How to transplant a cactus to keep it alive
A small tip for life: Introducing the knowledge of how to transplant a cactus to keep it alive and the precautions for cactus transplantation in the aspect of plant care. Specific introduction is as follows:
The cactus and cacti, as the "hero plants" that once greened the deserts, have gradually entered thousands of households through continuous hybridization, becoming the favorite "lazy person's flowers" for many people, with very high ornamental leaf and flower value. Of course, in the process of raising them, why do some people always emphasize using small pots?
In fact, this is because when planting cacti in large pots, they will produce many seedlings, small cacti. When these small cacti grow and overflow the pot, it is necessary to take time to divide and repot them, regardless of how busy the schedule is. Otherwise, the growth and survival of both the seedlings and the mother plant will be affected, leading to serious root rot and health issues.
But, what issues should be paid attention to during the period of dividing and repotting the cacti?
Stop watering in advance
Generally, when the sandy soil in the pot is completely dry, it is necessary to wait for about a week. Therefore, it is important to check the recent weather changes and try to choose a time when the temperature is stable at around 20 degrees to start dividing and repotting. Moreover, if the plants are exposed to a light drizzle on the day of repotting or within three days, it will maximize the chances of the seedlings and the mother plant adapting to the new environment and sprouting new roots.
Trimming roots, soaking roots, and sunning roots
After digging the whole cactus out of the soil, we need to divide it, choosing 1 or 2 small cacti as a whole. After separating, it is important to focus on checking the health status of each small group, looking at the condition of the body and roots, and promptly trimming any "lesions" when they are found, especially the roots, since the roots are hidden in the soil and it's not easy to have a "comprehensive examination".
How to transplant a cactus to keep it alive
After that, all the healthy cacti, both large and small, should be soaked in a solution of water mixed with root growth fertilizer for 15-20 minutes, which is about the time for a face mask. Then, they can be taken out and placed in a shaded area, away from direct sunlight but needing plenty of wind. After waiting for about a day, they can be potted.
Potting and caring
Each small group of cacti can be planted in a pot. Of course, in addition to requiring the pot to have a drainage hole, you can also choose a pot that matches your needs, as a large pot is prone to grow many small cacti, while a small pot tends to have a "single枝独秀". When choosing soil, in addition to using sandy soil as the main component, about 30% of humus soil should be added as a slow-release fertilizer, paving the way for no fertilization in the later stage.
And within a week after potting, since the cacti of various sizes have not yet adapted to the new environment and the roots cannot absorb a large amount of water and nutrients from the soil, there is no need for the plants to be exposed to much sunlight or increase metabolism. At the same time, fertilization should be stopped, as slow metabolism results in less demand for nutrients by the roots, and fertilization can cause root burn and damage.