What are the care methods for cacti?
This article brings you the care methods for cacti and the small experience of managing and caring for cactus seedlings, followed by a comprehensive introduction.
Cacti are perennial herbaceous succulent plants of the Cactaceae family, commonly grown indoors in pots. Their young plants are spherical, older plants are cylindrical, with sharp spines, and large, beautiful flowers. Cacti are robust in nature and follow the Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) pathway, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen at night, which helps absorb most harmful gases and can improve and purify indoor air. Let's learn about the cultivation methods of cacti.
I. Soil
The soil material for potting cacti should be conducive to drainage, with small stones placed at the bottom of the pot, about 3 centimeters thick. Then, mix the potting soil with decomposed leaf soil, garden soil, and coarse sand in a ratio of 1:2:1, and if conditions permit, you can also add base fertilizer or decomposed organic cake fertilizer to the potting soil.
II. Light
In the growing season of cacti, they can be placed outdoors for cultivation, ensuring 4 to 6 hours of sunlight per day. During the intense sunlight in summer, they need to be shaded appropriately, as sufficient sunlight is beneficial for their flowering.
III. Temperature
Cacti are native to the arid 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.
IV. Water
Although cacti are drought-tolerant, they prefer moist soil and should be kept moist. However, this does not mean excessive watering, as too much water can cause waterlogging and root rot. It's also not possible to go without watering for extended periods, as it would make the plant soft. Watering should follow the principle of "water when dry, and water thoroughly when watering."
V. Fertilization
Cacti enjoy fertilizer and require 2 to 3 applications of dilute liquid fertilizer per month. No fertilizer should be applied in the first year of planting, and no fertilizer is needed in winter.
VI. Diseases and Pests
Cacti are prone to scale insects during the growing season. A small number can be brushed off with a brush or removed with tweezers and destroyed. If there are many, you can apply a 15% iron atomized particle formulation to the soil or use a 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate at a dilution of 2000 times to water the roots.
VII. Precautions
When potting cacti, it is not advisable to choose an oversized pot. It is best to place them in a pot that still has some space left. This is because an oversized pot makes it difficult to control the amount of watering, leading to easy overwatering and root rot.
VIII. Propagation Methods
(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 seeds. Water after sowing, then cover with white paper to prevent excessive evaporation of moisture. Maintain a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius, and after a month, you can see the seedlings. After the seedlings have emerged, you can let them get some light and water a little if the potting soil dries out. Wait until they are a year old before potting them.
(2) Cut one of the offsets from the cactus with a small knife. If the incision is large, let it dry first before placing 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 detailed explanation of the care methods for cacti and the management and care of cactus seedlings introduced above is for your reference and suggestion only!