Colorful Cactus Cultivation Methods
This article focuses on the explanation of colorful cactus, a type of succulent plant, including its cultivation methods. Keep reading for more information!
Although colorful cacti are still considered expensive, they are essentially grass balls. The cultivation methods for colorful cacti are the same as for common grass balls, and it requires a high level of skill to kill them.
1. Rooting
Most people receive colorless side buds, and the first step in care is to root them. The usual method is to let the wound dry, apply some rooting powder if possible, plant in moist soil, and then leave it alone, waiting for the roots to grow. Do not touch it unnecessarily, such as rotating the pot today, watering tomorrow, and checking the roots the day after. The speed of rooting is related to the temperature; it is difficult to root when the temperature is below 20°C. You can place the ball on dry soil and wait for it to root next year. Some varieties are difficult to root, such as the wool flower column "Annette Riske," which is hard to root.
2. Normal Maintenance
After rooting, normal maintenance can be performed. The soil can be random, as long as it is loose and breathable. If possible, use soil with more granules, but even garden soil is fine. Watering should be done when the soil is dry, and never water daily when the potting soil is still moist, especially during the winter dormancy period. Remember: cacti do not die of drought, but of overwatering.
Regarding fertilizer: use potassium fertilizer in autumn to promote nutrient accumulation, and phosphorus fertilizer in spring to promote flowering, "apply thin fertilizer frequently." To grow well, you need "lots of water, lots of fertilizer, and lots of sun." Remember, "lots of water and fertilizer" must be accompanied by "lots of sun." Without sufficient sunlight, "lots of water and fertilizer" will either make the ball grow slender or directly kill it.
If your skill level is not high, it's better to control water and fertilizer, as slow growth is better than killing the plant!
3. Grafting
Given the growth rate of colorful cacti, there are not many rootstocks that can provide enough nutrients, with the triangle being the most common. Even with triangle rootstock, when the ball grows to about 10-15 centimeters, the nutrients from the triangle will not be enough. Therefore, grafting is not recommended unless it's for very small balls or for propagation purposes. If you must graft, seedlings are recommended to be grafted onto green麒麟, while larger side balls can be grafted onto triangle or multi-column rootstocks.
4. Growing Side Buds
Since colorful cacti are hybrid species, maintaining the traits can only rely on side bud propagation. Generally, colorful cacti easily grow side buds, while wool flower columns do not. Whether a cactus likes to grow side buds can be judged from its appearance: those with small and dense spines tend to grow side buds, while those with large and sparse spines do not. If you are willing to wait, side buds will eventually appear when the plant matures; if you do not want to wait, there is only one method—damage the growth point, which is straightforwardly called "cutting the head."
5. Sowing
Sowing involves杂交 seeds to cultivate new varieties, which is something serious players might consider, or you can buy hybrid seeds for sowing. Regarding sowing, just one piece of advice: be patient!
The above [] provides a specific introduction to the cultivation methods of colorful cacti, hoping to bring some knowledge of flowers to flower enthusiasts.