How to care for a cactus
An introduction to the comprehensive knowledge of succulent plants like cacti, how to care for a cactus, the following editor will provide you with detailed answers.
Cacti are known as lazy person's flowers, and diligent people can't grow them well. Many cacti enthusiasts don't know how to care for cacti. Many cacti have been bred into ornamental varieties, which are much more delicate than wild ones. If not careful during planting, they may rot the roots or the whole plant may die.
I have been fond of growing cacti since 1991, and now it has been twenty years. I have discovered some rules for growing certain varieties of cacti. I have organized my cactus care methods from easy to difficult for cactus enthusiasts to refer to. All cacti need plenty of sunlight to grow well, which is a necessary condition for growing cacti properly.
Sea King Cactus (Snake Dragon Pill Variant)
This variety can be considered one of the easiest to care for among cacti, with very easy flowering and not prone to rotting roots. Beginners can choose this variety. Planting should also follow its habits. It's best to use ceramic or purple sand pots, and the optimal condition for cactus potting soil is: the surface one to two centimeters is completely dry, and the soil below is slightly moist. These two types of pots are easy to maintain such soil conditions. If it's too dry, it won't grow; if too wet, it's also unfavorable for its growth. Watering is necessary, once every one to two weeks in spring and early summer, and once every five days at the hottest time.
To ensure the nutrients in the potting soil, it is generally necessary to change the soil once every one to two years in spring. The potting soil should be mixed in volume ratio: one part garden soil, one part sand, and one part decayed leaves. Place a layer of sand at the bottom of the pot to facilitate drainage. Then plant the cactus in the pot. For home hygiene, it's best to use chemical fertilizers, which can be purchased at a flower and tree store and used according to the instructions. When the minimum outdoor temperature in winter is below six degrees, it should be moved indoors to overwinter. The indoor temperature should not be higher than its dormant temperature (below fifteen degrees should be fine). Do not water it throughout the winter. If it cannot rest properly in winter, it will not grow well in spring.
Dragon King Cactus (Left and Right Twists)
This is also an easy-to-grow variety of cacti, with the same care methods as the Sea King Cactus. The only difference is that if it is not watered in winter, it will shrink, which is a normal phenomenon, and should not be watered during its dormant period.
King Kong Cactus
The planting method for this cactus is the same as the Sea King Cactus.
Black Feather Cactus (Rubber Ball)
This is a small variety of cacti, very easy to grow, with planting methods basically the same as the Sea King Cactus. However, when changing the soil in spring, it's best to add some old lime or crushed eggshells to the potting soil to increase its alkalinity. Changing the soil every two to three years is sufficient.
The care method for this variety of cactus is basically the same as the Sea King Cactus, with the difference that its water requirement is different from that of general cacti. When the surface of the potting soil is dry, it needs to be watered (other varieties must be completely dry before watering), and it should also be watered once every twenty days during the winter dormant period, otherwise it won't grow well.
Venus
The planting method for this cactus is basically the same as the Sea King Cactus, with the caution that it should not be watered frequently. If there is too much dust on the cactus, it must be placed in the shade for a few days after watering to prevent sunburn. This variety is relatively cold-resistant and does not need to be moved indoors to overwinter if the temperature does not drop below zero.
Star Cactus
This variety can be planted by referring to the Sea King Cactus. The thing to note is that this is a small ball variety, and it's fine to change to a slightly larger pot every two to three years. It's not advisable to change the soil when repotting, as exposing the roots to the soil can cause the ball to shrink and take several years to recover. It is also not suitable to water the ball.
Jade Elder
I only discovered the planting rules for this cactus this year. Due to the high temperature in my home, the place where the cactus overwintered reached a temperature of thirteen degrees, which didn't allow it to rest properly and resulted in poor growth. This year, I simply placed it in the hottest place in the house, on the windowsill above the heater, with a temperature of about twenty degrees and exposure to the sun at noon, and it bloomed. The care of this variety can be referred to the Sea King Cactus, with the caution that water should not be poured on the ball.
Golden Tiger
This cactus can be planted by referring to the Sea King Cactus, with the difference that it's best to add some old lime or crushed eggshells to the soil in spring to increase its alkalinity. The ball should not be watered, and if there is too much dust on the ball, after watering, it must be placed in the shade for a few days before being exposed to the sun. Absolutely do not water the top part with hair. As long as the above points are mastered, the Golden Tiger is easy to care for.
The detailed explanation of how to care for cacti (experiences of cacti enthusiasts) introduced above, I hope this article can bring you some help in green plant management!