Should Cacti Be Pruned After Blooming?
An article related to whether cacti should be pruned after blooming and why cacti blooms should be pruned in flower planting. The editor will explain in detail for you next.
Cacti can bloom throughout the year, usually blooming for the first time in May during spring and a second blooming in autumn. If seed collection is not required, pruning can be done after the flowers fade. Cacti generally refer to the plant species Echinopsis, which can bloom and bear fruit when cultivated for 3 to 4 years. It is also a general term for globular plants such as the Echinopsis genus, Gymnocalycium genus, Astrophytum genus, and Notocactus genus. Some cacti are easy to bloom and can bloom within 1 to 2 years, such as the Hylocereus, Astrophytum asterias, Lophophora williamsii, and Eriosyce pachyglossa. Others require many years to bloom, such as the Notocactus. Below is a discussion on the reasons for pruning the spent flowers of cacti after blooming.
Reasons for Pruning After Blooming
Some cacti can naturally produce seeds after blooming, and seeds can usually be obtained through artificial pollination. If there is no need to collect seeds for propagating new plants, pruning should be done promptly after the flowers fade to avoid consuming too much nutrients. Proper care can lead to reblooming.
Pruning Methods After Blooming
Pruning should be done with a sharp tool that has been sterilized. All spent flowers should be cut off, or wait until the flowers dry out and gently remove the spent flowers.
Post-Pruning Care
1. Watering
Cacti prefer dry conditions. Daily watering should keep the soil slightly moist and not allow excessive moisture in the soil to prevent root rot. Watering should be done only when the potting soil is completely dry. After the flowers fade, if it is early summer, the watering frequency can be slightly increased, and reduced during the rainy season from June to July. In winter, after blooming, less water or no water should be given to keep the soil dry.
2. Temperature
Cacti prefer warmth. After the flowers fade, the temperature should be kept suitable. The optimal growing temperature for cacti is between 20 to 35℃. In summer, appropriate shading and cooling are needed, and in winter, they should be cared for in a warm environment.
3. Light
Cacti enjoy plenty of sunlight and can tolerate partial shade but are afraid of direct sunlight. After the flowers fade, if it is summer, care should be taken to provide shading, which can be done with a 3-needle sun shade net. No shading is needed in other seasons.
4. Fertilizing
For cacti that bloom in spring, after pruning, a phosphorus-potassium fertilizer should be applied to promote blooming again in autumn. Especially during the rapid growth period in summer, a phosphorus-potassium solution can be sprayed every 7 days for 4 consecutive times.
The above is a detailed introduction to whether cacti should be pruned after blooming and why cacti blooms should be pruned. Have you understood it?