The dry, arid desert is the cactus plant’s natural home. Cactus are a type of plant that can store a lot of water and endure in hot, dry environments. Because spring and summer are when they do their significant growing, they require more water during those times.
- One of the more than 25 botanical groups that encompass a wide variety of succulent plants is the cactus family.
- Cacti and succulents both have fleshy leaves, stems, and roots that serve as water reservoirs.
- Although they are all accustomed to dry environments, not all desert plants are desert plants.
- Although cacti don’t always require a specific type of soil, they do require soil with certain qualities.
Which environment is ideal for cacti?
Nowadays, cacti and succulents are highly popular indoor plants, therefore taking good care of them is crucial. They occur in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, ranging from the small to the enormous. Because they share traits that enable them to endure in arid conditions, cacti and succulents belong to the same category.
The majority of succulents and cacti are endemic to desert environments. They will therefore thrive in conditions with lots of light, good drainage, hot temperatures, and little wetness. However, some cacti and succulents, like Schlumbergera, enjoy semi-shady and wet environments because that is their natural habitat.
The easiest way to take care of cacti and succulents is to try to mimic their natural environment. The essential factors you should take into account when taking care of your succulents and cacti are listed below.
Light, temperature and ventilation
It is advisable to arrange cacti and succulents in a bright area because they do best with good light sources. A place that faces south will get plenty of light. But be careful not to place them in direct sunlight since the strong light may cause the plants to turn yellow. The best kind of light for growing cacti and succulents depends on the species that you are using. For instance, forest-dwelling epiphytes like Rhipsalis require some shade, whereas an Echeveria requires strong light.
It is ideal to keep the plants cool at night, between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius, during the fall and winter. The plants will survive in high temperatures, but they require sufficient ventilation in the spring and summer.
Compost
Since Westland cacti and succulent potting mix has included girt and sand for the best drainage, it is a good compost to use. Additionally, it has the ideal quantity of nutrients for your succulents and cacti.
Watering and feeding
It’s a popular misperception that succulents and cacti just need a tiny bit of water. Although their leaves and stems can store water, allowing them to survive in dry environments, they will not grow in environments with little water. Your cactus or succulents’ ability to develop successfully depends on regular watering. Underwatering results in shriveling while overwatering stunts growth.
Instead of using tap water to water plants, use lukewarm rainfall. This is because the minerals in tap water can settle on the leaves and accumulate in the soil. Additionally, minerals obstruct the plant’s access to vital nutrients.
Spring and summer
The plants need to be watered at least once a week during the growing season. Give the soil a good soak when watering, letting any extra water run away. Every time you water the compost, give it a little time to dry out.
Utilize Westland Cacti and Succulent Feed, a recommended recipe to use, to feed your plants once a month. They create more robust growth that is more resistant to disease and has superior flowering thanks to it. Simply take a 5ml quantity of the feed from the dosing chamber and mix it into 1 liter of water.
Autumn and winter
The plants enter a period of rest at this time. Reduce watering so that the potting mix dries out in between applications. The type of succulent and the environment it is in will determine how frequently it has to be watered. Winter-flowering cactus should be kept warm and watered frequently now, whereas desert-dwelling cacti don’t need to be watered. Cacti and succulents don’t need to be fed during this time.
Re-potting
The optimal time to repot cactus or succulents that are pot-bound is in the spring. To replant:
- Before carefully taking the plant from the pot, water it and let it drain. Use folded paper to shield your hands from the spikes.
- To avoid damaging the roots, remove the old soil from around them with a thin stick, like a chopstick.
- The new container, which has a slightly larger diameter, should be filled with potting soil before placing the plant inside of it.
- The remaining potting mix should be added to the pot and compacted.
- To stop the rotting of injured roots, stop watering for a few days.
The finest care for your succulents or cacti comes from maintaining these conditions. The most crucial thing to keep in mind when taking care of your plant is that you are trying to mimic its natural environment!
How Are Cactus Adapted To Survive In A Desert?
Cacti have unique adaptations in their stems, leaves, and roots that allow them to survive in desert conditions. Among these modifications are:
- In order to minimize water loss through transpiration, leaves are reduced to spines.
- Wide and deep roots can collect surface rains and access deep subsurface water.
- To prevent water loss, stomata are recessed.
- Stems with a waxy coating help to retain water and are fleshy and thick to store water and carry out photosynthesis.
How has the cactus evolved to thrive in its environment?
A cactus may endure in the desert because it has the following characteristics: I It has lengthy roots that bury themselves deeply in the ground to capture water. (ii) In order to reduce water loss through transpiration, the leaves have spines. (iii) To hold onto water, the stem of the plant is wrapped in a thick waxy covering.
What kind of environment do cacti prefer?
Most cacti require warm climates to survive. According to Clemson Cooperative Extension, most cactus like temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures between 45 and 55 °F are suitable throughout the winter and fall dormant periods. Lower temperatures can cause freezing and cold damage, which can destroy plants. Additionally, proper airflow and minimal humidity are preferred by cacti. Although many cacti have evolved to areas with increased humidity levels, they nevertheless cannot survive in highly humid environments.
What is required for cacti to survive?
It’s a widespread notion that cactus can survive under neglect, however this is undoubtedly untrue. A cactus need the five things listed below to survive:
Light
In science class, we all discovered that all plants need light for photosynthesis. There must be light, regardless of the kind of plant or how much light they truly require. Cacti are the same. A cactus actually prefers sunlight because it is abundant in its native environment.
The quantity of light a cactus requires can vary depending on the species, although most cacti can live in bright, direct sunlight.
It is possible to have too much light, too. A cactus can get burnt if it is exposed to high-intensity light for an extended period of time. To prevent this problem, it is advised that you provide your cactus protection from harsh light, especially if you are trying to adapt it to a new location.
On the other hand, your cactus will grow tall and thin in quest of the light it need, a process known as etiolation, if you don’t give it enough sunshine. The plant won’t also be able to blossom because it doesn’t receive adequate sunlight exposure for photosynthesis.
So where is the ideal middle ground? Cacti like direct sunshine, but if you’re keeping yours indoors, you’ll need to expose it to full-spectrum light for 12 to 14 hours each day. Your cactus will receive all the wavelengths that sunshine offers thanks to full-spectrum light. To control the number of hours your cactus is exposed to light, you can use A Plus LED Grow Lights for Indoor Plants or this Fauna 100W COB Plant Grow Light Full Spectrum.
Here are a few quick cactus lighting suggestions to remember:
- Pick a location for your cactus with care. Whether you keep it inside or outside, make sure it gets enough sunshine where it is.
- To prevent shock when moving a cactus to a new location or transplanting one, gradually increase its exposure to light.
- If your cactus lives indoors, attempt to modify the illumination according to the seasons. If you bring your cactus indoors over the winter, be sure to give it the light it requires, even if you have to reduce the quantity to reflect the season.
- Pay close attention to how your cactus looks; if you spot a light sunburn on its surface, act quickly to offer some protection.
Air
Your cactus needs to be in an aerated area; as obvious as this may sound, plants require air to survive. It must be kept in a well-ventilated area where it has unrestricted access to both oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Cacti breathe differently than other plants, which helps them thrive in hot, dry climates. A cactus closes its stomata during the day and opens it at night, but most plants do the opposite to prevent water loss.
A cactus can increase the air quality at night by producing more oxygen, but it isn’t a good enough excuse to cram it in a closet or other small, enclosed area. Your cactus has to be kept in an airy, open area so that it can breathe properly, especially at night.
Water
Underwatering is one of the worst mistakes that cactus owners do. Plants believe that because cacti can survive in hot climates, they can go for weeks without water. Cacti are robust plants, but they still need frequent watering to live, just like other plants. If you don’t give them enough water, they usually die.
On the other side, some cactus owners could overwater their plants. Water that accumulates at the bottom of the container may eventually cause root rot. It is crucial to comprehend that cactus can survive periods of drought but prefer a dry environment.
How much water does a cactus thus require? The Cactus & Succulent Society of San Jose’s specialists say that cacti only require weekly watering. Make sure the soil is loose and that the pot has holes at the bottom so that any extra water can quickly drain. Water the cactus until the soil is completely soaked and water begins to drain from the drainage holes.
What conditions are necessary for cacti to grow?
Do you secretly yearn to live in the desert? Plant a cactus to begin your path toward your dream. In regions where they can withstand freezing temperatures, these low-maintenance plants make beautiful landscape plants as well as ideal houseplants. You did read that correctly, There are a ton of cold-tolerant cactus species! For instance, prickly pear cacti may survive rather far north. Giving a cactus what it wants in terms of light, soil, water, and food can ensure its success in any location.
Where to Grow a Cactus
Cactus plants come in a wide variety, some of which even grow in trees! However, the majority of individuals either grow theirs inside as houseplants or outdoors in the landscape. Always read the plant tags for precise information, but in general, cacti want full light and soil that drains quickly. This calls for growing close to a window that faces south or west indoors.
When the nighttime temperature is at least 65 degrees F throughout the summer, you can bring indoor cactus plants outside. Move them to an area with more sun after they have spent some time outside in a protected area getting accustomed to it. If you intend to transport plants between indoors and outdoors, morning sun is optimal.
When to Plant a Cactus
Try to put a cactus outside in the late spring or early summer while the plants are actively growing. They’ll start off more smoothly and swiftly put down roots.
How to Plant a Cactus Outside
1. Most cactus plants require light, permeable soil. Mix native soil and Miracle-Gro Garden Soil for Cactus, Palm & Citrus in equal parts to prepare the soil in the planting location. The cactus is protected by Moisture Control technology against both over- and under-watering, both of which can be problematic.
2. Create a hole that is 11/2 times as big and as deep as the stem or root ball of the plant (some transplanted cacti don’t have large root balls).
3. Position the plant in the hole so that its north side faces that direction. If there isn’t a flag or chalk marking this side, make sure to inquire before you leave the garden center. Here’s why it’s significant: The more sun-exposed south side of the plant typically produces tougher skin that is more resistant to sunburn. On the other hand, the north side might not be able to withstand the sun as well.
4. Add more soil mixture to the area around the root ball and gently pat it down.
5. Lightly water.
6. To acclimate a cactus to the intense outdoor sun before planting one that was produced in an outdoor greenhouse, cover it with a little amount of shade cloth for a few weeks.
How to Plant a Cactus Indoors
1. Choose a container that is 112 times as broad as the stem or root ball of the cactus. You might want to use an unglazed container because it will dry out more rapidly if your environment is humid or you have a tendency to water plants excessively.
2. Add fast-draining to the pot until it is 1/3 full. The perfect nutrients are included in Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix to give your cactus a head start.
3. Set the cactus in the pot with the stem or root ball at the same depth as it was before being moved. To protect your hands, put on gloves or cover them with many layers of newspaper.
4. Fill in the area around the rootball, leaving a space of about an inch between the soil’s top and the container’s rim.
5. Lightly water the soil until it resembles a wrung-out sponge.
How to Water a Cactus
It may come as no surprise to find that under-watering is the second most prevalent reason for cactus plant deaths, even though over-watering is the most common cause. Finding the sweet spot can be challenging because it differs in the summer when plants are actively developing from the winter when they are more passive. A decent rule of thumb is to water your cactus when the top 3 inches of soil are dry if you’re growing it indoors. This might imply a few times every week during the summer and just once every four to six weeks throughout the winter. Watch out for your plants: They likely need water if they start to appear a little wilted. However, unless there hasn’t been any rain in your region for several months, you shouldn’t need to water your cactus at all outside.
How to Feed a Cactus
Cacti may not require a lot of water, but they do require food. If you used Miracle-Gro Garden Soil for Cactus, Palm & Citrus to prepare the soil before planting your cactus outdoors, you should begin feeding it Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food a month after planting. This will provide your prickly baby quick nutrients. Meals should start for potted cactus plants approximately a month after planting. Apply Miracle-Gro Succulent Plant Food directly to the soil, then water as usual to feed your succulent plants. Make sure you read the instructions before using any type of plant food.
How to Prune a Cactus
Put simply, don’t! If you do, all you’ll get is a cut-site area of corky, dried-out scar tissue. The best course of action if your cactus outgrows your living space is to give it to a friend who has more room and get a new, smaller specimen for yourself.
Dealing with Cactus Problems
If you don’t submerge your cactus, it should continue to thrive with little trouble. Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do to prevent rot problems caused by overwatering besides starting over.