How to plant cacti? Methods for propagating cacti at home

Once upon a time there lived a cactus that was pleasing to the eye, but something went wrong and it began to die. I think many novice flower growers have encountered this situation. This happened to my cactus too. It migrated to me from my mother, she felt good, but I had more lighting, it gave birth to many children, its top began to grow into a ball, and at a distance of 3-4 cm from the ground it wrinkled and bent. Even though I rooted 3 children, I didn’t want to lose the cactus. The only option was to cut it above the bend and root it.

Pros and cons of the method

Propagation of cactus by shoots has a number of advantages. This method is quite simple and economical. There are no special costs required for its implementation. However, there is always a risk that an exotic plant simply will not take root in its new environment. This is directly related to the fact that the shoot does not have its own roots.

Which cacti are best to keep at home?

A significant role of the cactus in the house is played by its appearance and shape. For example, tall columnar cacti can help when a person wants to get rid of excessive touchiness and emotional instability. Globular-shaped plants help to refrain from overeating. Cacti with finger-shaped stems are able to protect their owners from an evil tongue. In general, there is no particular reason not to keep this flower in the house. All this is quite individual: a plant that feels the love of its owners absorbs negative energy, returning only one positive energy. However, if one of the household members does not like the prickly plant, the cactus will try to “survive” him, causing him headaches or discomfort.

If, when thinking about the presence of this flower at home, you prefer a positive answer, it is advisable to place the pot on the windowsill or at the front door, most importantly, avoid placing it in the bedroom and children's room.

Choosing a time

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How to plant cacti at home? When is the best time to do this process? Let's look at this in more detail. Cactus cuttings can be planted throughout the year. However, the spring-summer period is more suitable for carrying out this procedure. The climate in the homeland of succulents is quite hot. Therefore, it is better if the length of daylight and temperature conditions are as close as possible to native weather conditions.

Like any other plant, cacti and succulents are in a phase of active vegetative development in the warm season. This will greatly facilitate the process of rooting the culture.

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How to plant a cactus cutting in autumn or winter? In this case, you must remember that the young plant must be provided with the correct temperature and light conditions.

When and how often to produce?

Rooting of cacti is most difficult in autumn and winter , when the plant is in a state of stagnation. But unfortunately, it is during these seasons that the plant’s immunity decreases and it is attacked by fungal and bacterial infections. Most often, the situation develops in such a way that pruning followed by rooting is the only way to save the plant from death.

If circumstances do not force you to immediately save the prickly succulent by pruning, you should wait until spring or summer. Cuttings cut this season will take root better, and the mother plant will survive.

Soil for planting

So what do you need to know about this? One of the most important points in answering the question of how to plant cacti is the correct choice of soil. Ordinary garden soil is not suitable for these purposes. You can buy substrate for succulents at a flower shop. It includes humus from turf and leaves, river sand, peat and other necessary nutrients. If you can’t purchase the mixture, you can try making the soil yourself. For this, garden soil, coarse sand and peat are taken. These components are combined in a ratio of 1:1:0.5. You can also add some foam balls and dry leaves to the soil.

How to properly prepare the soil for a cactus shoot?

In nature, cacti live in aggressive environmental conditions; their root system is located in sand mixed with soil. Therefore, in home breeding, the composition of the soil must be taken care of in advance.

You can prepare the soil for succulents yourself. The main layer of soil is prepared from soil, dry leaves and coarse sand. The soil can be taken from a deciduous forest; it is ideal in composition for cacti. Dry leaves should be chopped. Sometimes foam balls are added to the soil to make the soil more porous, which is what succulents like.

All ingredients are mixed and prepared, and then placed in a pot on a drainage pre-laid on the bottom. Moreover, the latter should occupy about a third of the pots. Drainage can be prepared from crushed crushed stone, expanded clay or finely chopped wine corks.

Drainage system

Why is it needed? Without proper drainage, it will not be possible to grow a beautiful plant. It usually consists of a layer of materials that help drain excess water. Drainage should occupy from 1/5 to ½ of the container.

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It may include:

• pebbles;
• expanded clay;
• small pebbles;
• broken brick;
• chopped wine corks;
• broken foam.

Appropriate timing and recommended frequency of pruning

Any cactus procedures are more difficult to tolerate during the winter period, when they fall into a state of stagnation. Their rooting and restoration proceed more slowly, and due to decreased immunity, they are more often attacked by pests and develop infectious diseases.

But if hygienic manipulations can be planned for a more appropriate time, then the sick succulent is pruned without delay. This measure is forced. In other cases, it is advisable to carry out pruning during the active growing season, that is, in spring and summer. Trimmed cuttings will take root faster, and the mother specimen will more easily endure the operation and will not die.

This is interesting! Many gardeners advise pruning indoor flowers during the waning moon.

Most of these succulents do not require regular pruning. But, it depends on their variety and growth rate.

Selection of capacity

Another important issue that you have to decide when transplanting cacti is the selection of a pot. Experienced gardeners recommend planting succulents in plastic containers. Plastic does not change the temperature of the soil and does not absorb water. If you prefer environmentally friendly materials, you can use containers made of ceramics and clay. It is better to give preference to light-colored pots. The soil will heat up less in them.

How to plant a cactus without roots? Since the root system of these plants is very long, this fact should be taken into account when choosing dishes. Cramped and small pots are not suitable for replanting. It is better to use wide, deep containers in which the roots can receive sufficient nutrients and moisture. The main condition is the presence of drainage holes to drain excess liquid. In their absence, water accumulating at the bottom can cause rotting of the roots, and consequently the death of the entire plant.

Picking cacti or replanting them

After the seedlings have formed roots, it is necessary to transfer them to a deeper general container for further development. Healthy plants do not need to shorten the root system

It is important to plant the cactus correctly, since even a slight bend in the root can cause rotting. For this reason, non-standard ways of carrying out the procedure have been invented.

Picking cacti step by step:

1. Place a drainage layer about 1 cm thick into a clean, disinfected container.
2. Cover the top with a small amount of soil mixture.
3. Place the container at an angle of about 30° so that the substrate does not crumble, but the seedlings can be placed on their side.
4. Cover one wall with soil, lay a row of seedlings, taking into account further increase in size.
5. Place the root collar on the soil surface and straighten the roots.
6. Gently sprinkle the seedlings with soil mixture on the other side. Lay out the 2nd row and subsequent ones in the same way.

When transplanted by placing them on a hill, cacti often do not occupy a vertical position, so after filling the container, you need to straighten the seedlings using tweezers. Lightly compact the soil by tapping the edges of the container. Pour a small layer of river sand and allow the substrate to settle again.

There are several ways to plant a cactus at home. The absence of roots does not make the operation impossible, since the plant takes root well if basic agrotechnical recommendations are followed. Sowing seeds is also sometimes required, since over time the crop loses its decorative properties and becomes more susceptible to the effects of adverse environmental factors.

Choosing a sprout

How to plant cactus children? What you need to know about choosing shoots? Let's look at this in more detail. Before carrying out this procedure, it is extremely important to properly prepare the process. “Children” are formed on the cactus itself. They can be located both in the upper part of the plant and at the very roots. They are separated from the mother plant very simply, since they are practically not connected to the stem. The shoots of many types of succulents begin to produce roots while still on the adult plant. Over time, they may even fall off and fall to the ground, moving on to further development of the root system. Plant propagation occurs without any problems. When choosing a shoot for transplantation, you should definitely pay attention to its size: the larger it is, the better. Also take into account such an important point as the location of the process. According to experienced flower growers, better shoots are located closer to the top.

For planting cacti, you can also use “babies” without roots. This won't cause much difficulty. It is advisable to place the shoot in a dark, cool place for 3-7 days so that the cut dries out a little. This is done to prevent rotting.

Treatment Options

Depending on the type of disease, there may be several treatment options.

Cutting off the roots

How to save a cactus if it begins to rot from below, sequence of actions:

1. Cut off any roots that are severely affected or completely rotted.
2. Rinse the remaining healthy roots in a solution of potassium permanganate.
3. Sprinkle with sulfur powder or coal chips.
4. Dry for 2-3 days, hanging in a vertical position.
5. Take a new disinfected pot, pour steamed soil into it and plant the cactus.
6. After planting, the plant does not need to be watered at all for 3-4 weeks.

Cutting off the roots

To avoid such a problem in the future, you must adhere to all watering rules.

Additional Information! Fungi have different modifications, but each of them will progress more strongly if the flower is in a cool room, and it is cloudy or raining outside at that time.

Re-rooting

If the root of a cactus has rotted, what to do in this case:

1. Cut off the rotten piece and look carefully to ensure that the cut remains healthy and clean.
2. The stem needs to be slightly “sharpened”, like a pencil, so that later it will be more convenient to plant it in the ground.
3. Treat the cut with crushed activated carbon.
4. Let it dry thoroughly by securing it in a vertical position or placing it on a plastic cup.
5. Wait for the young roots to sprout. The process is quite lengthy and can take more than ten days.
6. When the roots appear, plant the seedling in the ground for cacti.
7. Water only through the tray. 10 minutes after watering, drain all the water from it.

Re-rooting process

The next time you can water only after 3-3.5 weeks.

Another way to revive a cactus if it has rotted:

1. Cut off all the rotten part of the cactus.
2. Dry for 3-4 days, during which time the cut should tighten.
3. Treat with a root growth stimulator and place in a glass of water. You need enough water to cover the cut by 2-3 centimeters.
4. After about 1-2 weeks, new roots will appear, when they reach 1 cm in length, the plant can be transplanted into new prepared soil.

A cactus transplanted in this way cannot be fed with fertilizers for one year.

Replanting a cactus

If there are pests or diseases, it is worth transplanting the flower into a new pot with new soil.

Transplanting into a new pot

The cactus is rotting from below, what to do in this case:

Shake the cactus out of the old pot, carefully examine the root and the trunk itself. Trim dried and damaged roots; if the stem is damaged, it must be cut back to healthy tissue, and the cut area should be sprinkled with crushed activated carbon. Next, the flower must be washed well in hot water (50-55 degrees), adding a fungicide or insecticide. Dry for 3-5 days in the sun in an upright position and with well-extended roots. Plant in the ground by placing the stem vertically in the pot and covering the roots with soil.

It is very important to ensure that the soil does not reach above the root collar. After such a cactus transplant, it must be kept in partial shade, without watering for about 3-5 days

After such a cactus transplant, it must be kept in partial shade, without watering, for about 3-5 days.

Note! When planting, it is important to ensure good drainage in the pot and add plenty of sand to the soil.

Trimming affected areas

How to save a cactus if it is affected by fungal rot:

• If the trunk of a cactus is affected, cut off the affected areas with a knife and treat with sulfur.
• If the top is affected, then it must be cut back to healthy tissue, and the plant itself must be used as a rootstock for grafting.
• If there is rot on the cactus, disinfect the wounds with charcoal or activated charcoal, or treat them with brilliant green.

During the period of treatment against fungi, it is necessary to exclude any spraying with water; it is better to use a fungicide solution for this purpose.

Treatment with drugs

For dry rot, brown spot and late blight, it is necessary to periodically (1-2 times a month) treat plants with phytoncides and insecticides.

With brown rot, if the cactus has become soft and watery, what to do:

• Heal all injuries on the cactus trunk.
• Adhere to the correct care regimen.
• Treat the plant with fungicides every 1-2 weeks.

Instructions

It is advisable to familiarize yourself with this aspect first. So, how to divide a cactus when transplanting? Many novice gardeners are afraid to carry out this procedure on their own, although there is nothing complicated about it. Let's take a closer look at how to transplant cactus shoots without roots.

To separate the babies from the mother plant, it is better to use tweezers or a knife. It is especially important to consider this recommendation if you are going to plant a cactus with needles. Although the “babies” are not very firmly attached to the mother plant, the shoots should be separated with extreme caution. If the slightest particle remains in the cactus, it can lead to rot. As a result, the sprout will not take root.

It is better to prepare everything necessary for planting in advance. This is a container, soil, drainage, a spatula and the sprouts themselves. First, you should lay a drainage layer on the bottom of the container. The remaining space is filled with moistened soil. Make a small depression in the middle of the pot. The “baby” is placed in it without dropping it, cut side down. If there are roots, it is better to straighten them. Lightly press down the soil with your hands to secure the young plant. Under no circumstances bury the shoot deep into the ground. To prevent moisture from evaporating too intensely from the surface of the soil, you can place sea pebbles and stones on top of it.

How to grow a cactus from seeds

Of course, growing a young cactus using cuttings is not difficult if you do everything correctly. Another thing is the seed method. However, nothing is impossible for amateur gardeners. Therefore, it would not be a bad idea to try growing the plant in this way.

True, you should know that in this case, firstly, there will be more fuss than with children, and secondly, you will have to take some precautions

First you need to take care of your “working tools”. We are talking about a container in which the seeds will be placed. It must be well treated with manganese solution or steam. The substrate, which is kept in the oven for about forty minutes before use, is not left without attention. After this, you can begin the process itself.

It comes down to these points:

• The soil should be thoroughly wetted and leveled.
• After this, make tiny holes, at a distance of a couple of centimeters from each other.
• If the planting material is large, then it is lightly sprinkled with substrate on top, if it is small, then everything remains that way.
• The container with seeds is covered with glass or tightly closed with film. After this, the container will need to be taken to a dark place, but with mandatory access to air.

Usually seeds germinate in 2-4 weeks. From this moment you can start removing the film or moving the glass away. It would not be a bad idea to take the container with the young animals into a bright room, but under no circumstances place it in direct sunlight. You can remove the film only after spines appear on the plant.

It must be said that young plants should not be forgotten to water, because they will dry out instantly. At the same time, you should ensure that the soil is not wet, otherwise all the seedlings will rot. It will be possible to plant the cactus when it is already more or less stronger. More details about this are written below.

Care

This aspect deserves special attention. Now that you understand how to plant cacti, it would be nice to know how to properly care for the plant at home. The first question that usually arises for novice gardeners is where to put the cactus pot. In this case, everything will depend on the type of succulent. So, cacti that grow in the desert are best placed in sunny places. Flower growers recommend providing partial shade to forest plants.

The cactus should not be watered for the first 5-7 days after planting. Simply spray the plant with water at room temperature. This will prevent it from drying out completely. Watering should start a little later. Make sure that the soil is not wet all the time; it should dry out slightly. The most optimal watering scheme is 2 times a week. Over time, the number of waterings can be reduced to once a week.

Decorative compositions using cacti

Some people prefer to create a composition from several types of succulents, planting them in glass vases or other containers. For growing in such an “aquarium” it is customary to choose a theme:

• Desert. Open glass containers are selected. For the soil, you can use colored sand, fine river sand or a mixture of sand and pebbles. Stones and ceramic chips are used as decoration.
• Forest. Plants such as ferns, small cacti, ivy, and ficus are suitable for this composition. Leaf soil and peat with the addition of sand are used as soil.
• Mountains. For this composition, plants are selected that are native to the highlands: succulents, ivy, Saintpaulia.

How to plant cacti and other plants in glass containers? To do this you need:

• prepare the container and put on gloves;
• carefully remove the plant from the pot and rinse its roots with warm water;
• pour 1 cm thick sand onto the bottom of the container, spread expanded clay with activated carbon and other fillers in the center;
• Succulents, cacti and other plants are placed in the vase, depending on the chosen composition. The gaps between them are covered with earth, sand, gravel or crushed stone. In this case, you need to ensure that the leaves do not touch the walls of the container.

Succulents in a vase

Plants in glass containers also need to be cared for, following the following recommendations:

• lighting. It is not recommended to place the vase in direct sunlight, near radiators or other heating devices;
• temperature. The optimal temperature for growth is +22-28 degrees;
• watering. This is carried out no more than 1-2 times a week, depending on the degree of drying of the soil. The soil should be saturated with water, but at the same time moisture should not accumulate.

Important! If there is excess water, you need to tilt the container, take paper napkins and absorb excess moisture into them

Growing Decembrist

Such a beautiful flower as the Decembrist also belongs to the cactus family. It usually blooms in November-December, hence the name. How it is recommended to plant Decembrist:

• it requires a low pot with a large diameter due to the presence of an extensive root system. You can mix the soil yourself or purchase it at a special store;
• transplantation is carried out in the spring by transferring the flower into a larger pot;
• further care is very simple: water the flower with warm water, keep the room temperature at 20-25 degrees. It is not recommended to expose the flower pot to direct sunlight.

Important! It is forbidden to replant Decembrist during flowering.

Decembrist in bloom

Why doesn't the cactus take root?

Sometimes it happens that a plant dies after transplantation. Beginning gardeners often encounter this problem. This is usually due to errors in preparing the shoot or planting it. If the young crop is not dried well before planting in the ground, it will rot. You may have chosen a plant that is too young for replanting. In this case, it will most likely simply dry out and not sprout roots. It is also important to observe optimal growing conditions: the succulent should not be filled with water or placed in a cold and dark place.

What to do if the plant dies after the procedure?

It is carried out according to the same scheme as the previous one - the plant is cut with a clean knife, sharpened into a pencil shape and laid out to dry.

When pruning, thoroughly clean the affected tissue . Even a small focus of infection will lead to recurrent disease.

If you take into account all the factors influencing the development of a cactus, you will ensure that the plant will regularly delight you with its flowering.

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Cacti are common inhabitants of home window sills, tubs and flowerpots; they often decorate office and other premises, fitting into almost any interior. This large family consists of succulents varying in size, appearance and climatic needs, but they are all united by relative unpretentiousness and vitality.

Caring for cacti is not difficult; most often, care consists of a minimum of procedures - watering, fertilizing, providing a microclimate depending on the season, and rare transplants. But, some varieties also need pruning. How to prune a cactus, which type of cactus is necessary, and in what cases can you not do without it?

Types of cacti

Let's look at this in more detail. The most popular types of cacti, photos and names of which can be found on resources of interest:

• Astrophytum: grows quite well. A distinctive feature of the culture is the presence of white flakes on the outside of the ribs. When flowering, beautiful yellow inflorescences are formed.
• Ferocactus: has hard, long spines. Usually this type of cacti has a cylindrical shape. It can reach 5-6 inches in height. “Children” often appear near the main trunk. In summer, large flowers may appear on adult specimens.
• Prickly pear: this type of cacti is characterized by its unpretentiousness and rapid growth. It is important to use gloves when caring for this plant, as it has very sharp spines. The peculiarity of this cactus is the presence of tiny, spiny bristles throughout the stem. They can cause much more inconvenience than the needles themselves, since they are very difficult to notice. There are different varieties of prickly pear: flat, oval, and so on. These cacti are characterized by their large size. They bloom unusually spectacularly. They bear edible pear-shaped fruits. The plants are quite hardy and can be planted even in open ground.
• Echinocereus: small spherical cacti covered with short spines. They bloom quite often with beautiful inflorescences. Caring for this type of cacti is very easy, so it is often recommended for beginners.

How do you know when pruning is needed?

There are a number of external signs that allow you to understand whether the top of the plant can be trimmed:

• The skin turned yellow and stopped shining.
• The plant shrank.
• The cactus looked sideways.
• Spots appeared on the trunk (wet, dry, different in color and structure from the rest of the plant).
• Stopping growth and falling off during the growing season.
• The plant has become too long, heavy and threatens to overturn the pot.
• It rests on a shelf, a window sill, there is not enough space for it, it is not possible to move it to another.

Is it possible to do this?

It is possible to prune cacti, and in some cases it is simply necessary.

It may be necessary to trim and re-root a cactus for various reasons, but most often this happens in cases where it is necessary:

• The plant begins to rot.
• The shape changes, the plant is greatly skewed.
• He has grown and stretched out a lot.

Cacti get sick due to inept care, pests or inappropriate treatment . Warm wintering, excessive watering or lack of light can seriously weaken the plant and reduce its ability to resist diseases and pests. To prevent this from happening, we suggest reading about how to properly water this plant and what is the best place to choose to place your green friend.

Rotting can begin due to:

• Overflow.
• Unsuitable soil (all details about choosing soil can be found here).
• A pot that is too large and where water stagnates (how to choose a pot for a cactus?).
• Due to fungal and bacterial infections.