How to cultivate cacti
Today, I will elaborate for netizens on how to cultivate cacti and related knowledge about cactus cultivation techniques in the field of green plants and flowers. It's some very useful tips, so I recommend saving this for future reference!
Mentioning cacti, everyone may have the impression of spines, but in fact, there is a type of cactus that is not afraid of cold and is also frost-resistant. In the memories of the editor, Lao Li, during the 1980s and 1990s, when the economy was not developed, most of the small yards in the rural areas of his hometown were not made of brick walls but of earth walls, on which cacti were planted for theft prevention. Now, in Lao Li's hometown, there are no longer any earth walls or cacti. This type of cactus has many hard spines, blooms flowers, and bears fruit, leaving only these memories.
So let's learn about cacti together today!
Cacti belong to the succulent family. After years of cultivation, there are many varieties of cacti. It is estimated that there are over a thousand species of cacti in the world. Cacti originally belong to desert plants and are highly drought-resistant. Due to their high ornamental value, cacti are loved by the masses. However, one should be cautious when cultivating cacti, especially if there are children in the house to prevent them from getting hurt.
Cacti are easy to cultivate, but for beginners, they might overwater them. Cacti are very drought-resistant and do not need to be watered frequently. Beginners often like to water them for no reason, hence the saying in the flower cultivation world: "Beginners drown their plants, while experienced gardeners starve them!" Do not water cacti until the soil is dry, as it can easily cause root rot. If you want cacti to grow quickly, keep the soil moist. Cactus roots are fibrous with no distinct main root, and the root system is not well-developed, so be careful not to let them积水.
Cacti are light-loving plants. To adapt to desert life, they have evolved their leaves into spines, so even in the highest summer temperatures, there is no need to worry about cacti getting sunburned. However, be careful that the potting soil does not get too hot and damage the roots (usually, as long as the pot is not made of metal, the roots will not be damaged, but if the pot is too small and too hot to touch, you should provide shade. Usually, this shading is not because the plant itself is afraid of the sun).
How to cultivate cacti
Cacti can tolerate barren conditions, so they do not have high soil requirements. They can grow normally in weakly acidic, weakly alkaline, or neutral soil. However, if you want cacti to grow quickly, try to match their habits. Compared to other plants, cacti prefer slightly acidic soil, so when watering monthly, you can add some acidifying substances (a few drops of vinegar or yogurt, which also has nutritional value, but considering the current global food shortage, it's best not to use yogurt). After watering, the soil can easily become compacted, so it's important to regularly turn the soil.
Although cacti can grow in poor soil, they grow very slowly, so it's necessary to fertilize them. Organic fertilizers such as soybean cake, cooked rice, and legumes are preferred. Fertilize once a month, and during the summer growing season, you can fertilize twice a month. Since cacti have spines that can injure people, changing the soil requires safety precautions. The soil can easily become alkaline after two years, so it's advisable to change the soil every two years. When changing the soil, be sure to prune the roots, removing any diseased, rotten, or weak roots.
Most cacti are not cold-resistant, so in winter, they should be moved indoors to avoid freezing to death.
The above is a detailed introduction on how to cultivate cacti and related cultivation techniques for reference by netizens.