Are cacti poisonous and how to care for them?
Let me tell you about whether cacti are poisonous, how to care for them, and the precautions for planting cacti. The following is an introduction for you.
Cacti are well-known for being easy to care for, drought-resistant, requiring minimal watering, and convenient maintenance. Many gardening enthusiasts have kept this plant, usually placing it indoors to beautify the home. It is cute and small, and its blooming flowers are exceptionally beautiful and quite ornamental.
When caring for cacti, one may accidentally get pricked by the cactus. Some gardening enthusiasts experience redness and swelling, and severe pain after being pricked, which leads to suspicions about whether cacti are poisonous.
One, are cacti poisonous?
Cacti bloom, but their flowers are not poisonous, and the main body of the cactus is also not poisonous. However, the spines of some cactus varieties are poisonous. There is a type of alkaloid on the spines of these cacti. Once they puncture the skin, the alkaloid enters the body through the wound, but it usually only causes redness, swelling, and itching. As long as the spines are removed promptly, the wound is thoroughly washed with tap water and soap, then disinfected with 3% hydrogen peroxide and covered with a plaster, it will be fine.
Two, methods to make cacti bloom
Some gardening enthusiasts have kept cacti for a long time but have never seen them bloom. This might be due to incorrect care methods during the maintenance process. I will now briefly introduce some care methods to make cacti bloom.
1. Loose soil
If you want cacti to bloom, the soil must be suitable. Cacti must be planted in extremely loose soil. It's best not to use muddy soil, as this can store water in the soil, causing the cactus roots to soak in water and potentially rot. Cactus soil should use granular soil mixed with some garden soil, in a ratio of 6:4.
2. Sufficient light
Cacti require ample light to bloom. Cacti are native to the desert where there is plenty of sunlight. When keeping them at home, it's essential to ensure they receive maximum sunlight, as sufficient light is conducive to blooming.
3. Adequate watering
Although cacti do not like too much water, if they receive too little water, they will consume their own moisture, reducing the likelihood of blooming. Adequate watering does not mean excessive watering; just water the soil thoroughly when it is completely dry, allowing the cactus to absorb sufficient nutrients and promote blooming.
4. Large day-night temperature difference
Cacti are native to the desert where the days are bright and hot, but the nights are very cold. To make cacti bloom, you need to simulate their natural environment. Only by maintaining a significant day-night temperature difference will the cacti grow well and increase the frequency of blooming.
5. Timely fertilizing
The blooming season of cacti is usually from March to May. You can apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizers twice before the blooming period to promote cactus blooming.
The introduction above about whether cacti are poisonous and how to care for them, and the specific precautions for planting cacti, are for reference by netizens.