Thousands of species of cacti exist in the wild, how to grow and care cactus?
Including two major groups of cacti that are grown as houseplants, the desert cacti and the forest cacti.
Both groups thrive indoors with relatively low maintenance and come in many sizes, with small to medium varieties the most popular.
Desert cacti usually bear spines or hairs and are paddle, ball or obelisk shaped.
Forest cacti are similar to other succulents, such as bromeliads, and grow in temperate forest forests in subtropical and tropical regions.
They are climbing or epiphytic plants that cling to wild trees and make wonderful indoor hanging plants.
The best-known ornamental forest cactus is the Christmas cactus, which is native to Brazil and blooms in red, pink, purple and yellow.
Both desert and forest cacti are slow-growing, boast beautiful flowers, and are among the most robust of all houseplants.
Common Name: Cactus A member of the Cactaceae family, the plant type is a succulent, perennial It’s mature size is 1-96 inches long, 2-30 inches wide.
it is full partial It does well in drained, sandy neutral, acidic soils It blooms in summer, with orange, pink, red, yellow, white flowers.
Hardiness Zones 9-11 (USDA. Native Areas North America, South America
Cactus Care
How to grow and care cactus hardiest of all houseplants, desert and forest cacti have a unique, intense beauty, making them a statement piece for any window sill or brightly lit room.
Here are the main care needs for growing an indoor cactus: Place the indoor cacti in the brightest spot in your home.
Prepare a cacti mix with loose, well-draining soil or plant. When the soil is completely dry, then water it.
Watering and feeding can be done during the winter, when the plant is dormant. Pruning is not necessary unless growth control is required.
The Lighter
Cacti need four to six hours of bright sunlight daily. However, some species of desert and forest cacti can be exposed to direct sunlight.
Locate your cactus near a sunny window and choose a spot that receives bright filtered light in summer and direct light in winter.
You can move your cactus outside during the summer to provide adequate light requirements, but only do so when nighttime temperatures warm to 50 degrees Fahrenheit or above.
The Ground
Desert cacti grow best in a fast-draining soil mix specially formulated for cacti.
They also grow best in regular potting soil amended with sand, gravel, or perlite to increase drainage and aeration.
Forest cacti also prefer well-draining soil, but can often grow just fine in regular potting mix.
How to Grow and Care Cactus For Water
During the spring and summer, when your cactus is actively growing and blooming, give it a hearty drink every ten days, so that the water drains well.
Reduce watering to once every four weeks in winter dormancy. The soil should be dry to the touch during summer watering and mostly dry during winter.
Temperature and Humidity
Cacti like warm temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees F. During the winter, the plant prefers cool-down periods, with temperatures around 55°F.
In its natural habitat, a desert cactus is accustomed to very cold nights and some species can even withstand nights that dip as low as 35 degrees F.
Still, any indoor plant that isn’t hardy needs to be protected from winter drafts.
Cacti like average humidity levels, which is fairly easy to achieve in most homes.
Forest cacti are slightly more humid than desert varieties. So if you see your succulent plant withering, mist it occasionally.
Manure
Cacti can survive in some of the world’s harshest conditions. Any attempts at fertilization are welcome but not necessary.
Some gardeners get poor results with standard houseplant fertilizers, so look for a special organic cacti fertilizer.
That contains more phosphorus than nitrogen. fertilize your cactus two to three times a year, only during the growing season.
Refer to the amount recommended by the manufacturer. Reduce or eliminate fertilizer in winter.
Varieties of Cactus
A variety of cacti ranging from the traditional thorn to those that look like other succulents are perfect for growing indoors.
Some favorite varieties for cultivation include.
Rabbit’s Ear (Opuntia microdacis) Cactus
Native to northern Mexico and has stem-like pads that resemble rabbit ears. how to grow and care cactus for this variety needs to be handled with care.
Because the pads have yellow glochids (spiny bristles) that look like cotton, but contain numerous thorns.
Bunny Ears cactus bear white flowers and can grow two to three feet tall.
Old lady cactus (Mammillaria hahniana)
Like a pincushion, complete with hairs and lots of spines. This cultivar is round, with attractive purple flowers.
And it can grow up to four inches tall and eight inches wide.
Star cactus (Astrophytum astereus) also called sand dollar cactus or sea urchin cactus.
A star-shaped mound that produces yellow flowers. how to grow and care cactus of this small variety grows.
One to two inches tall with a two to six inch diameter and is often found in indoor terrarium gardens.
Trimming
Generally speaking, a cactus doesn’t really need heavy pruning unless you are trying to control its growth.
Removal of dead or damaged parts, however, can be done with clean, sharp garden shears.
Gardeners typically prune their cacti only to remove new branches (or pups) to propagate new plants.
When doing this, always wear protective gardening gloves so that you don’t injure yourself in the process.
Indoor Cactus Propagation
If your cactus does produce branches, you can use them to propagate other plants.
Most pupae grow at the base of the plant, sharing nutrients and water from the mother plant, while others form on stems or pads.
how to grow and care cactus for collecting and propagating pupae contributes to the health of the mother plant and allows you to reproduce the plant.
Here’s How Cactus Can Be Propagated From Offshoots
Gather the following supplies: gloves, a sharp knife, alcohol pad, rooting hormone, cactus potting mix, and a container.
Sterilize your knife: by wiping it with an alcohol pad and allowing it to dry. Put on protective gloves.
Locate a pup: and cut it away from its mother using a 45-degree angle (a diagonal angle allows the wound to callus before it rots).
Let the puppy: sit in a dry place for a few days (or up to a week), to give the callus time.
Fill your container: with the potting mix.
Dip the cut: end of the pup in the rooting hormone and then gently press it into the top of the growing medium.
Keep the pot: in bright but indirect sunlight and mist often. your new cactus will develop strong roots in approximately four to six weeks.
How to Grow and Care Cactus From Seed
Both desert and forest cacti can be grown from seeds, but require patience.
Additionally, you will need to collect cactus seeds, which can only be collected from the plant when it is in flower.
Some cacti will never flower indoors, so purchasing packaged seeds from a nursery may be your only option.
Most cacti seeds need stratification before planting. This can be done by placing the seeds in damp peat and then storing them in the fridge until they open (about four to six weeks).
After stratification, prepare a container with cactus potting mix and plant the seeds as deep as they will be wide.
Water them lightly and then cover the pot with plastic and place it in a bright spot out of direct sunlight.
Most cacti will sprout in about three weeks, and then you can remove the plastic wrap during the day.
In about six months, the seedlings should be ready for their own containers.
Potting and Repotting Cacti
Cacti are slow-growing plants that rarely require repotting. In fact, many species of cacti flower better when somewhat root-bound.
Cacti should be repotted at the beginning of the growing season when they need fresh soil or are suffering from rot.
To do this, put on a pair of protective gloves first. next, remove your plant from its current container using a clean trowel to loosen the roots.
Fill the bottom of a terra-cotta or clay container with a quick-draining cactus potting mix.
Add your plant, taking care to cover the roots and backfilling around the sides, and water lightly.
Over-Wintering
An indoor cactus needs special care during the winter, however, usually meaning less attention, not more.
How to grow and care cactus for starters, be sure to locate your cactus on your sunny windowsill.
Because the winter sun is lower in the sky, this allows your cactus to thrive without burning.
After this, be sure to stop fertilizing during this dormant period and reduce watering to once a month.
Common Pests and Diseases
All types of cactus can suffer from symptoms of mealybugs, scale insects, fungus gnats, and spider mites.
Symptoms include leaf curling, mold-like coverings, and the appearance of insects on stems or in the soil.
In most cases, it is possible to carefully wash away the pests using a spray from the sink hose or cotton swabs.
How to grow and care cactus for most plant pests have become resistant to pesticides, and using indoor chemical pesticides should be your last resort.
Overwatered cacti can suffer from fungal rot that appears as dark, sunken spots on the stem that eventually wilt.
Bacterial rot can cause a black liquid to ooze from your cactus.
If either of these conditions present itself, remove the affected areas of the plant and treat with a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution.
How do Cactus Bloom?
A cactus or succulent flower is a treat, as most do not bloom indoors.
To aid the process, you need to recreate the cactus’s natural habitat, which requires warm day temperatures and cool night temperatures of 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
How to grow and care cactus for if your indoor temperature is higher than that, your plant may need to be moved to the garage or basement at night.
In order to bloom, cactus also need at least four to six hours of sunlight and the right amount of water.
Perhaps the most important thing for flowering is allowing your cactus to experience dormancy, when sunlight and water are reduced.
This is also when some forest cacti (like the Christmas cactus) flower.
Common Problems With Cactus
One of the most common mistakes cactus gardeners make is overwatering in winter.
This results in rotting at the base of the plant or at the tips where new growth appears.
If the rot is advanced, it may be necessary to start a new seedling from a cutting or discard the entire mother plant entirely.
Using non-organic fertilizers can also harm your cactus as most chemical fertilizers contain heavy metals which eventually poison the plant.
And since cacti have no protective bark or leaves, physical injuries are common, which can lead to infection.
To prevent this, make sure to keep your plant healthy so it falls on calluses before it becomes infected.
Conclussion
Cactus plants are a favorite for their low maintenance and attractive appearance.
Thriving in dry environments with minimal watering and high temperatures, they are perfect for easily adding bold accents to homes and gardens.
We think it’s exciting to have these special plants in your home, your patio, or your garden.
Cactus plants are a type of succulent that originates from dry, arid regions such as deserts.
Although the cactus is often considered a desert plant, it can grow indoors if given the proper care.
Cactus has been used in traditional medicine for centuries to treat various ailments, such as digestive problems, inflammation and skin conditions.
Besides its medicinal properties, cactus is a popular ingredient in culinary dishes, known for its unique texture and flavor profile.
Reference: