Care of the cactus at home: from planting to flowering

Half a century ago the collection of cacti on the windowsill was a rarity, a sign of prestige and testified to the high status of its owner. Now this plant is widespread, and more and more people need to know the proper care of the cactus at home.

Origin factor

When organizing care for this exotic plant, two important rules should be borne in mind.

1. All kinds of cacti are divided into two large groups according to their origin: from tropical moist forests( epiphytic) and from areas with desert climate( Cereus).This largely determines the mode of cultivation and care. Among the Cereus ones are the species of Echinocactus, Echinocerius, and Opuntia. The zygocactus( Decembrist), epiphyllum, phylocactus( the most common) and other leaf-like ones belong to the forest epiphytic.
2. It is necessary to take into account the biological features of the growth of the species: slow growth and cyclicity - a change in periods of rest and growth.

To which land to plant?

Cacti need loose, air-permeable soil. Usually, it uses leaf land and river sand in a ratio of 1: 1 with small additions of peat and charcoal. At home, cacti care is planted in small plastic or ceramic pots, only metal containers should be avoided, as rust can form in them.

Do not forget about the drainage device. Drainage is made up of small stones, broken shards, fragments of red brick, even plastic debris can be put to work. However, if there is a hole in the pot, and the substrate is sufficiently water-permeable, an additional layer of pebbles may not be required.

Necessity of

transplantations When caring for a young plant, it is necessary to update the land frequently, at least once a year, and older cacti can be transplanted after several years. Transplantation is carried out at the beginning of the vegetative period, that is, in the spring: from the end of March to the beginning of May. Several days before the transplant, watering is stopped, so that the dried ground can be easily separated from the roots.

Barbed stems and trunk are wrapped in thick paper or plastic and gently removed from the pot. Cut sick, withered or decayed roots, sprinkling slices with crushed coal. The volume of the pot for transplantation should be commensurate with the volume of the root system.

Watering by the rules

Careful care for the cactus at home provides for a differentiated watering of plants. In winter, during the rest period, watering meager: epiphytes watered once a week or even after 10 days. A natives of the desert watering is required not more than once a month. Some growers consider it possible to not water them at all until the beginning of spring. But these recommendations refer to the variant of courtship, when the plant is removed for a rest period in a shaded and cool place( 5-15 degrees), which is not always possible at home.

Water for irrigation is used, as usual, dormant, boiled or rain. It is important not to pour the stem at the base, otherwise it may form whitish salt stains.

In summer, when flowers appear, watering is performed more often, making sure that the substrate does not get wet or stagnant water in the pan, because it can lead to rotting of the roots. The time for watering is morning or evening.

If you have taken care of epiphytic cacti, natives of the tropics, then proceed from the fact that they are closer to the humid climate. They need a warm shower, which must be arranged twice a month for 5 minutes.

Home Climate: Lighting and Temperature

Traditionally it is believed that cacti are light-loving. Indeed, inadequate lighting can cause disease, slowing growth and its unevenness. At home, it is better to look after them on the southern window, but some leaf-like cacti do not tolerate direct sunlight.

To strengthen the influx of fresh air - and this is one of the rules of care - many growers carry their "pets" in the summer to the balconies and even planted in the open ground. During winter hibernation cactus damages the overdried air and high temperature of domestic conditions. The flower growers place them between the frames;so that the root system is not supercooled, pots are placed in a tray. Protect against drying can the screen from the heating battery, made of transparent plastic.

Flowering is a sign of the well-being of the plant

Cactus flowering is a small feast that will necessarily take place due to proper care of the plant at home. This is facilitated by a number of circumstances.

1. Aged temperature and light conditions during winter rest.
2. Regular watering and top dressing since the beginning of the vegetative growth period.
3. Maximum of light and fresh air during the flowering period.
4. Application of special fertilizers. The dosage of liquid humic fertilizer depends on the type of cactus: forest( epiphytic) fertilizer is fed at the rate of 2 caps per 1 liter of water. A desert - 1 cap per 2 liters. Watered every 2 weeks.

If the cactus has blossomed in the middle of the winter, it is not necessary to feed it.

Council

In the time of flowering, you should take care of the cactus as carefully as possible. He may react negatively to a change in his location. Do not turn the pot with the plant from the urge to improve the illumination. You risk getting the opposite result - flowers and buds can fall.

How best to fertilize cacti?

We should take a very balanced approach to feeding cacti with mineral fertilizers, to carry out a few trial fertilizing before finally deciding on a particular mixture. It is known that plants do not need additional nitrogen, which causes unhealthy growth and the appearance of unfit for reproduction "children."

Agronomically grounded cactus care prescribes fertilizers containing balanced phosphorus and calcium, at the time of flowering - potassium. Specially designed organic humic fertilizers for cacti, enriched with the necessary trace elements, will support the normal growth of the plant at home and prolong the flowering period. Phosphorus does not combine with this fertilizer.

Breeding species

At first glance, nature has already taken care of the reproduction of the cactus, which builds up the children next to the main trunk, and there is no need to take special care here. It remains only to carefully disconnect them and put them in a separate bowl, since the root rudiments are already formed and after one or two weeks growth will begin.(By the way, neither children, nor cuttings cut into the water are never put).But not all species of cacti are capable of reproduction in this way.

Let's leave aside germination of a plant from seeds as labor-consuming and demanding separate attention and preparation.

Cacti branching and columnar at home are usually cuttings, at the same time getting rid of damaged and diseased parts of the trunk or shoot. To cut the cuttings, find an overly long or overgrown trunk and cut it off, using a sharp, best clerical, with a razor blade knife, previously sterilized.

Freshly cut the trunk slightly dried in the sun and sprinkled with finely chopped charcoal, and the shank is sent to a dry room for 7-10 days. When the cut is tightened by the vitreous layer, it is time to plant it in a prepared substrate, covered with a layer of large river sand, by cutting 1 cm. For greater stability, the stalk is tied up and then covered with a glass jar. They start watering when the plant takes root, and until that time you can only moisten the sand.

We recommend reading the article: Care for the Aglaonema