Despite their "spiky" appearance, cacti, which received the title of "hedgehogs" of the plant world, are fraught with a huge temptation, which is almost impossible to resist. This inhospitable at first glance plant intrigues and kindles curiosity. Almost in every house there is a representative of this family. However, caring for them is significantly different from that of other indoor plants, and not many people realize this. Today we will talk about how to properly transplant cacti at home and what it takes.
Features of cacti
In order to grow a beautiful cactus, it is important to understand three essential facts.
Firstly, cacti are plants with a low level of metabolism. This fact explains their slow growth and longevity even at small sizes. They are characterized by long periods of rest, they do not respond well to sudden changes in conditions of detention, and this must also be remembered before transplanting home cacti.
Wo-secondly, it is no secret to anyone that cacti are typical succulents. Evolving, they have adapted to the constant lack of moisture and store it in their own tissues for future use. That is why they need abundant and frequent watering, since they themselves, in fact, are a reservoir filled with water. This fact determines the main features of caring for these plants.
Thirdly, almost all cacti are of little use for growing in a typical city apartment or house. This environment is unusual for them, and they have a hard time adjusting.
When to transplant
Before you transplant a cactus into another pot, make sure that the plant really needs it. It's not worth worrying him again. Many people forget that cacti are not 2-3 species that are most common in our homes, but several thousand species and varieties that grow in a wide variety of conditions: deserts, tropics, mountains, steppes, forests, and therefore care behind them is different. In order to understand whether it is possible to transplant a cactus and whether it should be done, you should consider two factors.
Firstly, all plants are transplanted as they grow, when it can be seen with the naked eye that they do not fit in the old dishes (roots sticking out of the drainage holes or protruding on the surface, a pot bursting from the pressure of the roots, etc.). Fast-growing species and young specimens are recommended to be transplanted more often than slow-growing and old plants. So, young cacti should be transplanted annually, and after five years - less and less.
Secondly, in this way you can stimulate the growth of a cactus. If your plant belongs to a fast-growing species, then you can transplant a cactus up to two times a year. As a rule, those who want to grow a large and abundantly flowering specimen use this technique.
Sometimes a transplant is forced, for example, if the pot breaks or signs of root disease appear.
The end of dormancy (early spring for most species) or flowering is the best time to repot your cactus. As soon as you notice the first signs of awakening, you can begin the procedure. If buds appear on the plant or it blooms, you do not need to touch it.
Dishes
First you need to decide where you will transplant the cactus. How to choose a pot and what size should it be? Experienced cactus growers are advised to determine the volume of new dishes based on the size of the cactus itself and its root system. The depth and diameter of the new pot should not exceed it significantly. It is enough to add 2-3 cm to the diameter of the old pot. The second point is the drainage holes. They must be mandatory. Sometimes they are additionally made in the side walls.
Amateur cactus growers use plastic and ceramic pots. Moreover, plastic packaging has almost completely replaced everything else. For amateur collections, special plastic containers are suitable - mini-greenhouses, consisting of a dense body and a transparent lid. Both pots have their advantages and disadvantages.
Features of earthenware
Ceramic is more expensive and breaks easier. Clay pots are quite heavy, take up a lot of space and, due to their moisture permeability, do not create a very favorable environment for succulents. Part of the moisture they evaporate through the porous walls. Due to water loss, watering must be more frequent, and this, when using hard water, can lead to alkalization of the soil. Water rushes to the walls of the vessel, all the nutritious s alts are there, and, accordingly, the roots of the cactus stretch behind them. They braid the inner surface of the pot with a dense network. Therein lies the danger. Any violation of external conditions (cold, overheating in the sun, drying out of the walls) can lead to the death of these thin and delicate roots. In addition, when transplanting, it is almost impossible not to damage them.
However, earthenware is very decorative. In addition, it is suitable for those who place cacti in the garden for the summer, digging the pot into the soil. Therefore, before transplanting a cactus into such dishes, think, weigh all the pros and cons.
Features of plastic pots
Using plastic pots has many benefits. They are lighter and more convenient to use, and a huge range allows you to choose the product of the right size, shape and design. Due to the absence of evaporation through the walls, water consumption for watering plants is reduced, which means that the likelihood of s alt and lime accumulation in the soil is reduced. The roots grow evenly throughout the volume. Watering cacti in such pots should be done with caution, as there is a high risk of overflow.
Substrate
Self-compilation of soil mixtures for transplanting cacti is a science, but it is the lot of great enthusiasts and professionals. It is enough for amateur cactus growers to understand the following. Cacti have a low metabolic rate, so they do not need nutrient soil. They also do not need an excessively large amount of substrate, only as much as they can master with their root system. Plants do not tolerate organic matter decomposing in the soil. The most important thing they need is water and air. Therefore, the soil must be such that both can easily penetrate through it.
When planning to transplant cacti at home, carefully study the species diversity of your collection. It is possible that tropical and desert species coexist in it. In this case, the soil mixture may differ. Remember that most cacti require slightly acidic soil. When composing the soil yourself, keep in mind that the acidic components are leafy soil and peat, the alkaline components are gravel, brick chips, expanded clay, and the neutral ones are pebbles and coarse-grained river sand. The following composition is considered traditional for cacti: earth, peat and fine gravel in equal proportions.
Precautions
Before transplanting a cactus, think about how to protect your hands. The spines of these plants are very diverse. In some species, they are quite harmless, in others they are long and very sharp, in others, for example, in prickly pear, they are like dust that instantly penetrates the skin. If this happens, use the old anda proven way to extract such needles. On the area of the hand where they feel stuck, apply hot (as hot as you can stand) wax, wait until it hardens, and carefully remove.
Use thick leather gloves for work, preferably with a rubberized coating. Prepare old newspapers in advance, with which you will remove the cactus from the old pot.
Remove the cactus from the old pot
Before transplanting a cactus (photos on this topic are presented in the article), in no case water it. On the contrary, the soil should slip. Removing a cactus from an old pot is the biggest difficulty. If you were not late with the transplant, and the soil mixture was correct, there should not be any particular problems. It is enough to gently knock on the walls of the dishes, and then gently push the soil through the drainage holes with tweezers.
Worse if the plant has grown for many years in a heavy clay substrate. In this case, the soil, roots and walls of the dishes often become one. It is almost impossible to extract a cactus without damaging the roots or the pot. It's better if you donate the last one. Carefully break the pot and free it from its parts with an earthen ball. As a last resort, and if we are talking about a very unpretentious and tenacious species (Echinopsis, Zygocactus, etc.), you can try to wet the substrate.
Root cleansing
Put the cactus taken from the old pot on the workingsurface and, if possible, clean the roots of easily separated soil particles. Don't try to free them completely. The roots of the cactus are very fragile, and near the base are soft and juicy. Root wounds are extremely dangerous and can become a gateway for fungal and bacterial diseases.
Remove rotten, dry roots along with the soil. Some of the roots die off over time - this is a natural process.
Be sure to examine its roots for rot, pests and signs of disease before transplanting a cactus into a larger pot. Act according to the situation. If you notice rot or a fungal disease, then treat the roots with a fungicide. If pests are found, get rid of them using a mild insecticide.
Trim the roots or not
In fast-growing cacti, pruning or removing old roots encourages new roots to form and flowers to bloom. Use sterile instruments. With a sharp scalpel, cut off the lower part of the tap root (1/5). Cut large roots too, removing from 1/5 of the length to half the length. Let the cuts dry. To do this, leave the cactus for 3-4 days in a dry and warm room.
But in general, remember that the roots of these plants are very sensitive to mechanical stress. If you doubt the appropriateness of this procedure, then it is better to refuse it.
Planting in a new pot
Lay a drainage layer (gravel, expanded clay, brick chips) on the bottom of the new pot. Fill the pot with the prepared potting mix to the level whereto contain the bulk of the roots. Place the cactus in the pot and hold it so that the base of the stem is level with the edge of the new pot. Gently continue to add soil, filling the space between the roots. Gently shake the pot occasionally to ensure there are no voids, and lightly tamp the soil down with tweezers or your fingers. On top of the soil, you can lay a layer of pebbles, sand or gravel - top drainage. It will support the base of the stem and protect it from waterlogging, prevent cracking of the soil and its rapid drying, and prevent the appearance of mold and fungi. Now you know how to properly transplant a cactus. The procedure is not difficult, but requires some preparation.
Within 2-3 days after transplanting, the cactus does not need to be watered, and do not leave it in the open sun. For species that are most susceptible to gray mold, this period is increased to 2-3 weeks.
How to transplant a cactus at home. Most Common Mistakes
Very often, inexperienced flower growers transplant a cactus into the first available soil mixture bought at a nearby store, without even thinking about the consequences. As a rule, it turns out to be fine-grained peat, maximally enriched with all possible fertilizers. After the first watering, such soil turns into an incomprehensible thick black mass, in which the cactus roots literally “burn out” in a matter of days.
When transplanting, owners of large and old specimens sometimes try to hide the ugly lower part of the stem by deepening it into the ground. This approach can be usedbut, firstly, the lignified part of the stem can only be covered with drainage, and not with earth. Secondly, the green part of the cactus should not be under it. If this happens, then the cactus is very likely to rot.
