Compared to topics related to flower cultivation such as how to quickly root a cactus without roots and the best rooting techniques for cacti, keep reading!
Cacti are easy to grow and very drought-resistant. Many people want to grow one, but when they do, the plant doesn't grow roots after being planted. Why is that? The reason is actually simple. We just need to do two things right, and its roots will grow quickly, filling the pot. Many flower friends make mistakes in operation, which leads to the plant not growing roots for a long time.
1. Dry before planting
When we buy a cactus with soil, we need to remove the soil, taking off all the dirt. If we repot our own cactus, we also need to remove the soil and dry it. During drying, we剪掉 the fine roots, leaving only the thick ones, and trim them appropriately. If it's a side bud that has grown on the cactus or a rootless side bud that we just bought, these should also be dried immediately. How long should it be dried? If the cactus is small, it is recommended to dry it for more than a week. If it's a large cactus, it should be dried for more than half a month.
The purpose of drying is to allow the wounds on the roots to dry and heal completely, and for the cut side buds to dry and heal thoroughly. Only after healing can the plant be planted reliably. Some flower friends ask if it's okay to plant it directly in the soil without watering. It is possible, but if there are fungi in the soil, the wound contacting the soil, or if the soil has moisture, the wound may become infected and rot. Even if it doesn't rot after planting, it still has to heal in the soil. It's better to dry it directly.
When drying, it should be done in the light, as sunlight helps the wound heal quickly and effectively prevents infection. During the drying process, it is less likely to rot, and only after proper drying can the cactus grow roots. Sometimes, if you dry a cactus for a month, its roots will grow from the thick roots themselves. Planting it at this time is the most reliable, and it will grow quickly after planting.
How to quickly root a cactus without roots
2. Planting to promote root growth
After drying and planting, how should we operate to make it grow quickly, establish roots, and recover? Many flower friends plant it in moist soil and are afraid to water it when the soil dries, fearing that watering will cause it to rot. This thinking is incorrect. The roots need a moist soil to grow. If the soil dries out, the newly grown roots, which are white and tender at the tip, will inevitably die.
If you remember to water later, it will have to grow new roots again, and the new roots will die when they dry out. This will keep the cactus in a cycle of growing new roots and drying them out, causing it to stay weak and not recover. It will be impossible for it to grow well and bloom, and it will remain in a state of not growing roots. Therefore, we must ensure the soil is moist when planting to promote root growth.
After planting and drying properly, place it in direct sunlight and water thoroughly. If you're worried about rotting, you can add a fungicide like carbendazim or mancozeb to the water. With good sunlight and ventilation, the soil will dry out in no more than a week. Water it when the potting soil is half-dry or more, but don't wait until the soil is completely dry, or it will damage the roots.