Tips for aspiring cactus collectors

  • Dec 23, 2020

Good afternoon, my reader. Some growers prefer cacti to other flowers. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, cacti are very interesting plants, and secondly, they are easy to care for.

Cacti. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com
Cacti. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com
Please put your likes and subscribe to the channel "About Fasenda". This will allow us to publish more interesting garden articles.

Interesting facts about cacti

Cacti are succulents. These are plants that are able to accumulate water in the leaves and then use it sparingly. They got this property, adapting to the hot and arid climate. In addition to cacti, succulents include aroid, bromeliad and grape plants.

The cactus family has about 1750 species. Most of them live in parts of the earth where it is very hot and little water. Therefore, nature has awarded cacti with an unusual appearance. They have a thick stem and modified thorn leaves.

What types of cacti are considered the most undemanding?

The easiest way to care for such types of cacti as prickly pear, cereus, rebutia, parody, mammillaria, echinopsis, ferocactus. It is with them that experienced florists advise beginners to start a collection. Exotic species require much more attention. Before starting such a plant, you need to study the relevant literature, which will help you choose the right soil, fertilizers, watering schedule, and so on.

instagram viewer

Cacti. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com

Features of the content of cacti

Cacti are southern plants, they love the sun, so they are best placed in the south, southwest or southeast.

Every 2-3 years, they should be transplanted into flowerpots 1-2 cm wider than the previous ones. It is better to choose deep and relatively narrow flowerpots, since 10-20% of the capacity should be occupied by the drainage layer.

Transplanting cacti. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com

Water these plants as needed, only after the soil has dried. It is better not to water the cactus for a long time than to water it once. Excess moisture for all members of the cactus family can be fatal. Therefore, before watering the plant, you need to take a wooden stick and lower it to the full depth of the pot. If the stick becomes wet at least in one place, it is better to temporarily postpone watering.

In winter, most cacti are dormant. At this time, they cannot be transplanted. If you want the cactus to bloom, you need to move it to a cool room with a temperature of about 12-15 degrees Celsius. If this is not done, then it will continue to grow, but it will not bloom.

In the cold season, watering cacti 2-3 times a month is enough.

Many plants grown for sale in a store, getting into the house, cannot adapt to new conditions and die. Therefore, it is better to turn to experienced collectors who will tell you where you can buy a healthy and adapted flower and how to properly care for it.

If you follow these simple rules, you can create a whole collection of these thorny plants.

Do you plant cacti at home?

Original articleand many other materials, you can find on ourwebsite.

Read about mistakes when breeding cacti in the following article:Mistakes that kill a cactus: a quick guide for a beginner cactus grower