How to Cultivate and Plant Cacti
The editor introduces to you how to cultivate and plant cacti and knowledge about cacti cultivation methods and watering tips. Let's follow the editor to see the specific content!
Cacti are a variety of the Opuntia genus in the Cactaceae family. They not only have ornamental value but can also be used for medicinal purposes, eaten, or made into feed for livestock. Many people cultivate several cacti on tables, windowsills, and use these small green plants to decorate their rooms. Let's learn about the cultivation methods of cacti below.
One, Soil Selection
Cacti dislike waterlogging and acidic soil, preferring fertile, well-draining neutral to slightly alkaline sandy soil. For home cultivation, you can choose slightly alkaline, fertile sandy soil or a nutrient-rich soil mixed evenly with compost, garden soil, and river sand in a ratio of 2:4:4.
Two, Pot Selection
Choose a pot slightly larger than the cactus itself, and place small tiles at the bottom for drainage. When planting, just stabilize the cactus without burying it too deep.
Three, Light and Temperature
Cacti enjoy sunlight and warmth. They should receive plenty of light, and during the strong midday sun in summer, they should be shaded to avoid burns. Cacti are sensitive to cold and can easily be frostbitten when temperatures drop below 5 degrees Celsius in winter, so they should be moved to a warm indoor area.
Four, Watering and Fertilizing
Cacti are drought-resistant plants. Besides needing to be watered once a day during their growing season in summer to keep the soil moist and not watering during their dormant period in winter, they do not need to be watered frequently at other times. Watering should keep the soil in a semi-moist state without any standing water. Fertilizing should be done during their growing season, using fertilizers with residue or fully decomposed organic fertilizers.
Five, Ventilation and Pest Control
Cacti that are not well-ventilated can be easily harmed by red spiders in hot and dry weather, so they should be placed in a well-ventilated area. Besides red spiders, cacti can also be affected by scale insects and snails. Red spider infestations can be controlled with wettable powder containing dicofol, snails can be killed with lime powder, and scale insects can be eliminated with dimethoate emulsion.
Six, Propagation Methods
There are two common propagation methods. One is division, where you simply pull off the offsets or seedlings and plant them separately, which has a high survival rate. The other is cutting, which can be done in any season except winter. Cut a stem piece about 10 centimeters long from the mother plant, treat it, and then insert it into disinfected soil 3 centimeters deep. Water it a few days later, and it should root in about 20 days.
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