Cacti stand apart in a long line of houseplants. These are unusual flowers, which is understandable even from their appearance. Their habitual leaves have turned into thorns, which cause some caution and respect. Getting this guest from the south to bloom is very difficult. But how much pleasure and well-deserved pride of the owner this plant causes when it blooms! To achieve this, you need to know how to care for a cactus at home.
Cactus
In fact, these plants are found not only in Africa or South America, but also in some parts of Europe. Under natural conditions, they can reach enormous sizes. However, in apartments, cacti grow very slowly. But if you follow all the subtleties, then you will no longer wonder how to care for a cactus at home, it will become a common thing. There are no special difficulties here, you just need to strictly follow the rules.
Where to post
The choice of location plays an important role in how to care for a cactus at home. In naturethese plants mostly live in deserts where they get a lot of light. Therefore, for their normal growth, this condition is necessary. Moreover, the popular opinion that this plant should be placed near the computer monitor is wrong! Unless it is on a well-lit table. Otherwise, such placement can be detrimental to the plant. These flowers do not like drafts.
Irrigation
Owners who are interested in how to care for a cactus at home usually first of all ask about the features of watering. In fact, everything here is also simple. These plants are watered regularly in the summer, like all other flowers - as the clod of earth dries up. The amount of water should not be excessive so that the roots do not rot. But in winter, under natural conditions, plants rest. This should be taken into account when deciding how to properly care for a cactus at home. He needs to provide a low habitat temperature (preferably from 10 to 15 degrees Celsius), and it is quite enough to water it 2-3 times throughout the winter. However, a prickly pet needs to be looked after. If the cactus is shriveled, it must be watered and it will return to its original shape. It is also necessary to fertilize this plant in the summer. Special mixtures for cacti are available for sale, instructions for dilution and application to the soil of such a substance are attached on the package.
Transfer
Like other houseplants, cacti need to be transplanted into new pots approximately every two years,as the root system grows. A transplant is also required immediately after purchase. The containers are chosen by volume so that the roots of the plant are comfortable, but not too large (no more than two stem sizes in diameter). An earthen mix for planting is easy to purchase at the store (you need a special soil for cacti). You can also cook everything yourself, taking equal parts of leafy soil and clean river sand and adding a little peat. The resulting mixture should not be oversaturated with humus. Drainage is of great importance, since the fleshy stem of the cactus, with excess moisture, is prone to decay. During transplantation, it is recommended to remove dead roots, as well as rinse the plant with warm water and dry well.
Caring for a cactus is a rather difficult task, but all the effort expended will pay off in full. When the question arises of how to care for a flowering cactus, it turns out that the basic steps remain the same. Watering is still done as it dries. But top dressing should be postponed until the end of flowering. It is also not recommended to transfer the plant to a new place during this period.
