Repot cacti: video instructions & care tips

Even if the plants are very robust, they need a little attention from time to time. Melissa shows in the video how to repot cacti properly.

Cactus Repotting Video Tutorial [Music: www.bensound.com]

cacti (Cactaceae) are considered to be the houseplants par excellence and can be found in almost every apartment. No wonder, after all, the exotic guests have all sorts of advantages to show for themselves. In particular, its robust nature and the fact that the plant can cope with a bit of neglect over a long period of time make it a popular, easy-care houseplant, which is appreciated by beginners as well as by garden professionals. But their appearance also makes the cacti so popular, because their spherical and prickly growth has now achieved cult status. From time to time, however, you should do something good for the robust indoor plants - for example by repotting them. In this video, we reveal how this works and what you need to bear in mind.

With their frugal nature and their high level of robustness, cacti are ideal plants for anyone who does not have a pronounced green thumb. Every now and then, however, the easy-care indoor plants need attention and should be repotted - this is the only way to keep them beautiful for years to come.

When and how often do you have to repot cacti?

In fact, cacti (depending on the species) only need to be repotted every two to five years. The perfect time to do this is from the end of January until March, when the new growing season for the cacti begins. But even after flowering until September, the cacti can be repotted without any problems.

The plant clearly shows whether it is time for a new pot: it becomes too big for its old pot and grows beyond the edge or looking for new ways with their roots through the holes in the pot, it's time for a change of scenery. The soil also provides information about whether the cactus needs to be repotted again - if it looks compacted or drained, you should think about a new container. You should also give freshly bought cacti a new pot in their new home. There are several reasons for this: On the one hand, it is difficult to estimate how old the soil is with which the cactus was purchased. On the other hand, you always come across inferior substrate or pests that can damage the cactus in the long run. In order to give the new houseplant the best possible start in life, it is advisable to repot it after purchase.

How to repot cacti

Repotting cacti can be a tricky business if you don't know how to do it. But to ensure that the prickly indoor plants continue to thrive years later, such a change of scenery is essential - we will tell you how best to proceed.

You need that

It doesn't take much to transplant cacti - in fact, most items can be found in every household. You need:

• cactus
• bigger pot
• Inner pot with holes
• plant clay
• cactus soil
• shovel
• gloves

The right soil for cacti

Although cacti are considered to be particularly robust, they are rather fussy when it comes to choosing their soil. In fact, they can rarely be cultivated well in normal potting soil - this rarely meets the requirements of the exotic houseplants and, thanks to its high nutrient concentration, ensures a masty growth. You should pay special attention to the structure of the soil: only well-aerated and crumbly Substrates allow the cactus to develop its roots and get enough nutrients and water record. At the same time, however, the soil must also be structurally stable and offer the plant enough support so that it does not tip over. In addition, the earth should be able to absorb and store water, even if it was completely dry. Finally, the buffering capacity and the pH value are also important for the cacti to thrive optimally - most species prefer slightly acidic soil.

In order to meet all these requirements, it is worth using special cactus soils from specialist retailers. These are usually particularly well tailored to the needs of indoor plants and also have a particularly good concentration of nutrients, which almost all of them have cactus species is well received. One can However, you can also mix cactus soil yourself. This offers the great advantage that you can adapt the substrate exactly to the needs of a specific species and thus respond individually to the individual cacti.

The perfect container for cacti

Clay or plastic pot? With cacti, unfortunately, this question cannot be decided solely by personal taste, because the different pot materials can have a strong impact on the cultivation of the plant. Plastic pots offer the great advantage that water is distributed particularly evenly in them and Excess moisture can escape through the drainage holes in the floor, so that there is no waterlogging comes. Clay, on the other hand, is breathable, but also absorbs water and allows it to evaporate through its pores. This phenomenon can be an advantage for species that are particularly sensitive to moisture, but it also means that cacti in clay pots have to be watered much more often. If you also use a cachepot, you have to make sure that no excess water accumulates - otherwise there is a risk of root rot.

But not only the material, but also the size and shape of the pot are important for cacti: columnar If possible, cacti should be placed in a heavy, stable pot to prevent them from tipping over. As a rule of thumb, the diameter of the pot should correspond to about one third of the height of the plant. Spherical cacti do not need such a firm footing, but at least a finger's width should be used Maintain a distance between the plant and the edge of the pot to give the plant enough space to grow. Shallow-rooted species such as agaves (agave) are better kept in a planter, since the earth dries faster here – cacti with beet roots – like the Schnapskopf (Lophophora williamsii) – on the other hand, they need a particularly narrow and deep pot.

Procedure for repotting cacti

Although cacti don't usually get a lot of attention, it's important to give them a little time every few years and repot them into a larger container. However, before you start work, you should make sure that you have the right protective clothing: protect against thorn-proof gloves made of leather or rubber hands from the sharp spikes and prevent painful stings, which can also easily become inflamed when working with the cactus soil be able. For cactus species with particularly long or sharp thorns, it is also advisable to use a to work with pliers or a grip protection made of paper or styrofoam to reduce the risk of injury minimize.

Now you can prepare the new pot: Ideally, you work with an inner pot with drainage holes, because this prevents waterlogging. This drainage effect is supported by plant clay, with which you fill a little less than a quarter of the pot. In addition to its structural effect, the plant clay has the additional advantage that it binds water particularly well and can release it back into the surrounding soil if necessary. Now you can fill the inner pot with some cactus soil.

Now you should start carefully removing the cactus from its old pot and removing the soil. This requires special sensitivity, as if possible none of the fine roots of the cactus should be injured. Incidentally, the soil dissolves particularly well if you stop watering the cactus about a week before repotting - the dried-out soil comes off the fine root tissue much more easily. Then you can put the cactus in its new pot. You should not press the plant with force, but put it down a few times - this promotes a good connection between the cacti and the new substrate without compacting the soil too much. Once the plant has been planted, the substrate is loosely filled around the plant. Make sure that the cactus is just as deep in the ground as it was in its old pot. Otherwise, cacti that are planted too deep will begin to rot at the root neck. Finally, the earth around the cactus must be carefully pressed before it can go back to its original place.

Summary – repotting cacti:

• 1. Put on thorn-resistant gloves
• 2. Fill the inner pot a little less than a quarter with plant clay
• 3. Fill the inner pot with cactus soil
• 4. Carefully remove the cactus from the old pot
• 5. Carefully remove old soil from the root ball
• 6. Place the cactus in the new pot and gently press down
• 7. Fill the pot with cactus soil
• 8. Press the soil gently

Caring for cactus after repotting

Repotting is a lot of stress, even for a hardy plant like the cactus. For this reason, it is particularly important to give her the right care after transplanting. But unlike many other plants, you shouldn't give cacti a large amount of water after repotting - in fact, it's ideal not to water at all for about a week after transplanting, to allow the plant to get used to its new home can. In addition, you should avoid locations with direct sunlight (especially with the scorching midday sun) for the first three to four weeks. Only when good re-rooting has taken place are the plants able to cope with extreme heat and sunlight again.

The perfect location for cacti

Originally, cacti mostly come from particularly dry regions with high solar radiation in America. Their demands on a location in the apartment are correspondingly different: bright rooms with lots of light are ideal for the prickly exotic species. Even dry heating air does not bother the cacti – however, the indoor plants do not tolerate high humidity, such as that found in the bathroom, for example. The fact that cacti like it particularly hot, on the other hand, is just a widespread misconception. In fact, many get by with mild temperatures and some Cactus species are even as hardythat they are not only suitable as houseplants, but also for outdoor use.

Cacti need attention not only when repotting. As your Cactus is also best cared for in everyday life, find out here.

Many thanks to Floragard for the support!