How to prune the roots of a cactus
About the content of cacti as a type of succulent plant, how to prune the roots of a cactus, next, the editor will introduce.
Many people ask me the same question, do I need to prune the roots of my newly bought cactus? How to prune a cactus? How much to prune? What to do after pruning? Today I will take this opportunity to answer these questions in detail. Of course, as always, the content of this article is purely based on my personal experience and does not cover everything. Welcome to reasonable criticism and corrections. Sam is happy to learn from everyone and the ultimate goal is to make progress together on the road of raising succulents.
1. Do all cacti need to have their roots pruned?
It is well known that roots are an important tissue for plants to absorb nutrients, and only with a good root system can a plant have a good condition. This is also one of the reasons why many experienced friends ask for root pictures from sellers when buying cacti. If there are problems with the roots, the plant will not be in good condition, on the contrary, it may have significant risks.
Do all newly bought cacti need to have their roots pruned? I think we need to look at two situations:
Firstly, usually, if the plant is purchased with a pot or soil (with intact fine roots), I feel that it does not need to be pruned and can be planted directly (this usually happens when buying plants from a nearby greenhouse or when plants freshly dug up by the seller are delivered to you after a short-distance transport).
Secondly, in many cases, we buy input plants that have been transported for a relatively long time. Many plants, when they reach us, have almost dried and withered fine roots, losing their vitality. Moreover, there is a significant difference between the original growing environment and our own growing environment. In this case, pruning the roots is, in my view, necessary.
2. Why prune the roots first?
Many gardening friends have such doubts, why prune the roots? My understanding is that pruning is a means for plants to readjust to their own environment and is a kind of artificial metabolism. In the second situation mentioned above, first, many plants' fine roots (capillary roots) have lost their vitality when they reach you, and they are useless. Removing them is like removing dirt. Next, it is appropriate to cut some of the main roots. Plants will not be affected negatively after cutting some roots and will grow new roots after adapting to your growing environment. This way, they accept your environment, and it is only a matter of time before they show good condition. Other friends' additional content: pruning roots can promote branching, and roots will become stronger. Root cutting can also promote the growth of some balls, such as fish species (in summary, I personally think that pruning roots is a necessary means for plants to adapt to their growing environment).
3. How to prune? How much to prune?
This question is actually difficult to answer, and I can only say it varies from person to person. For example, some experienced gardeners will cut off 2/3 of a fish's roots with one cut, leaving only a little bit, and then “torture” new roots, after which the plant's condition will improve. However, these gardeners have the capital to do so due to their growing environment and experience. For ordinary players and新手 friends, I still think it's better to be more careful.
Below is a personal diagram I shared for root pruning, using a newly arrived “Lizard skin” (Copiapoa hypogea "Lizard skin" with a huge radish root) as an example, which is one of my favorites.
Preparation work, you will need a sharp pair of scissors (Sam uses a gardening pruning knife from Japan), an alcohol swab (for sterilizing the cut, in any case, sterilization work should not be underestimated), and then bring our main character, “Lizard skin,” and we can start our root pruning journey.
4. How to handle the plant after pruning?
Generally, after pruning, we place the plant in a well-ventilated area, avoiding direct sunlight, and wait for 10-15 days for the wound to heal before repotting. Or, if you have the patience, you can wait until the plant grows new roots (indicating it has adapted to your environment) before repotting. The 78th floor friend added the following content, which everyone can refer to: The author mentioned alcohol to sterilize the cut but did not mention sterilizing the root wound. If there are thick radish roots and they are cut too deeply, there may be a phenomenon of “squirting sap,” and even if there is no squirting sap, the root section may rot if not treated. It is best to cover the wound with sulfur powder, which is not expensive and can be bought at a pharmacy, the most traditional wound treatment medicine, or you can also use multifungin or carbendazim.
When repotting, please note not to water immediately, but water about a week later. You can repot in moist soil, but do not immerse the pot.
5. Other precautions.
Please do not prune the roots when the plant is dormant, and try to control yourself during the dormant season and not buy such plants.
Thank you for reading, and I hope everyone can raise cacti with excellent condition. If you have any questions, feel free to ask Sam.
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