💃 How To Take Care Of Cactus Plants

Sow seeds in a location with fast-draining soil where they will receive full sunlight. Cactus potting mix can be used to fill containers. Cover the seeds lightly with soil, and tamp it down gently. Keep the soil warm and slightly moist until they germinate and seedlings emerge, which can take up to two weeks. Starfish flower cactus may produce amazing five-petaled flowers that exude a rather unpleasant odor. The scent attracts flies and other insects, which pollinate the blooms. Flowers are red to brown and may be mottled with a couple of colors. Stapelia is the family name of the starfish flower cactus. The “ gigantea ” is the most commonly They’re the only plants I keep alive.”. We hear it every day. But then again, we also hear, “I hate succulents. I always kill them.”. This may seem like a paradox, but succulents and cacti can be the very easiest or the most challenging houseplants, depending on your environment and the care you give. To help it naturally enter the dormancy period, reduce moisture, light, and temperature. The plant should get at least 12 hours of darkness per day and be kept in lowered temperatures of around 50 degrees. If you keep your Christmas cactus for quite some time, you may need to repot it. Soil and Food. All cacti need well-draining soil. If the soil in your current container takes longer than a minute to drain, consider repotting with a potting soil designed specifically for cacti and succulents. Or repot and add 2 parts of sand or perlite for each 1 part of existing soil. Fertilize cacti with a liquid fertilizer applied monthly Once the plant has reached maximum desired size, trim the outer leaflets of the entire plant to maintain its shape and size. How to Get Your Easter Cactus to Bloom. Your Easter cactus need equal amounts of dark and light for eight weeks prior to their spring blooming season. At night, aim for cooler and drier conditions, ideally around 50˚F. Keep the soil moist until germination and then move them to a sunny location with protection from noonday sun. Mist the soil when caring for star cactus babies as overhead watering can damage the tender tissues. They will need to be kept moist until the seedling is robust and at least ½ inch (1.2 cm.) tall. The short answer to this question is yes, all cacti need sunlight. For best health and growth and blooming, preferably daily access to bright, indirect light for several hours per day, depending on the cactus type. Additionally, though cacti can go a few days with no sunlight, it’s not ideal. Moral of the story? Suppose you get too aggressive and cut pieces unnecessarily. In that case, you could damage the plant by removing pieces that were providing critical nutrients to the rest of the plant. 5. Discard or Reuse Trimmed Pieces. Dead, dried, or diseased pieces of cacti should be discarded in the trash or compost pile. Place the cut end of the stem with the bottom nodes of the two Y-shaped segments just below the water line and again place the container in bright, indirect sunlight. When propagating a Christmas cactus in water leave the cutting until the roots have grown as long as the stem itself, usually around six to eight weeks, keeping a close eye that Make sure the soil is dry before you begin repotting. Gently remove the plant from the pot, and knock off excess soil. Trim off any roots that look shriveled and dead or black and rotten. Then, put the pencil cactus in its new pot, and fill around it with fresh potting mix. Wait about a week before watering the plant. 5 days ago · For most cactus diseases like powdery mildew, mealybugs, and scale insects, simple houseplants remedies like neem oil, insecticidal soap and a good strong jet of water will do. For pests like red spider mites and aphids, insecticidal soap works well as a pesticide. For diseases like brown rot, take away the infected plant parts and sanitize XKMtZ.

how to take care of cactus plants