth of the pot and the length of the roots, pour a 2-4 cm layer of soil mixture on top of the drainage. The plant is placed on the ground and the roots are straightened, while the base of the cactus should be in line with the edge of the pot.
- After this, they begin to fill the area with substrate up to the root collar, periodically shaking the pot and compacting the soil. You can pour a 1 cm layer of sand on top of the substrate.
- For the first 3-4 days after transplanting the cactus, do not water it or place it in direct sunlight.
Which pot to choose for a cactus?
The main thing is that the volume of the cactus pot is not much larger than the volume of the expanded root system and takes into account the characteristics of the species.
Example: Ariocarpus is suitable for a deeper pot than a wide one, but mammillaria have many babies and over time many plants grow in one container.
For specimens with short and branched roots, a low and wide pot is selected; for a cactus with long roots or a rod type, a deeper and narrower one is suitable.
Form . Between square and round container shapes, it is better to choose the second option. However, if you have a large number of cacti or are constantly expanding your collection, then square or rectangular pots save space on the windowsill and are easier to transport on a tray to another location.
Material. Both plastic and clay will do. Cacti are not picky about the material; it is not recommended to use only a metal container.
Soil mixture
The soil for cacti differs depending on its type, age, etc. Experienced gardeners can find various examples of substrate.
The general features are as follows: the soil for the cactus should be loose, slightly acidic (pH = 4.5 - 6), light and nutritious (the ratio of minerals varies).
The standard soil mixture for self-preparation will be: leaf soil and river sand (1:1) + a little peat (increase acidity) and powder with small pieces of hardwood charcoal.
Young plants and seedlings need a looser and more nutritious soil mixture (increase the proportion of leaf soil). A denser substrate is suitable for adult plants; for this purpose, clay-turf soil is added to it.
- Tricks: for fast-growing species, it is useful to add humus to the substrate. For cacti with a lot of spines, it is useful to add crushed eggshells to the mixture.
HELPFUL INFORMATION:
1. SECRETS OF CORRECTLY TRANSPLANTING HOUSE PLANTS!
2. WHAT COMPONENTS OF THE SOIL MIXTURE HOW TO APPLY?
3. WHEN TO REPLANT INDOORS FLOWERS ACCORDING TO THE LUNAR CALENDAR?
How to water a cactus
What water to water a cactus
Only soft. Due to the salts contained in hard tap water, a white coating will appear on plants and soil.
You can use filtered, boiled or settled water for a day or two. Thaw and rain moisture are also good if you do not live in a metropolis. You can also water with distilled water. If you prefer it, mix it with the settled one in a 1:1 ratio.
Make sure the liquid is at room temperature or a degree or two warmer. Otherwise, you can damage the root system.
Once every 3-4 waterings it is useful to use acidic water. In a liter of undistilled water, simply dilute citric acid on the tip of a knife.
What watering techniques to use
Top watering
Carefully and slowly pour water into the pot so that the soil is gradually saturated. Try not to get the cactus wet. Otherwise, moisture will get into the microcracks on its stem and rotting will begin.
In summer and autumn, be sure to remove excess moisture from the pan, otherwise the roots will rot. Leave water for a short time only during the first spring waterings.
Bottom watering
Pour water into the pan and wait until the top layer of soil gets wet. Then drain off anything that hasn’t been absorbed.
You can also place the pot in a container of water for 15–20 minutes. Then pull it out, let the excess moisture drain and return it to the pan.
How often to water a cactus
It all depends on the time of year. From November to March, if you decide to put the plant in a cool place, it is better not to water it at all. If the cactus remains warm, water it, but rarely, about once every two to three weeks.
When growth appears in March-April and the top of the cactus turns green, resume watering after a dry winter. For the first time, a tablespoon of water is enough, then gradually increase the dosage.
In spring, the interval between watering is approximately 10–15 days for plants that have overwintered in both cool and warm conditions. Pour water in the morning, so excess moisture will evaporate during the day.
In summer, water the cactus about once a week in the evenings. In extreme heat, reduce the intervals between waterings by a day or two, and in cool weather and bad weather, increase them.
With the arrival of autumn, gradually reduce the frequency of watering so that the soil is completely dry before the cold weather. Do not overwater the cactus if it will overwinter in a cool place. Otherwise, its trunk may become deformed.
The main rule for any season is better rarely and generously than often in a little bit. Let the soil dry completely. In addition, the pet itself will tell you when it’s time to give it something to drink. If the cactus is slightly “blown away” and wrinkled, it’s time.
Water quality
Even inexperienced flower growers know that indoor flowers should be watered with water at room temperature, purified from harmful impurities. These are the basic requirements for water for watering any ornamental plants. Cacti like water with the following parameters: soft, acidic or slightly acidic, without lime.
The appearance of whitish spots on succulents, especially on their lower parts, is an alarming sign. Most likely this is due to the fact that the plant is watered with water with a high lime content. The affected areas not only spoil the appearance of the flower, but also disrupt the respiratory processes.
If the water is too hard, you can soften it by adding a fabric bag with charcoal or several tablets of activated carbon when settling.
It is important! Cold water is harmful to all indoor flowers, especially succulents that have a shallow root system. Watering with such moisture causes shock to the roots, which leads to slower growth of the cactus or even its death.
You can water the flowers with rain or melt water; this is the best option, provided that moisture collects away from various types of production and transport routes.
Once a week it is recommended to water with water enriched with silver ions. You can do it yourself by lowering any silver object for at least a quarter of an hour.
The most accessible water for city residents, drawn from a water supply, is also suitable. But it should be left for at least 2 days to allow chlorine and other harmful impurities to evaporate.
But there is also some water that is not advisable to water both cacti and other flowers at home:
- Well water is too saturated with minerals, the excess of which will not benefit the plants.
- From a freshwater body of water (rivers, lakes, etc.) - most often it is a breeding ground for viruses, bacteria and other pathogens.
- Distilled and boiled are considered “dead”, devoid of useful elements, and in the latter case, oxygen.
In addition to the regime and quality of water, it is also worth paying attention to non-standard situations in which watering cacti is necessary, or, on the contrary, contraindicated.
How to fertilize a cactus
Feed the plant during the period of active growth, but no more than 2-3 times a season. Use only special fertilizers for this; the proportions of products for other plants will harm the cacti.
If you have transplanted a cactus, you do not need to feed it in the first few weeks. Allow the roots to recover after changing conditions and possible microtraumas.
Follow the dosage of the product you use. From excess fertilizer, the plant will noticeably increase in size and swell. And in particularly advanced cases, the cactus may burst. If this happens, sprinkle the wound with sulfur (you can buy it at a pet store) or crushed activated carbon to disinfect. Over time, a scar forms at the site of the crack.
Watering time and frequency
The frequency of procedures is determined by many indicators.
Plant type
Information must be clarified when purchasing a plant. Succulents native to the desert do not require frequent watering. In hot weather, it is enough to carry out the procedure once every 7-10 days.
Tropical varieties need more moisture. You can water prickly pear or mammillaria 2-3 times a week.
Succulent placement
If the cactus pot is placed on a sunny window sill, the plant will require frequent watering. The same applies to locations near heating radiators, heaters, household appliances, and computers.
Succulents in dimly lit, cool places, such as on a cold windowsill, need to be watered less frequently, using less water.
Pot material
Even this insignificant factor determines how many times the cactus needs to be watered. Pots made of clay or ceramics absorb some of the water, so the procedure will have to be carried out at least 6 times a month. When using plastic or glass containers, such problems do not arise.
Age of cactus
Small plants absorb more moisture and nutrients from the soil. They need watering and feeding more than older cacti.
Life cycle
During the growing season (active growth), plants require frequent watering and spraying. The same applies to flowering succulents that develop an ovary. Most often this period occurs in spring and summer. When transplanted into another substrate, the plant’s life cycle may be disrupted; in this case, flowering begins in winter. The owner needs to carefully monitor the behavior of the flower so that it is not left without vital water at this time.
Substrate condition
To grow healthy and beautiful succulents at home, it is important to choose the right soil. Most universal soil mixtures offered in stores contain substances that adversely affect the condition of the cactus. The structure of the substrate also turns out to be unsuitable. Peat or clay mass does not allow water to pass through well, causing the roots to dry out.
Frequent watering of sandy soil promotes rotting of the underground parts of the plant. To determine the required number of procedures, monitor moisture absorption.
in autumn
At this time, the growing season ends and the plants prepare for winter hibernation. The frequency of watering is gradually reduced - once a month is enough. The volume of water used is also reduced.
in winter
At this time, the plant is in a state resembling sleep. Pots with cacti are placed in cool places with low lighting. The frequency of watering is kept to a minimum - once every 2-3 months. Sometimes a succulent shrinks in size during the cold season. This is a normal phenomenon and does not depend on the quality of care.
in spring
Cacti wake up slowly after winter, so they return to normal by April. The main sign of the beginning of a period of active growth is the appearance of new needles in the upper part, fresh green shoots.
Watering is carried out as follows:
- In March, lightly moisten the soil with warm water. This helps your pet wake up faster.
- In sunny weather, the activity of the flower increases. It continues to be watered in the morning when the substrate is completely dry.
- From April, the number of waterings is increased to once a week. At the end of spring, procedures are carried out more often, especially if the flower is on the sunny side. On rainy days, air humidity increases. You can water the cactus less often: it takes everything it needs from the environment.
In summer
During the hot season, the succulent is watered 4-6 times a month. At the same time, constantly monitor soil moisture. In addition, the flower must be sprayed regularly - this helps remove dust.
During flowering
Flowering cacti are watered on a different schedule. It takes a lot of effort to open the buds, so the plant needs more water.
However, you should not fill the soil - the flower may shed its buds.
There are 2 ways to solve the problem of watering when a cactus blooms in winter:
- Caring for the plant as usual. In this case, the buds are removed and the pot is left in its original place. This method is used for young cacti that may die due to a failure in the life cycle. The pet will get stronger and begin to bloom again next year.
- Transfer the succulent to a dry, warm place. Watering in this case is carried out according to the summer regime. If an adult plant is blooming, it is not necessary to moisten it too often.
Watering a cactus when transplanting
After transplanting an adult succulent, it is left in dry soil for 7-14 days. When transplanting a young cactus, watering begins on the fourth day after transferring it to another pot.
How to replant a cactus
Replant the plant every few years. This way you will renew the soil mixture, which is depleted over time, and provide more space for the developing root system.
What kind of pot is needed for a cactus
Select a new pot so that it is a couple of centimeters larger than the previous one. The material can be anything. The main thing is that there are several drainage holes at the bottom. Without them, the water will stagnate and over time the roots will rot.
Also choose the form based on your preferences. For plants it is not so important. The only caveat is that square pots are more compact; they can be placed close to each other and placed several on one pallet.
What kind of soil is needed for a cactus
To plant, take special soil for cacti, mix it with coarse sand in approximately equal parts and add about 10% charcoal. This will make the soil loose and increase its breathability.
If you prefer garden or forest soil, be sure to sterilize it before use. For example, steam for an hour and a half in a water bath or heat the wet substrate in the oven for 30–40 minutes at a temperature of 80–90 ºС. Otherwise, you risk introducing parasites along with the soil.
The same treatment can be carried out for store soil if you doubt its quality.
Regardless of the chosen substrate, be sure to place a layer of expanded clay, crushed stone or other drainage at the bottom of the cactus pot. It will protect the roots from rotting due to excess moisture.
If you decide to decorate the ground with sea pebbles or quartz stones, be sure to boil them for 10–15 minutes and rinse them.
How to transplant
Wear gloves before transplanting. And take the cactus using a potholder made of thick cardboard, folded newspaper, polystyrene foam or foam rubber.
Take the pot, carefully turn it over and, barely pressing with a pencil through the drainage holes, push the earthen lump.
Shake the root system off the ground. Trim any overgrown roots to fit into the new pot and treat the cut areas with charcoal. If the soil remains the same type, it is not necessary to rinse the root system.
Place the plant in a new pot so that the roots do not curl or bend. Carefully cover with soil, leaving the lower part of the stem open.
How to care for a cactus after transplantation
It all depends on the time of year. If you replant a cactus in winter, you should not water it. When transplanting into moist soil in warm weather, watering is permissible after about a week and a half, not earlier. During this time, wounds from mechanical damage will have time to heal.
Watering mammillaria cactus and mix
How to water a homemade mammillaria cactus? When growing this variety, you need to know the signs and that waterlogging of the soil is detrimental for it, otherwise it will begin to rot. Water the flower as the soil dries. In winter it is not moistened at all. In warm months you can spray, but with warm, settled water. Every two weeks, add liquid fertilizer to the soil and take the cactus outside. And if watering and care are correct, then in the spring this succulent will delight you with its beautiful flowering. Flowers appear at the top of the stem; they can be large or small.
Mammillaria is planted in soil with a good drainage layer so that the water in the pot does not stagnate. Therefore, during watering, you need to ensure that excess water goes out into the pan and does not remain in the pot. If a young mammillaria is purchased, then immediately after the store it is transplanted into a new pot, but not watered for several days after that. The pot for planting should not be deep and wide enough with sufficient drainage holes.
Usually, after transplanting this cactus, it is not watered for about a week and placed in a dark place.
How to care for a blooming cactus
When the cactus has expelled buds, it is important to simply leave it alone. Do not move or move the pot in search of a better place.
It is also advisable to wait a bit with fertilizers and watering.
Flowering for different thorns lasts from a couple of hours to a couple of weeks. And all this time it’s better to just admire it without changing anything.
Watering a cactus depending on its location
Also, a lot depends on the place where your cactus stands and the material from which the pot is made. If the window is oriented to the south or east, it is sunny and hot, you should water more often; if the window is shaded or oriented to the north or west, it should be watered less often. If a cactus grows in a ceramic pot, then it is watered more often, in a plastic one - less often. Young, fast-growing cacti also require more frequent watering than older ones. During the dormant period, when cacti are not growing, they are watered very carefully or not at all.
How to prevent a cactus from getting sick
- Do not water cacti at temperatures below +12 °C.
- Do not use cold or hard water.
- Treat any wounds on the stem and roots.
- Don't overfill.
- Do not allow water to stagnate.
- Quarantine new plants. For the first 2-3 weeks, keep them separate from the main collection, care for them as usual and periodically examine them for diseases.
- Isolate diseased plants.
- Select and sterilize the soil carefully.
- Treat 1-2 times a year with fungal and insect repellents.
- Inspect your plants regularly.
Flowering time and watering during this period
Flowering plants are awaited with great impatience. However, at the same time, gardeners do not know how to water the cactus at this moment, and whether it is needed at all. In fact, if a flower feels excessive moisture, it will begin to drop flowers or turn them into shoots. Before the flowers bloom, it is better not to touch the plant at all. It’s better that he doesn’t have enough water than that the gardener floods him with joy.
With the advent of beautiful flowers, the situation changes radically. Watering cacti at home is carried out regularly in order to help replenish the plant’s strength, of which quite a lot is consumed at this moment. Sometimes spraying is allowed, but only in exceptional cases. It must be remembered that stagnation of drops will lead to the dropping of buds.
Having noticed that flowering has completed, it is recommended to remove faded flowers that have not fallen off on their own. In the case where there is a desire to grow seeds, the procedure is abandoned.
Important! Desert varieties of cacti, after flowering has ended, should not be watered, as some do, but transplanted into a new pot with a complete replacement of the soil.
