Good afternoon, my reader. Cacti are amazing plants of different shapes and colors. They are mistakenly thought that these thorns do not need care - they miraculously survive without water in the heat, and even manage to bloom. Why not collect them? But we warn the novice cactus grower: this is a tricky business and easy to make mistakes. What kind? We will explain everything now.
Please put your likes and subscribe to the channel "About Fasenda". This will allow us to publish more interesting garden articles.
Cactus grower errors
Remember: the soil, moisture and other indicators are as important to a cactus as to any other plant. Therefore, if your cactus did not appear at you by chance as a gift from someone, and you are seriously planning to start a cactus family, these tips are for you.
Theory. If you do not need another dried victim on the windowsill, look for information on the Internet, check out the special literature. You will learn how to care for cacti, and you will understand if you can handle it, if you really need it. Take a good look at the conditions in which the cactus will live - can you provide it with everything it needs, and what do the experts recommend?
Where to find healthy candidates. You can buy cactus anywhere. But will he survive? Will he be able to adapt to the new soil, new temperature and other conditions? Buying a plant at the first flower shop you come across is not a good idea. It is not a fact that the cactus received proper care there - consider this point.
Experts from your region will come to the rescue. Ask where you can get a healthy cactus and how to help it get used to a new place.
The first cactus in the collection. There are plants for which care does not require extra effort. And there are very whimsical, for which you need an eye and an eye. It's the same with cacti. Therefore, if you are a beginner, then choose something simple. We recommend: Cereus, Echinopsis, Ferocactus, Mammillaria, Opuntia, Parody and Rebutia.
After that you will already understand whether you like the idea of collecting plants or not. There are exotic species in the world of cacti, and it is important to gain experience in working with them.
Cacti need care too
The soil. Cacti love water and loose soil. Good soil for them will be:
- universal soil and sand in a 2: 1 ratio;
- drainage with a height of 10-20% of the total soil.
Important: Before use, the soil must be calcined in the oven for disinfection.
Location. Cacti live under the sun. Provide plenty of sunlight for them. But in summer, be careful: scorching rays can burn them.
Pot. You bought a cactus with a pot already. During the transplant, you will need a container literally 1-2 centimeters wider than the old one. Observe the same conditions when preparing the soil, especially do not forget about drainage.
Watering. Yes, cacti need to be watered. Do not flood or go on a hunger strike. An ordinary stick will help determine when to water the plant. It should be pushed into the ground and checked for dryness. If even a little wet earth sticks to it, watering should be postponed. Only when the soil is completely dry does the cactus need water.
After transplanting, the cactus needs time to adapt. He gets used to the soil. At this time, he does not need water quite. Leave the cactus for 3 weeks - and after that you can do the first watering.
Hibernation. Most cacti react to the cold season with a dormant state. During this period, it is better not to touch them - do not move, do not transplant, avoid temperature changes. Everything must be taken care of before wintering. The room temperature should be up to 12-15 ° C. Otherwise, if the cactus is blooming, then it will not have time to postpone buds and the next season will be without flowers.
Watering the "sleeping" cactus should be once a month; in the warm season - 2-3 times a month.
Do you plant cacti at home?
Original articleand many other materials, you can find on ourwebsite.
Read about watering grapes in the summer in the following article:Watering grapes in summer is the key to a good harvest in autumn