Care for cacti - everything you need to know the florist

It is believed that care for cacti does not cause any problems, because plants are unpretentious. But some knowledge about the cultivation of a plant needs to be made that it grows healthy. Cactus can even please with bright colorful flowering - and for this it must be surrounded with due attention.

Planting cacti

In exotic cacti everything is attractive - an ideal form, needle-like apparel, beauty of flowers. The plant is succulent - it accumulates moisture in the stem. For cactus for planting and care at home, it is very important to choose the capacity for growing. The vessel must fully correspond to the root system of the flower. A small plant needs a low pot, and subspecies with stem roots - deep dishes. The best place to install a cactus is the window sill of the lightest window. Planting of culture:

• the vessel must have holes for draining the water;
• drainage is an important criterion for planting, the volume of this layer should be up to 1/3 of the pot height;
• The land in the vessel is placed on a level exactly exceeding the size of the roots of the cactus;
• The trunk is put in a pot so that its base remains on the line of the edge of the vessel;
• in this position, the cactus is kept, sprinkling cinder around the column;
• tall species can be tied up to a support;
• transplant culture is produced in the spring at the beginning of the vegetation period (April), if the pot for the succulent has become very small. Young seedlings are transplanted once a year, old ones - every few years;
• after planting the plant is not watered and cleaned from the sun.

Soil for planting cacti

A succulent mixture of leafy soil, river sand, peat and charcoal in equal proportions perfectly suits the succulent. For cacti, the land for planting should be loose, let in water and air, and have a weakly acidic reaction (pH = 4.5-6). Sand makes the earth softer, and peat - increases the pH level. It is also appropriate to use a special substrate for cacti from the flower departments. Varieties with powerful spines are advisable to add egg shells to the ground.

How to take care of a cactus?

Care for cacti provides proper watering succulent, adherence to the temperature regime in different periods of development, fertilizing, protection from diseases and parasites. All factors are regulated in connection with the season. Also, for cactus room care in terms of lighting plays an important role. It affects the decorative properties of the plant and its susceptibility to the consumption of nutrients. Lack of lighting leads to deformation and underdevelopment of the stems, excess - to the appearance of pink tide on the trunks.

Care for cacti in summer

With careful care of cacti it is important to consider that in the development of the bush there are two phases: active vegetation (March-September, growth occurs) and winter rest (October-February, metabolism is minimal). How to care for a cactus in the summer:

• acceptable temperature of the content + 26-28 ° C;
• lighting - in the morning and in the evening direct sunlight without a shadow. In the dining heat, the bush is partially covered;
• In summer, plants can be kept on the balcony - they like fresh air. During the shower, the pot is covered with a film. When the temperature is lowered to + 8 ° C, all the plants are brought into the rooms;
• it is useful to plant tall specimens in the garden until August, then back to the pots;

Care of the cactus in winter

In the cool season, the succulent comes to rest, at this time the main task is to prevent its growth, otherwise the trunk will stretch and lose its attractiveness. How to take care of the cactus in winter:

• The temperature regime is maintained at + 15-18 ° C, irrigation is reduced;
• it will be appropriate to place pots with succulents on the windowsill between the frames;
• In winter cactuses are languishing due to high temperatures from steam heating. If the room is hot, next to the bush, you need to increase the humidity - put a container with water nearby;
• coverage in winter needs to be maximized;
• The plant loves airing, but it should not be in a draft.

How to care for a cactus so that it bloomed?

Juicy succulents bloom in spring or summer. Bright buds appear directly on the trunks. But that the bush pleased with colorful petals, it is necessary to observe certain conditions. Cacti - how to ensure proper care, which will lead to flowering:

• the main thing is to observe the quiescent season: little watering, put in a place with a low temperature. Wintering lasts no less than three months;
• then the pot is exposed to the sun, the temperature level should not be below + 20 ° C;
• the plant is abundantly watered and fertilized;
• it is advisable to transplant a bush into a larger pot;
• correct watering in doses rising from winter to summer and sprinkling the bush in the heat are important criteria for flowering;
• As a result, the cactus begins to develop intensively and a long-awaited bud is formed on it.

How to care for a flowering cactus?

To flowering was successful, and the cactus did not discard the buds, it is important to observe certain conditions. With competent care, the plant will delight in rosettes every year. Care for a flowering cactus:

• Cacti with buds can not be turned, otherwise the flowering can stop. Rosettes are formed on the shady side, so this condition is important to observe;
• with excessive watering, flowers degenerate into "children", further budding stops;
• In summer, the culture should be provided with fresh air. To do this, you can take it to the balcony, having previously noted which side of the bush should stand to the sun;
• when flowering, the epiphytic cactus is usually watered, and the chereus is simply sprayed;
• If the cactus has blossomed in the winter, it does not need to be supplemented additionally, fertilized according to the rules - from May to September.

Care for cacti - watering

The most important component of care for cacti is moisturizing. It requires soft or rainy warm water. Cacti - care and proper watering:

• Primary spring moistening is performed after new spines appear on the top of the cactus;
• frequency of watering in the spring-summer period - after strong drying of the earth coma (approximately once a week);
• from September, the moisture is reduced, from November to March, bushes are at rest and irrigation norm - once a month (the amount of water is minimal - literally one tablespoon);
• the principle of moistening - the cooler the air in the room, the less moisture evaporates the plant, which means it must be weakerly watered;
• the main precept is better to undercharge than to pour.

Care for cacti at home - top dressing

Indoor flower cactus - care in terms of dressings:

• fertilize plants during the growing season (from March to September) once a month with special fertilizing for succulents with a low concentration of nitrogen;
• Cacti most need phosphorus and calcium, in the flowering phase they need potassium;
• universal flower fertilizers can not be used - a large amount of nitrogen in them will lead to the death of the bush - its stem will become friable and watery, the skin will break down;
• From September to the spring, there is no recharge, even if the plant has blossomed in the winter.

How to propagate a cactus at home?

Exotic cactuses reproduce in two ways:

1. Seeds. Seed material can be purchased at the store. Rules of cultivation:

• planting is carried out in April-early May, the seeds are disinfected in manganese solution;
• a drainage layer of crushed stone, charcoal and a nutrient mixture 1-2 cm thick are placed in the culture vessel;
• seeds are poured into the ground and covered with polyethylene or glass;
• a pot with a sowing put in warm water - it through the drainage will moisten the soil;
• after the appearance of the first spines, the seedlings are transplanted into large containers. Over the summer, children are dived 2-3 times, after trans-shipment, a day or two do not water and shade;
• from three months care for cacti is made as an adult plant;

• the lateral processes on the maternal trunk have rudimentary roots;
• "Children" can be separated from the stem and immediately placed in moist soil;
• with a cactus, which does not have "children" cut off a piece of stalk or a strong shoot, dried for 3-4 days;
• after the sections are covered with a glassy film, the cuttings are placed in moist soil, covered with a jar;
• First, the shoots only moisturize, when they are taken - it is allowed to water.

Care for cacti - diseases and pests

Room cactus - features of home care for disease prevention and control of parasites:

1. Often, the plant suffers from overmoistening, while rot appears. For treatment, the stem is removed from the pot, the rhizome is washed with running water, the spoiled sprouts are cut, dried and planted in a fresh substrate. While the plant does not grow, it does not need watering.
2. Tulle is exterminated by spraying with tobacco-soap decoction.
3. The mealybug is removed with a moistened tampon, the culture is irrigated with an insecticide.
4. Spider mites are destroyed by rinsing with a solution of tobacco, infusion of chamomile or an insecticide.