How to Care for Puffed Coral Cactus
Puffed Coral Cactus, with its unique columnar shape and low maintenance characteristics, has become a star variety sought after by succulent enthusiasts. This succulent plant, which resembles coral, has a strong vitality, but to cultivate plump and translucent stems, one must master scientific management methods. This article will systematically analyze the cultivation tips for puffed coral cactus from environmental control to disease prevention.
Adjusting the Growth Environment of Puffed Coral Cactus
Temperature and Light Management
The optimal growth temperature for puffed coral cactus is between 18-28°C, and it needs to maintain above 10°C in winter. When the temperature drops below 5°C, the stem will show frostbite depression, and it is recommended to use double-layer thermal insulation film for protection. Full sunlight care in spring and autumn can make the internodes compact, and a 50% shade net should be set up from 11-15 o'clock in summer.
Water Control Techniques
Follow the "thoroughly wet and then water" principle, watering once every 15 days in spring and autumn, and shortening to every 10 days in summer. The bamboo stake test can be used to determine: insert the bamboo stake 2/3 into the potting soil, and if no moisture is present when pulled out, it's time to water. In the dormant period of winter, only 50ml of clear water is needed to be poured along the pot wall monthly.
Advanced Propagation Techniques for Puffed Coral Cactus
Practical Cuttage Propagation
Select healthy lateral branches 8-12cm long, apply charcoal powder to the cut surface and let it dry for 3 days before inserting it into a matrix of perlite:vermiculite at a ratio of 3:1. Maintain a constant temperature of 25°C, mist twice a day to increase humidity, and new roots should emerge in about 20 days.
How to Care for Puffed Coral Cactus
Key Points for Seedling Cultivation
Mix the seeds with fine sand and broadcast them in March-April, with the covering soil thickness not exceeding 2mm. Use the immersion pot method to water, cover with transparent plastic wrap to create a mini greenhouse, ventilate for 1 hour daily, and usually, seedlings will emerge in 15-20 days.
Solutions to Common Problems
Disease Control System
Root rot initially manifests as softening at the base and requires immediate replacement with new soil, cutting off the decayed part, and soaking in a fungicide solution for 1 hour. Applying a solution of mancozeb 800 times a month can effectively prevent it.
Strategies for Pest Control
When attacked by red spiders, the leaves will show yellow spots, which can be wiped with 75% alcohol cotton pads on the affected areas. In severe cases, alternate spraying of dinotefuran and pyridaben, with a 7-day interval, can be used.
Caring for puffed coral cactus requires mastering the three principles of "priority of water control, adequate sunlight, and suitable temperature." Regularly rotating the pot to ensure uniform light exposure, combined with the application of slow-release fertilizer in spring and autumn, can cultivate sturdy stems up to 3cm in diameter. Place it out of reach of children and wear gloves for safer appreciation.