Cacti - hardy perennials, are considered to be from South, Central and North America. They easily tolerate prolonged drought and do not need frequent transplants. Like any other plants, they love to be cared for properly. Beginning cactus growers do not always know what land is needed for a cactus.
Basic soil requirements for cactus
The easiest way to buy ready-made soil for cacti in a specialized store is marked "for cacti and succulents", you can prepare it yourself. The mixture should be:
- loose
- quite porous
- coarse or coarse-grained,
- enriched with nutrients
- with the inclusion of drainage elements.
Collection of cacti of different varieties
Interesting fact. It is believed that cacti protect against electromagnetic radiation. Scientists do not confirm this statement, but the plants themselves grow much better if they are placed next to working electrical appliances.
Essential soil composition
If a ready-made land for cacti is selected, then all the necessary components for this plant should be included in its composition:
- 1) Peat. Best of all, if two types of peat are mixed: lowland and highland. Peat peat is low in nutrients and retains excess moisture for a long time, lowland peat is prone to rapid caking. Together they compensate for each other's shortcomings.
- 2) Peat can be replaced with a homogeneous humus or a clay-soddy soil layer that does not contain foreign roots and non-immature parts of plants.
- 3) Sheet land.
- 4) Coarse river sand.
- 5) Gravel or small gravel.
- 6) Charcoal and broken brick mixed in equal proportions.
- 7) Expanded clay.
- 8) Vermiculite.
Important! Organic fertilizers are not added to the soil composition for cacti, as they make the plant loose, elongated, worsen the appearance of thorns, and provoke the appearance of cracks and scars on the skin.
Cactus can die if added to the ground:
- bird droppings
- manure,
- horn filings.
Soil in a pot with cactus
The soil for cacti must be disinfected before use (it is fried in an oven or boiled over with boiling water) to avoid various infections or pest larvae getting into the pot.
Making soil at home
Many flower growers believe that ready-made mixtures for planting houseplants do not contribute to their proper development, and prefer to prepare their own soil for cacti.
The substrate for cacti is prepared simply: mixed in equal proportions humus, peat or leafy ground with turf and sand. Depending on the characteristics of the plant itself, various types of base soil are included additives:
- For cacti with a surface root system, pebbles or crushed bricks are added to the mixture in proportions to the main components 1: 1: 1: ½.
- For succulents with strong and thick roots, the amount of turf in the composition is increased in a ratio of 1: 1.5: 1: 1.
- For cacti that choose stony soil in the wild, gravel or gravel is included in the mixture.
- Succulents with a repetitive root system are recommended to add some clay.
- Land for forest cacti may contain bark from dried pine, fallen oak leaves.
- Epiphytic plant species like top dressing from nutrients or humus.
- Rosemary prefers loose, breathable soil with neutral acidity (you can grow a decorative Bonsai tree from this plant).
Decorative cactus bonsai tree
- For all plants no less than 0.1 of the total volume of the mixture, crushed charcoal is added.
- Vermiculite added to the mixture absorbs excess moisture and prevents mold in the soil.
Important! To check the quality of the prepared soil, it is compressed in a fist. A properly prepared mixture sticks to a lump and then crumbles. If the lump did not work, it means that there is a lot of sand in the soil or lack of moisture. An excess of liquid or humus will not allow the lump to crumble. This mixture is not very suitable for cacti.
Cactus Transplant Options
All plants, including cacti, periodically need a transplant. In what cases does a plant need to be transplanted:
- If it is a succulent, purchased in the store 7-10 days ago, since for transportation such plants are placed in a lightweight pot and transportation soil.
- If the pot has become too small for him (the cactus has grown larger than the pot itself).
- If the roots began to crawl out of the drainage system.
Important! Cacti, which are many years old, do not transplant, only do transshipment from small dishes to large ones (without disturbing the land lump with roots).
If you choose the right ground in which to plant cacti, then choosing a pot will not greatly affect the growth and development of the plant.
When choosing a pot, pay attention to:
- The material from which it is made (anyone except metal is suitable for cacti, but ceramic is considered the best material). Although many housewives grow beautiful plants in ordinary plastic yogurt cups.
- The size of the container with a hole in the bottom (for a healthy plant, choose a pot 1-2 cm larger than the previous one, the diseased succulent is transplanted into a smaller bowl).
Important! When choosing a pot, it is taken into account that not only the roots of the plant, but also the drainage system must fit in it.
- The appearance of the pot and color (depending on the aesthetic taste and preferences of the hostess, many cactus growers prefer rectangular pots).
Important! As a rule, for the collection of cacti, pots of the same shape and the same material are selected, since plants in different types of dishes need different care (succulents in plastic pots require 3 times less moisture than the same plants in ceramic dishes).
Succulents, unlike other indoor plants, do not need an annual transplant, since they grow more slowly, the root system develops very slowly. Some types of cacti are transplanted no more than 1 time in 3-4 years.
Cactus transplant
Detailed plant transplant procedure:
- The cactus is carefully removed from the pot, shaking the soil. For best effect, old soil can be gently rinsed in water.
- Carefully inspect the root system, remove dried and damaged roots, check for pests.
- The stem is also thoroughly examined and the affected and damaged areas are removed, the wound is sprinkled with crushed activated carbon.
- Dry the plant before planting in fresh soil.
- Choose which land is suitable for cacti of this species.
- At the bottom of the new pot, drainage is laid, just like for any other plants, a little soil is poured.
- Gently lay the roots and cover them with soil from above (it is they that they sprinkle, and do not try to "stick" the plant into a full pot of soil).
- Succulent is watered so that the soil fits snugly to the roots, but does not over-moisten.
Note! To avoid injury, sharp thorns work only in thick fabric, leather or rubber gloves or wrap the plant with several layers of thick paper. In addition, in specialized stores you can buy tongs with silicone tips, which are designed for such a thin and unsafe work. Some experts advise holding the plant with kitchen sponges.
Thus, cacti are one of the most unpretentious indoor plants, but they also require some care. For transplanting plants, you can prepare the soil for cacti at home or purchase ready-made. Identical small pots for pets add to the charm of the collection of "angry" prickly flowers.
