Whether you plan to eat it or just show it off, the cactus can make a great addition to your home or garden. While most people associate the word "cactus" with images of solitary, thorny saguaro framing desert and arid wastes, in fact, tropical varieties that can thrive in humid environments also belong to the Cactaceae family. both types of cacti mean paying particular attention to the amount of sun, water, and the characteristics of the soil they live in and making small adjustments so that the plant can thrive. See step 1 below to get started.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Planting a Cactus from Seeds
Step 1. Collect seed pods from existing cacti or purchase commercially available seeds
When it's time to get your cactus seeds, you have two options: buy the seeds from a garden store or supplier, or harvest them from a cactus you already have at your disposal. Here, it's essentially about balancing price and affordability - the seeds you buy are cheap and pre-packaged, while the seeds you harvest are free, but require a little more work.
- If you've decided to buy them, you shouldn't have too much trouble finding them. Many specialty garden stores sell cactus seeds, while online shopping sites allow you to effortlessly evaluate hundreds of varieties before ordering.
- If, on the other hand, you wish to use your own seeds, start looking for seed pods or fruit on your cactus. Usually, these are lively offshoots of the main body of the cactus that bear a flower. When the flower falls, the pod or fruit is ripe and ready to harvest (assuming it has been pollinated).
Step 2. If you are collecting seeds from cactus pods, group the pods together
Pick them from the cactus before they dry out. The pods shouldn't be full of moisture, but should only be slightly moist to the touch inside. The seeds themselves, which are inside the pod or fruit, can vary in appearance from cactus to cactus. Some seeds will be discrete black or reddish dots that are clearly distinguishable from each other, while other seeds may be so small that they look like sand or dust.
A good indicator of ripeness is how the pod detaches from the cactus. "Ripe" pods with ripe seeds should detach with a slight twist of the hand, leaving the inner fiber / cotton on the cactus
Step 3. Next, collect the seeds from the pods
Once you have collected all the ripe pods from your cactus, it is time to extract the seeds themselves from the pods. Start by using a sharp knife to cut off the tops of the pods. Then, cut along one side of the pod to expose the seeds. Finally, carefully extract the seeds by scraping them from inside the pod.
Getting seeds from tropical cactus varieties may require a different method than getting seeds from a desert cactus, but the general concept is the same - removing the fruit from the plant and opening it to expose the seeds. For example, the seeds of a Christmas Cactus, a type of tropical cactus, can be harvested by removing the blueberry-like fruit and squeezing or tearing to extract the small black seeds
Step 4. Plant the seeds in high-drainage soil
Whether you bought seeds or harvested them from an existing cactus, you should plant them in clean, shallow containers filled with suitable soil. Moisten the soil carefully before planting, but avoid water stagnation. Then, sprinkle the seeds in the shallow part of the soil (do not bury them). Finally, lightly cover the seeds with a very thin layer of soil or sand. Cactus seeds only have a small amount of energy stored, and if planted too deep they will not be able to grow out of the ground before it runs out.
- It is important to use high-drainage soil for planting the cactus, especially if it is a dryland variety. Desert cacti are not used to receiving large amounts of water in their natural habitat, so they can be prone to root diseases if the moisture in the soil is not drained. Try using a high quality growing soil, with a high content of granite or pumice stone for exceptional drainage.
- If the soil you use for planting has not been sterilized (it should be noted on the package), you may want to consider heating in the oven to around 150or C for half an hour. This kills any soil pests or pathogens.
Step 5. Cover the container and expose it to the sun
After moistening and planting your cactus seeds, cover the container with a clear lid (such as plastic wrap) and place it in a location where the seeds will receive a good amount of sun - a sunny window is a good location. The sunlight shouldn't be intense and constant, but it should be strong for at least a couple of hours every day. The clear lid will keep the moisture in the container when the cactus begins to sprout, and at the same time allow light to reach the cactus.
- Be patient while you wait for the cactus to germinate. Depending on the cactus species you are growing, germination can last from several weeks to several months.
- Tropical cacti are used to shady environments under the canopy of jungle branches and leaves, so they generally require less sun than desert cacti. You can usually get away with growing a tropical cactus by choosing a bright spot that doesn't get any direct sunlight. For example, hanging pots under a shaded awning are a great solution for tropical cacti.
Step 6. Keep tropical cacti at a constant, warm temperature
While desert cacti in their natural environment are regularly exposed to extreme changes in temperature (from very hot during the day to intense cold at night), tropical cacti benefit from a consistently warm, mild climate. Thus, it is a wise idea to grow tropical cacti in places where they are not exposed to intense, direct sunlight during the day or freezing cold at night. Try to keep tropical cacti at a temperature of around 21-24or C - greenhouses are an excellent solution to achieve this result.
If you don't live in the tropics, it will probably be necessary to grow your tropical cactus indoors, where it is much easier to control the temperature and exposure to the sun
Part 2 of 3: Caring for a Cactus
Step 1. When the first thorns show, let the plant air out
In the weeks after you plant your new cactus seeds, the seedling should begin to sprout. Cacti typically grow quite slowly, so this can take a month or more. Eventually, you should be able to see the first appearance of tiny thorns on your cactus. When this happens, start giving your cactus a chance to breathe by removing the clear lid during the day. As the cactus grows, you can exclude the lid for longer periods until the plant is well established and no longer needs it at all.
- It is important to note, however, that this will increase the rate at which water evaporates from the soil. This means that you will need to start watering. Try to do this with caution - don't let the soil dry out completely, but never leave standing water in the container for watering too much.
- Note that many tropical cacti do not have thorns, so in this case it is sufficient to remove the lid once the seedling emerges from the ground.
Step 2. Repot the cactus when it is well established
As noted above, cacti grow quite slowly. Depending on the type of cactus you have, it can take about 6 months to 1 year for them to grow to about the size of a large marble. At this point, it is a wise idea to repot the cacti in another container. As with most potted plants, keeping a cactus in a container that has grown small can cause the plant to lack nutrients, which inhibits growth and can even kill it.
To repot the cactus, use sturdy gloves or a spade to remove the entire plant, roots and everything from its growing medium. Place it in a new, larger container with the same type of soil, compact the soil around the cactus and water
Step 3. Allow the cactus to recover from repotting by placing it in the shade
As the visible portion of your cactus grows above the ground, the roots will grow too. As the cactus gets bigger and bigger, which can take years, there may be a need to repot several times. However, as the transplant process can be stressful for plants, it is important that you allow your cactus to "bounce back" after you repot it. Instead of keeping the repotted cactus in a location where it receives a good amount of sunlight, try keeping it in a shaded or partially shaded area until its roots heal. Gradually re-expose the cactus to the sun over a period of a month or so.
Step 4. Water infrequently
Settled cacti have reduced water requirements compared to most other potted plants. While some require a little water, their reputation as hardy desert survivors is well deserved. Most desert cactus varieties require little water once they are fully settled. Although individual cactus species may differ in the amount of water they require, a good rule of thumb is to let the soil dry completely before watering. Depending on the temperature, this may mean an interval of a month or more between waterings.
- Remember that the cactus is characterized by slow, gradual growth. Thus, it doesn't need a lot of water. Watering more frequently than necessary can lead to problems for the plant, including root disorders that can cause the plant to die.
- Tropical cacti are an exception to this rule, because they are naturally acclimated to more humid environments than desert cacti. While you can do a little more watering if you have a tropical cactus, it is always necessary to wait for the soil to dry before watering again.
Step 5. Fertilize the young plants during the growing months
Although, as noted above, cacti grow slowly, their growth can be aided during the spring and summer months with the light application of fertilizer or plant food. Cacti generally require less fertilizer than other plants - try using a diluted solution of liquid fertilizer once a month. Mix a small amount of liquid fertilizer with an equal volume of water, then use this mixture to water the cactus as you normally would.
The precise amount of fertilizer to be used can vary according to the cactus species that are growing or according to its size. Specific information should be given on the fertilizer packages
Part 3 of 3: Solving Common Cactus Problems
Step 1. Avoid rot by avoiding excessive irrigation
One of the most common problems when it comes to potted plants is fungal rot (also called root rot). This problem typically occurs when a plant's roots stay in contact with moisture that isn't draining properly, becomes stagnant, and encourages fungal growth. This typically happens to potted plants, but desert cacti are particularly prone to because they naturally only require a small amount of water compared to other plants. The best cure for rot is preventative: simply avoid overwatering in the first place. As a general rule, a little water is better than a lot of water when it comes to cacti. We also recommend that you use good quality potting soil with a high level of drainage for all cacti.
If your plant has rot, it may appear swollen, soft, brownish, or weakened, with the possibility of cracks on its surface. Often, but not always, this condition moves from the lower part of the plant upwards. Options for treating rot after stopping it are limited. You can try removing the cactus from its pot, cutting away the slimy, blackened roots and any dead tissue above the soil, and repotting it in a new container with clean soil. However, if the root damage is extensive, the cactus can still die. In many cases, rotting plants need to be eliminated to prevent the fungus from spreading to other nearby plants
Step 2. Gradually increase sun exposure to treat etiolation or spinning
Etiolation is a condition in which a plant develops with pale growth due to a lack of chlorophyll, and general weakening due to insufficient exposure to light. Cacti with growth characterized by etiolation often have a general thinning, fragility and a pale, light green color. The etiolating portion of the plant will tend to grow towards a nearby light source, if any. While the etiolation is permanent, in the sense that the already unhealthy growth cannot be reversed, the future etiolation can be curbed by ensuring that the plant receives a sufficient amount of sunlight.
However, it is not recommended to expose an etiolating cactus to sudden intense direct sunlight. Rather, gradually increase the amount of sun the plant receives each day until you notice that its growth has become normal. Exposing any plant drastically to more sunlight can be stressful for the plant, while exposing an etiolating cactus to such levels of sunlight can be fatal
Step 3. Avoid phototoxicity by limiting sun exposure after using pesticides
If you've ever noticed that you got badly sunburned especially after being in the water, you've experienced something akin to phototoxicity, a harmful disease that can affect your plant. After applying an oil-based pesticide to a plant, the pesticide oil remains on the surface of the plant, and acts as a kind of "tanning lotion" by increasing the intensity of the sun's rays. In this way, the parts of the plant on which the oil is present can burn, and become gray and dry. To avoid this problem, place the cactus in a shady location for a few days until the oily pesticide has done its job, before returning it to the sun.
Step 4. Don't be frightened by the natural "barking"
One aspect of the cactus life cycle that most people are unfamiliar with is the "barking" process, in which the base portions of an adult cactus slowly begin to develop a hard, brown, skin-like outer skin. a bark. While this condition can appear serious because it replaces the natural green exterior with one that looks dead, it's not actually a sign that the plant is in danger and can usually be ignored.
Natural bark usually starts at the base of the plant and slowly grows upward. If barking starts elsewhere on the plant, this can be a sign of a problem. For example, if the top of the cactus and the side facing the sun exhibit this deteriorated appearance, but the base of the cactus is intact, this may be a sign that the cactus is receiving too much sun, rather than the result of natural barking
Advice
- If you want to grow a lot of cacti, you can grow them all in the same container, spaced evenly. When one of them grows to the size of a large marble, transplant it into its container.
- Use the same growing medium in every pot you repot the cactus.
Warnings
- Use thick gloves to handle any cactus that spines have grown on.
- Watch out for pests on your cactus, especially the mealybug, which often shows up with white spots. Eliminate it with a stick or skewer and use a pesticide to remove any mealybugs in hard-to-reach places.
- Use a pesticide such as malathion to kill red mites or spider mites and coccidia, which reveal themselves as brown spots.
