Cacti (Cactaceae) are one of the most popular plants for decorating both gardens and interiors, and it is that it is a whole family of succulents that is very striking due to their particular shapes. Cacti have their origin in America and Africa and their size is as diverse as their shapes, from huge saguaros to tiny Blossfeldia liliputana. However, almost all cacti agree on one thing: how resistant they are and how undemanding they are with their care. Thanks to these characteristics, practically anyone can have a cactus at home or in the garden: you just have to find the right place and species.
If you want to learn more about how to care for a cactus or if you wonder how to make a cactus grow, join us in this Green Ecologist article where you will see our cactus care guide.
Cactus characteristics
The cactus or cacti plants have among their main characteristics their roots and thorny stems and its leaves that either do not exist, or are very reduced or in the form of a thorn. They are plants with roots that cover large areas, usually at a shallow depth, in order to absorb as much moisture as possible due to the low rainfall in their most common environments.
Some cacti do not have spines as such, developing instead sharp beards or hairs that do the same function. What's more, cactus flowers They tend to be very showy and large in relation to the plant, usually being single and isolated flowers.
They are undemanding plants in their care, but it is still better to know them well since they differ a lot from the more common plants in some of their needs. In this other article we talk about different types of cacti.
Climate and location for cacti
If you wonder how to care for cacti indoors, keep in mind that they are not very different from outdoor cactus care: need dry climates in the vast majority of cases, with as much sunlight as possible and with very well drained soils and substrates. Thus, when it comes to knowing where to put the cacti, the most important thing is that it is brightly lit areas, with little humidity and protected from the cold, since these plants generally do not tolerate prolonged low temperatures.
Regarding light, some species need direct sunlight for all possible hours, while others may prefer indirect light, especially in climates with intense sun. You will have to inform yourself about the specific needs of the species of your specific cactus.
Also, if you like the Feng Shui lifestyle, here we talk about Where to place cacti according to Feng Shui.
How to water cacti
To know when to water a cactus is another of the most important problems of cacti care in pots or in the garden. The roots of these plants extend a lot, but at the same time they are fine and very sensitive to rot: an excess of humidity has a good chance of making your cactus sick, in some cases it is necessary to prune affected areas to save it. If you ever see him sick, here are tips on how to revive a cactus.
The water needs of these plants are much lower, so water only when the substrate has completely dried even below the surface. Usually this will occur 1 or 2 times a week in the warm months, and until every 15 days in the cold months. Some cacti can even stop being watered altogether during winter.
If you ask yourself I wonder "how to know if my cactus needs water? ", the answer is easy to see by looking at the stem or the base of the stem. If it is wrinkled or looks deflated instead of smooth, the plant is consuming its water reserves and needs more watering.
In this other guide you can see more details about How often and how to water the cacti.
What substrate to use for cacti
This is, along with irrigation, another of the vital points of the care of a cactus. Cacti do not need soils rich in organic matter, but they do need their soil to have a especially good drainage so it does not accumulate moisture, which can rot the plant.
exist specific substrates for cacti, but you can prepare yours with a sandy base, adding a bed of gravel to the bottom of the pot and enriching it with perlite. If you want to keep moisture away from the aerial part of the plant, you can add another thin layer of gravel on the surface, around the stem.
We recommend you read these other posts on How to make a substrate for cacti and How to plant a cactus.
How to transplant a cactus
Sometimes these plants, like all plants, require a transplant, especially if we grow them in pots. Most cacti are slow growing and will not need an annual transplant, but in a space of two or three years we may see how their roots show through the drainage holes of the pot, or that we want to transplant it because it is in a pot. little recommended location.
In any of these cases, you have to take into account when can a cactus be transplanted, which should be done during summer or some especially dry season, since in this way the plant runs less risk of being attacked by fungi or suffering more stress than necessary during the process.
It is also important to wear gardening gloves, or thick enough so as not to hurt us with their thorns, and to remove the soil from the roots of the cactus, being very careful not to damage them. You can help yourself with low pressure water for this. This method is also very valid for transplanting those suckers that many cacti produce and which are an excellent way to reproduce them easily and quickly.
Here you can find out more about when and how to transplant a cactus. Also, here below we leave you a guide on how to care for cacti on video. Finally, now that you know how to keep cacti healthy for them to grow, you may also be interested in learning about How to make a cactus graft and its care.
If you want to read more articles similar to Caring for a cactus, we recommend that you enter our category of Cultivation and care of plants.
