How to care for a cactus: a comprehensive guide

Where to put the cactus

Place the plant in a bright place, on a windowsill or next to a window. If there is little light, the cactus will stretch out and deform over time.

In the warm season, when the temperature does not drop below + 16-18 ° C, take the green pet to the balcony. But do not forget to make sure that it does not get burnt. Place in the shade or cover with paper or gauze for the first few weeks. And remember that with a burn on the plant, pale and discolored areas first appear, and then light brown dry spots that do not go away over time.

If you want the cactus to bloom in spring or summer, allow it to overwinter at around + 10 ° C. Just place the plant between window frames or in another cool place and cover with a film or glass screen.

If this is not possible, leave the cactus in the same place.

How to water a cactus

What water to water a cactus

Only soft. Due to the salts contained in hard tap water, a white coating will appear on plants and soil.

You can use filtered, boiled or settled water for a day or two. Melt and rain moisture is also good if you do not live in a metropolis. You can also water it with distilled water. If you prefer it, mix it with settled in a 1: 1 ratio.

Keep the liquid at room temperature or a degree or two warmer. Otherwise, you can harm the root system.

It is useful to use acidic water every 3-4 waterings. In a liter of undistilled water, simply dilute the citric acid on the tip of a knife.

What irrigation techniques to use

Top watering

Gently and slowly pour the water into the pot to gradually saturate the soil. Try not to get the cactus wet. Otherwise, moisture will get into microcracks on its stem and rotting will begin.

In summer and autumn, be sure to remove excess moisture from the pallet, otherwise the roots will rot. Leave the water on for a short time only during the first spring watering.

Bottom watering

Pour water into the pan and wait for the topsoil to get wet. Then drain everything that is not absorbed.

You can also put the pot in a container of water for 15-20 minutes. After pulling it out, let the excess moisture drain and return to the pallet.

How often to water a cactus

It all depends on the season. From November to March, if you decide to move the plant to a cool place, it is better not to water at all. If the cactus remains warm, water it, but rarely, about once every two to three weeks.

When growth appears in March-April and the top of the cactus turns green, resume watering after dry wintering. For the first time, a tablespoon of water is enough, then gradually increase the dosage.

In spring, the interval between watering is about 10-15 days for plants that have wintered in both cool and warm conditions. Pour water in the morning, so excess moisture will evaporate during the day.

Water the cactus about once a week in the evenings during the summer. In extreme heat, reduce the intervals between watering by a day or two, and increase it in cool and bad weather.

With the arrival of autumn, gradually reduce the frequency of watering so that the ground is completely dry before the cold weather. Do not water the cactus to the dump if it hibernates in the cool. Otherwise, its trunk may be deformed.

The main rule for any season is that it is better rarely and abundantly than often in a little bit. Let the earth dry completely. In addition, the pet itself will tell you when it is time to drink it. If the cactus is slightly "blown away" and wrinkled - it's time.

How to fertilize a cactus

Feed the plant during the period of active growth, but no more than 2-3 times per season. Use only special fertilizers for this, the proportions of products for other plants will harm the cacti.

If you've transplanted a cactus, you don't need to feed it for the first few weeks. Let the roots recover after changing conditions and possible microtraumas.

Observe the dosage of the product you are using. From an excess of fertilizer, the plant will noticeably increase in size and swell. And in especially advanced cases, the cactus can burst. If this happens, sprinkle the wound with sulfur (you can buy it at the pet store) or crushed activated carbon for disinfection. Over time, a scar forms at the site of the crack.

How to transplant a cactus

Repot the plant every few years. This will renew the soil mixture, which depletes over time, and provide more room for a developing root system.

What kind of pot is needed for a cactus

Pick a new pot so that it is a couple of centimeters larger than the previous one. The material can be anything. The main thing is that there are several drainage holes at the bottom. Without them, the water will stagnate and over time the roots will rot.

Also choose the form based on your preferences. For plants, it is not so important. The only caveat is that square pots are more compact, they can be placed close to each other and put several pieces on one pallet.

What land is needed for a cactus

For planting, take a special soil for cacti, mix it in approximately equal proportions with coarse sand and add about 10% charcoal. So the soil will become loose, its air permeability will increase.

If you prefer garden or forest soil, be sure to sterilize it before using it. For example, steam for an hour or an hour and a half in a water bath, or for 30–40 minutes, bake the moist substrate in the oven at a temperature of 80–90 ºС. Otherwise, you run the risk of introducing parasites along with the soil.

The same processing can be carried out for store land if you doubt its quality.

Regardless of the chosen substrate, be sure to put a layer of expanded clay, rubble or other drainage on the bottom of the cactus pot. It will protect the roots from rotting due to excess moisture.

If you decide to decorate the ground with sea pebbles or quartz stones, be sure to boil them for 10-15 minutes and rinse.

How to transplant

Wear gloves before transplanting. And take the cactus with a potholder made of thick cardboard, folded newspaper, foam or foam rubber.

Take the pot, gently turn it over and, barely pressing with a pencil through the drainage holes, push the earthen ball.

How to care for a cactus: How to remove a cactus from a pot

Shake the root system off the ground. Shorten overgrown roots to fit in a new pot and charcoal the cut areas. If the soil remains the same type, it is not necessary to flush the root system.

Place the plant in a new pot so that the roots do not curl or bend. Gently cover with earth, leave the lower part of the stem open.

How to care for a cactus after transplanting

It all depends on the season. If you are replanting a cactus in winter, you shouldn't water it. When transplanting in a warm season into moist soil, watering is allowed after about a week and a half, not earlier. During this time, wounds from mechanical damage will have time to heal.

What to do if the cactus does not bloom

The reasons for refusing to bloom are different. For example, a prickly pet is still young and you need to wait a year or two. Some cacti even bloom when they reach a certain size.

But, perhaps, the most common reason is improper wintering. Warm maintenance and abundant watering interfere with bud formation. With this kind of care, don't count on blooming. Follow the seasonal grooming schedule and the spiny pet will reward you with flowering.

How to care for a blooming cactus

When a cactus has kicked out the buds, it's important to just leave it alone. You cannot move or carry the pot in search of a better place.

How to care for a cactus: Cactus kicked out the buds

It is also advisable to postpone fertilization and watering.

Flowering at different thorns lasts from a couple of hours to a couple of weeks. And all this time it is better to just admire them, without changing anything.

How to treat a cactus

Like all plants, cacti can get sick. And the sooner you notice the symptoms, the more likely the plant is to heal. Here are the common problems with cacti.

Etiolation (deformation due to lack of light)

How to care for a cactus: Deformation due to lack of light

Symptoms: the plant turns pale, stretches.
Treatment: Find a lighter spot for the cactus or use additional lighting.

Spider mite

Symptoms: brown spots, cobweb on the plant.
How to treat: Treat with acaricides. Insect repellents won't help.

Mealybug

Symptoms: the plant has a white bloom that looks like cotton wool. The pests themselves also resemble small cotton balls.
How to treat: Remove plaque and insects with a soft brush or damp cloth. Treat with thiamethoxam insecticides. Folk remedies (treatment with alcohol and soap solutions) use only with a slight lesion.

Shield

Symptoms: Tiny, flat scales on a cactus.
How to treat: Remove pests and spray with insecticide several times.

Aphid

Symptoms: Insect colonies are visible on the cactus.
Treatment: Treat with insecticide.

Root worm

Symptoms: the cactus grows poorly, but there is no obvious damage to the stem. There are white blotches in the ground.
Treatment: remove the soil from the roots and rinse with hot water (temperature up to 60–65 ° C). Remove damaged parts. Transplant the plant into new soil. For processing, use Aktara, Confidor or similar means.

Rot

Symptoms: characteristic spots of different sizes.
Treatment: cut out the damaged area and process the cut site. Spray with antifungal fungicide. If root rot is at an early stage, remove rotting areas and disinfect. Transplant and start watering only after three weeks. If severely affected, cut and root the top. Be sure to treat with fungicides.

How to prevent a cactus from getting sick

Do not water cacti at temperatures below +12 ° C.
Do not use cold and hard water.
Treat any wounds on the stem and roots.
Do not overfill.
Avoid stagnant water.
Quarantine new plants. For the first 2-3 weeks, keep them separate from the main collection, take care of them as usual and periodically examine them for diseases.
Isolate diseased plants.
Select and sterilize the soil carefully.
Treat 1-2 times a year with fungus and insect repellents.
Inspect your plants regularly.