How to Plant a Cactus
Do you know about these? Here are some small gardening tips on how to plant a cactus and the steps involved in cactus cultivation. Next, the editor of the website will introduce these to netizens.
The cactus is a perennial herbaceous plant with succulent leaves, belonging to the Cactaceae family and the cactus genus. It is commonly planted indoors in pots. Its young plants are spherical, while the older ones are cylindrical, with sharp spines and large, beautiful flowers. Cacti are robust in nature, follow the Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) pathway, absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen at night, and can absorb most harmful gases, thus improving and purifying the indoor air. Let's learn about the cultivation methods of cacti.
One, Soil
The soil material for potting cacti should be conducive to drainage. You can place small stones at the bottom of the pot, about 3 centimeters thick. Then, add a mixture of decomposed leaf soil, garden soil, and coarse sand in a ratio of 1:2:1 to make the growing medium. If conditions allow, you can also add a base fertilizer or decomposed organic cake fertilizer to the growing medium.
Two, Light
In the growing season of cacti, they can be placed outdoors for cultivation, ensuring 4 to 6 hours of sunlight per day. In the summer, when sunlight is intense, they need to be shaded appropriately. Adequate sunlight is beneficial for flowering.
Three, Temperature
Cacti are native to the dry grasslands of Argentina and southern Brazil and prefer a warm environment. The most suitable temperature for their growth is 20 to 25 degrees Celsius during the day and 13 to 15 degrees Celsius at night. The minimum temperature should not be lower than 0 degrees Celsius, and they should be placed in a warm indoor area during winter.
Four, Water
Although cacti are drought-resistant, they prefer moist soil and should be kept moist. However, this does not mean that too much water should be given. Excessive watering can easily cause waterlogging and lead to root rot. It's also not possible to go without watering for a long time, as it will make the plant soft. Watering should follow the principle of "water when dry, and water thoroughly when watering."
Five, Fertilizing
Cacti enjoy fertilizer and require 2 to 3 applications of dilute liquid fertilizer per month. No fertilizer is needed in the first year of planting, and no fertilizer is needed in winter.
Six, Diseases and Pests
Cacti are prone to scale insects during the growing season. A small number can be removed with a brush or tweezers. If there are more, you can apply a 15% ferric granular insecticide to the soil or water the roots with a 40% omethoate emulsion diluted 2000 times.
Seven, Precautions
When potting cacti, do not choose an overly large pot. It's best to place the cactus in a pot with some space left. Because an overly large pot makes it difficult to control the amount of water, it can easily lead to excessive watering and root rot.
(1) June is a suitable month for planting cactus seeds. Before planting, soak the seeds in warm water for 3 days, then insert them into broken bricks, maintaining a distance of about 2 centimeters between the seeds. After sowing, water and cover with white paper to prevent excessive evaporation of water. Maintain a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius, and you can see seedlings after a month. After the seedlings have some light exposure, if the potting soil dries out, a little water can be added. Wait until they are a year old before repotting.
(2) Cut one of the offshoots of the cactus with a small knife. If the incision is large, let it dry first and then place it flat on moist river sand, keeping the sand surface moist without too much water. Then move it to an environment of 20 degrees Celsius, and it will grow after a month.
The above is a comprehensive explanation of how to plant a cactus and the steps involved in cactus cultivation, hoping it can help you.