Watering cacti correctly - how does it work?
As succulents, cacti immediately absorb every drop of water they can get hold of and store supplies in the trunk or leaves. By watering the plants seldom but thoroughly, you can skilfully adjust the water supply to this special property. How to do it right:
- From spring to autumn to waterwhen the top layer of soil has dried out
- Let the lime-free water run onto the substrate until the coaster fills
- Gradually reduce the amount of water from September
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In winter you only water your cacti in sips so that the root ball does not dry out completely. This almost dry resting phase makes an important contribution to the formation of buds for the next flower festival.
Do cacti have to be fertilized?
The modest demands of cacti do not mean that the plants can completely do without a supplementary supply of nutrients. From May to September, please add a liquid fertilizer to the irrigation water. A normal fertilizer for house plants is unsuitable for this purpose, as it contains too much nitrogen. You should therefore use special cactus or succulent fertilizers, the composition of which is tailored to specific needs.
Can I cut my cactus?
If a cactus gets out of shape, gets too big, or has sick, rotten branches, fix the problem with one Cut back. The best time to cut is between March and May. Ideally, use a disinfected scalpel for soft parts of the plant. A thick or lignified epidermis appears with a sharp one Saw knife severed. Please don't forget to put on sturdy gloves to protect you from the thorns.
An inclined cut ensures that no water collects on the cut. Dust the open interface thinly with charcoal powder so that it does not bleed too much and heals quickly. So that the cactus can sprout again, please only cut so deep that at least 2 sleeping eyes remain on the shoot. Buds capable of sprouting are usually located where thorns or leaves are still sprouting.
How do cacti overwinter unscathed?
From October to February, cacti stop growing to rest until next spring. For the most Cactus species there are two options for that wintering to choose from that require appropriate maintenance measures:
- Light to partially shaded and cool at 5 to 10 degrees Celsius
- Do not water or fertilize
- Sunny and warm at normal room temperatures
- Water in sips and do not fertilize
Most cacti create their buds during the winter dormancy. We therefore recommend the light to partially shaded and cool variant, which proves to be beneficial for lavish blooms. From April / May the cacti will grow out of the Hibernation awakened by getting used to the sun's rays for 14 days in the partially shaded location and watering them a little more. After acclimatization, the normal summer care program starts in the sunny location.
What diseases threaten a cactus?
Regardless of their robust constitution, cacti are not completely immune to it Diseases. Fungal infections such as the Fusarium wilt, Phytophthora or Botrytis are at the top of the infamous list of common cactus diseases. Infested plants have softened, discolored shoots, trunks or roots and can usually no longer be saved.
In the early infestation stage, cut off the infected shoots, leaves or roots and dispose of them in the household waste. Immediately repot the cactus in fresh, disinfected substrate and treat it with a fungicide. Please avoid a moist and warm cultivation in humus Potting soil, because most diseases can be traced back to it.
What pests can cacti attack?
Some Pests cannot be stopped by the thorny dress of cacti from falling upon the plants. We have put together the most common parasites for you with tips on how to fight them:
- Mealybugs and mealybugs: dab with alcohol-soaked cotton swabs
- Spider mites: shower vigorously and treat with soft soap solution
- Root lice: pot, rinse off the root ball and treat with neem oil insecticide
- Sciarid gnats: repot in mineral substrate and keep a dry phase as long as possible
Once you have discovered the infamous pests, quarantine the affected cactus immediately. Thanks to this caution, you can effectively prevent it from spreading to neighboring cacti and other indoor plants.
Tips
On average, cacti have completely rooted and become their pot every 2 to 3 years repotted. The best time for this maintenance measure is at the end of the winter rest. The diameter of the new planter corresponds to about a third of the current height. So that the freshness Cactus soil If you have no pathogens in your luggage, it is sterilized in the oven at 150 degrees.