Caring for cacti & succulents properly: overview

Although cacti and succulents are not considered to be particularly high-maintenance, they also need a certain amount of attention to thrive.

With their thick-fleshed leaves and unusual shapes, cacti (Cactaceae) and succulents long-time favorite houseplants. But one feature in particular makes the green roommates so attractive: they are considered to be hard-to-kill plants. But that is only half the truth: although both plant genera are characterized by an extremely robust species distinguish and are therefore particularly ideal as a beginner's plant, they also need the right amount of Care. If they are neglected, succulents and cacti begin to get sick or even die. We give you five tips that will ensure that your cacti and succulents not only survive, but also thrive.

In contrast to many other plants, cacti and succulents are quite undemanding in terms of care and often forgive gross mistakes. Nevertheless, you should not overdo it if you don't want to risk the plant dying. You should therefore follow these five care tips if you want your plant to shine in all its glory.

Tip 1: The right location

While cacti are found almost all over America, succulents can be found on every continent (except for the polar regions). Nevertheless, all plants of these two families have relatively similar location requirements: Since they are particularly are common in dry regions with high levels of sunshine, the plants love bright, sunny locations places. In contrast to many other indoor plants, dry heating air is also very popular with succulents. What the plants don't like at all is high humidity - as Plant for the bathroom So succulents and cacti are unsuitable.

Tip 2: The right substrate

Cacti and succulents are not only demanding in terms of location: Choosing the right soil is also crucial. The plants prefer a rather sandy substrate that has good drainage properties - a high-quality one is ideal cactus soil. If the soil is too dense so that the water cannot drain away, waterlogging and root rot can quickly occur. A good buffering capacity of the soil is also an advantage, otherwise the soil can acidify over time and the plant is no longer ideally supplied with nutrients.

Tip 3: Water cacti and succulents properly

While succulents and cacti are known for their ability to survive without water, they do need a drink every now and then. However, you should always stick to the motto "less is more": Since the plants have specialized in storing water, they only need to be watered extremely rarely. In fact, over-enthusiasm when watering is actually harmful—almost all succulents and cacti react to waterlogging with root rot. During the growing season, the plants can be watered once a week. Make sure, however, that the soil has dried properly in the meantime. In addition, excess water should always be drained from the planter or saucer. At the latest, however, when the plants begin to shrink, they should be given liquid again - then their own water supply is used up. How your Water cacti properly, you will learn in this article.

Tip 4: Fertilize cacti and succulents properly

When it comes to fertilization, too, it is important to show a little sensitivity – fast-growing plants Succulents and cacti should be given some fertilizer about every three weeks to encourage growth is supported. A special succulent and cactus fertilizer is suitable for this: It has a higher concentration of potassium, which plays a decisive role in the area of ​​water storage. Slow-growing plants, on the other hand, often do not need any fertilizer at all. In any case, try to avoid over-fertilizing - the sensitive roots can suffer burns from too high a concentration. Also our Plantura Organic room and green plant fertilizer is suitable for cacti and succulents, but should be dosed lower. With every second watering between spring and July, one milliliter of fertilizer per liter of irrigation water is administered.

Tip 5: Overwinter cacti and succulents

Cacti and succulents sometimes need a rest to continue growing at full speed. However, the various species sometimes differ greatly in their hibernation requirements: while some, such as the snake cactus (Aporocactus flagelliformis) or the rosette thickleaf (Aeonuim Arboreum) can simply remain in the living room and only need less water, other varieties have to overwinter in a cool place. At temperatures below 15 °C and above 5 °C and with less incidence of light, wart cactus (Mammillaria) and Echeveria (Echeveria) rest for three to four months so that they can then continue to grow healthily.

You should also repot cacti from time to time. When and how often to do this and how to do it Repotting cacti procedure, you can find out in our article with video instructions.