How to transplant a cactus in another pot?

In the care of cacti, transplanting is perhaps the greatest difficulty that lies in wait for an inexperienced cactiwort. To relocation of a pricked pet in a new house was successful, we will consider in detail how to transplant the cactus to another pot.

How to transplant a cactus in another pot - the main tricks

In order for the prickly pet to survive the resettlement safely to a new place of residence, the cactus should remember that the transplant process consists of four stages:

1. Phase one is the preparation of all necessary , namely several pots of different diameters, components for preparing the substrate, an acute scalpel or knife, a disinfectant, etc. Why is it so important? Yes, because, for example, that before extracting a cactus from an old pot and assessing the condition of its roots, it is rather difficult to predict what size a new pot will require. Similarly, during the transplant process, there may be a need for additional disinfection, ashes of ash or some other component of the earth mix.
2. Stage two is the preparation of the cactus for transplantation , which consists in carefully extracting the cactus from the old pot, cleaning its roots from the substrate, removing the dead part of the root system and the root bath. The most important task is not to damage the tender cactus roots. How to properly extract the cactus from an old pot? A few days before the transplant, the cactus is no longer watered, then gently remove the upper soil layer in the pot with a stick, and turning the pot carefully remove the cactus from it. If everything is done correctly, then the cactus will easily come out of the pot with the earthen lump. After that, the roots are cleaned of the earth, remove the deceased part of them and immerse them briefly in water with a temperature of about 50 degrees. After 15 minutes of bathing, the cactus is hung on a stretch from two twisted ropes for drying, which will take from 12 to 36 hours. Only after the roots of the cactus are completely dry, it can be transplanted into a new pot.
3. Stage three - transplant . The success of the transplant directly depends on whether the pot is selected correctly or whether the earth mix is ​​properly composed. For example, it is not at all necessary that the new pot for a cactus be larger than the previous one - it depends only on the size of its root system. Similarly, the earth mix for different types of succulents will differ in composition. For example, in the mixture for mountain cericium it is necessary to add crushed granite, and for plain mamillaries , sand. For unstable cacti with a large ground part in the mixture must necessarily be present clay, and in the pot - a support is installed. Gently holding the cactus with one hand, the second is to pour the soil into the pot, from time to time tapping them on the table to make the earth compact. In no case should you compress the soil in the pot by force, pressing it with your hands - so you can damage the tender roots.
4. Stage four - post-transplant care. After transplantation, the pot with cactus is placed in a mini-greenhouse from a plastic bag for a while and is removed away from the sun's rays. If necessary, he can arrange hot spraying, but not more than once every three or four days. A week later the cactus can be extracted from greenhouses and send to a permanent place of residence.

How to transplant a large cactus into another pot, so as not to prick?

Particular concern for beginners in the cactus raises the question of how to protect your hands from the needles of the cactus during the transplant. But if it is more or less clear how to transplant a young cactus after purchase or a cactus sprout, you can take them with tweezers or wear protective gloves, then with large cacti usually there are difficulties. But there is nothing difficult. The most reasonable when transplanting large cacti is to hold them folded 4-5 times with a strip of newsprint.