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 needs 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!
Is it acceptable to have cacti inside the home?
Although cacti are attractive plants with powerful protective energies, their spines are an issue. They are pointed objects that project focused energy into the surrounding space and resemble tens of thousands of tiny arrows. Cactuses should never be placed in a living room, bedroom, or front entry because of this.
Where should a cactus be planted for good luck?
Cacti plants are really romantic, especially when they are in flower. They are unusual plants that require little upkeep to survive. Cacti plants are living beings, thus they use energy and give it off as well.
Because of this, if you keep these plants indoors, you need to make sure their location is discrete and complements the style of your area as a whole. You should follow fundamental Feng Shui principles to complete this work.
So where should your cactus be placed in order to achieve good Feng Shui? As per fundamental Feng Shui concepts, place your plants in the renown and reputation quadrant for good Feng Shui. This area of your home is devoted to your character and what you want to portray to the outside world. The corner of the renown and reputation Bagua quadrant that represents the fire element should have vibrant, blazing colors like red, yellow, or orange.
Cacti bring luck, right?
According to a story on Unang Hirit, the adorable spiky plants of different species are supposed to be lucky charms. Cacti, in Chinese Feng Shui, represent prudent expenditure. It is thought that cactus may balance the energy flow in your home and divert negative energy, bringing about positive transformations.
What species of cactus is blessed?
The cactus referred to as good luck. The scientific name for cactus is Euphorbia trigona. Its name may have been inspired by its simple maintenance requirements or by the color green, which is frequently linked to luck and fortune. It is a low-maintenance succulent plant. Due to its milky sap, it is also known as the African milk tree.
Make sure the location of your good luck cactus is suitable for growth. It prefers lots of indirect sunlight but avoids full sunlight because it can burn if overexposed.
Look at the soil. Cacti thrive in fast-draining soil that contains predominantly sand and may also contain smooth stones, pumice, or grit. The cactus will rot in a soil that is too compact or wet.
- Euphorbia trigona is another name for the cactus known as the good luck cactus.
- Its name may have been inspired by its simple maintenance requirements or by the color green, which is frequently linked to luck and fortune.
To encourage new growth, add a tiny amount of fertilizer diluted in water in the spring; do not use it at any other time of the year. The good luck cactus grows slowly and is easily overfed.
rarely use water. During its growth cycle, once every two to three weeks should be adequate, and during its dormant stage, it requires no watering at all. If in doubt, avoid watering. Before watering, the soil should be absolutely dry.
Warm up the cacti. 55 degrees Fahrenheit is about the right temperature for it. Since it is a desert plant, it cannot endure extreme cold. Keep it somewhere where the temperature won’t go below about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Euphorbia trigona will perish after just a few hours under subfreezing conditions.
- To encourage new growth, add a tiny amount of fertilizer diluted in water in the spring; do not use it at any other time of the year.
- During its growth cycle, once every two to three weeks should be adequate, and during its dormant stage, it requires no watering at all.
New good luck cactus are simple to root in the spring. Cut-up remnants of the original cactus are buried in the sand. Because the sap is poisonous and irritant to the skin, wear gloves and exercise caution.
Keep in mind that good luck cacti require little maintenance and water, and you ought to be OK. As long as it is placed correctly, this plant can mainly be left alone.
Watering Euphorbia trigona throughout the winter will make it decay because it is dormant at the time. It only requires water in the spring and summer, with its needs decreasing in the fall.
What advantages do cacti provide?
In addition to their medical use, cacti are known for their nutritional worth. Both cactus pads and cactus fruit have anti-infective properties that can assist with everything from hangovers to high cholesterol problems.
The following are a few of the cactus’ health advantages:
The cactus fruit and pad are both rich in fiber, which can reduce blood cholesterol levels. According to a study, eating cactus can lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and body fat. Your chance of developing conditions including stroke, coronary heart disease, and peripheral vascular illnesses can be lowered by include cactus fruits in your diet.
Iron, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin E, and more are all found in cacti. This extensive spectrum of nutrients and others can aid in lowering inflammatory levels in the body. According to research, taking cactus extract after consuming five to seven alcoholic beverages helped reduce the severity of hangover symptoms (such as nausea, vomiting, or dry mouth). The body’s inflammation, which is frequently related to alcohol consumption, was also decreased by the cactus extract.
A number of diseases, including diabetes, a stroke, and heart disease, can all be indicated by high blood sugar levels in the body. A Mexican study compared the diets of those who regularly ate cactus pads to those who didn’t, and it found that those who did had significantly lower blood sugar levels than those who didn’t. According to the study, eating cactus may be a cheap approach for those with diabetes to lower their blood sugar levels.
Particularly cactus fruits are a great source of vitamin C, one of the finest immune enhancers. White blood cell production is boosted by regular vitamin C intake, which can lower your risk of infection and help your body fight off viruses if you become infected.
What represents cacti?
Native American cultures view the cactus as a symbol of warmth, safety, and maternal love. Cacti have come to represent unconditional, maternal love because of their ability to withstand adverse environments.
How frequently should a cactus be watered?
The most frequent reason for cacti failure is improper watering, whether it is done too much or too little. Cacti have evolved to store water for extended periods of time and can maintain moisture through droughts because they are endemic to arid regions and dry temperatures. They have a limited capacity, which is why over-watering can result in a variety of issues.
When it comes to regularity, watering your cacti will largely depend on the season but also on the variety. Checking the soil is the easiest technique to determine whether your cactus needs water: It’s time for a drink if the top inch is dry. That entails applying the “soak and dry procedure” on cactus.
What is the soak and dry method?
The soak and dry technique is thoroughly wetting the soil until part of it begins to flow out the drainage hole, then waiting until the mixture is nearly dry before wetting it once more. If done properly, this strategy will help them endure a period of under-watering should you need to travel or leave the house because it takes use of their natural tendency to store water (or if you just get busy and watering falls to the wayside, as happens to all of us now and again).
Watering during the growing season versus the inactive season
Like with many houseplants, the season affects how frequently you need water. It becomes more crucial that you get in the habit of examining the soil to determine whether your cacti are thirsty. A healthy cactus needs watering every one to two weeks during the growing season, according to general wisdom. The frequency changes to once every three to four weeks during the off-season.
Even then, it’s crucial to examine the soil. The same way that not all interior spaces and not all cacti are alike. The only way to be certain that your cactus require watering is to carefully examine the soil to determine how dry it is because there are so many different factors.
What kind of plant is ideal for a bedroom?
The Top 10 Plants for Your Bedroom
- Viper Plant.
- Philodendron with Heart Leaf.
- Ivy in English.
- Pothos in gold.
- Scorpion Plant.
- Rubber Factory.
- Gardenia.
- Calm Lily.
When ought I to bring my cactus indoors?
Even though some hardy cacti can survive the winter in the garden, when the outside temperature falls below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, bring frost-sensitive species inside. For pests, carefully inspect the cactus. Scale and mealybugs can be removed rapidly using an alcohol-soaked cotton swab. Additionally, aphids and spider mites may travel inside. These little pests can be quickly eliminated with a water blast.
Move a lot of plants inside. Depending on the species, place the cacti far from heat vents and in full sun or brilliant filtered light. Place the prickly cacti in areas where you, your kids, and your pets won’t likely bump into them and end up with a collection of spines and puncture wounds. Contrary to popular belief, cacti don’t actually reach out and grab you, but even simply brushing up against their spines can be uncomfortable.
What plants are bad luck for your home?
Plants That Are Unlucky in the Home
- Planta tamarinda. Experts in Vastu and Feng Shui both contend that tamarind might transmit unfavorable energies and feelings to the home.
- Cotton Tree. It’s not a great idea to have cotton plants or silk cotton plants in your house.
- Plant, Babul.
- Plant for mehendi.
- Dead vegetation
Does cactus purify the air?
The peruvian cactus species, Cereus peruvianus, is the one that is typically utilized to absorb this kind of radiation, but it should be noted that not all research have found the same results.
Cacti, on the other hand, are plants that can detoxify interior environments, which are typically full of unseen chemical compounds that most plants can absorb.
The Christmas cactus, also known as the Schlumbergera, lends a special hand in our decorating, especially when its priceless blooms burst into bloom. It will work wonders if we put it in a chemically-contaminated space, but we should keep in mind that it requires more frequent watering than a typical cactus does. It will be enough to watch out for the earth and keep it from drying out.
In particular, it will assist us in removing pollutants like formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds present in agglomerates, plywood, paint, varnish, glue, cosmetics, and tobacco smoke from settings.
In conclusion, cacti are a green investment because of their resilience and minimal water needs. It will be sufficient to water them once a month, and it is essential to let plenty of natural light enter them. The truth is that the bigger they are, the more resilient they are; nevertheless, if we take good care of the young ones, they will also live a long time, and if we give them adequate soil and fertilizer, they will also become bigger.
Cacti and other species mixed together is another fascinating idea. The miniature date palm, fountain palm, ivy, tape, and ficus are some of the most decontaminating plants.
All plants have the ability to purify the air, however some are more efficient than others. It depends on their capacity to metabolically decompose the airborne poisons into organic materials that they can consume.
We shall thus obtain a more or less healthy environment as a result of its more or lesser absorption. Because of this, choose the proper plants is crucial if we want to purify the air.
When it comes to decorating and creating a cleaner atmosphere that meets our needs, the secret is to choose a variety of plants that combine a lot of traits. Let’s not squander time thoroughly recording the types of pollution we have at home and the animals that could perform the task more effectively.