It is believed that cacti are the most unpretentious plants. But so that they have a well-groomed appearance and please the owner abundant flowering, a number of conditions must be observed. One of these conditions is proper transplantation. All cacti are succulents, that is, drought-resistant plants. In cactus plants, leaves replace needles. They serve as means of protection from sunlight and enemies. The leaves and stems of succulents are most effectively adapted to rational use moisture. This helps cacti survive even in the driest climates.
Conditions for transplanting cacti
How to replant cacti at home? Before you start replanting a succulent, you should become familiar with its growth and dormancy cycles. The greatest chance of success is possible if the transplant is carried out towards the end of the plant's dormant period or at the beginning of the growing season. In most cases this means early spring and early summer. Sometimes it is worth waiting until the plant has finished flowering so that it does not drop its buds. Three days before transplanting, stop watering the plant to avoid root rotting. . Adults should be replanted every 2-4 years, since over time the cactus does not grow so actively. The young plant is replanted once a year.
Transplanting cacti at home requires careful preparation. Make sure you have everything you need on hand:
- pot of the required size;
- drainage;
- priming;
- scissors or others cutting materials;
- tools for safely removing a cactus from a pot.
If you have the listed materials, you can begin transplanting.
Reasons for transplantation
Most succulents find small spaces very cozy and can remain in a container for many years. But in some cases, cacti need to be replanted. Buying a new plant in a store is one of the main reasons for replanting, since the container and soil in which it is located are not intended for long-term use. Next reason replanting a cactus at home can result in excessive limitation of the plant's root by the size of the pot. In this case, the roots are visualized at the bottom of the container.
Likewise, the cactus body itself may grow out of the pot and will require a larger container. And finally, the reason for transplantation can be the unhealthy behavior of an individual, when the cactus does not grow or bloom for a long time. Most likely, this may indicate damage to the roots.
How to choose a pot for a cactus
The choice of pot for a plant is determined by the size of its root system. For example, some individuals have fibrous roots that remain close to the soil surface. A small pot with a relatively large diameter is suitable for such a plant. Other instances may look They are modest on the outside, but have an impressive turnip-like root system and require a deep pot.
The container for the succulent can be made of plastic or unglazed clay, which effectively allows air to pass through and removes any excess moisture. A cactus pot must have good drainage system. For some plants, the holes in the bottom of standard pots are not enough. Then you will have to drill in the bottom of the pot additional slots. When choosing the shape of a pot, you should be guided by the availability of free space on the windowsill. Many experienced cactus growers have opted for square containers that take up little space.
Soil for replanting
Succulents are slow-growing plants and are not suited to growing in highly nutritious ( rich in nitrogen) soil. Planting cacti requires a special soil mixture. It can be purchased at the store or mixed yourself. The soil for a prickly pet should be loose, permeable and low-acid. The best soil mixture combination includes:
- One part of leaf humus or turf soil.
- One part of washed river sand.
- One part of crushed bricks.
Pumice, perlite, and charcoal are also added to the mixture if desired. Before planting, the soil mixture should be steamed in the oven or microwave. To prevent fire, a small amount of water should be added inside the soil. Immediately before transplanting, the substrate must be dry.
Removing a cactus from an old pot
How to transplant a cactus into another pot? Best strategy To move a thorny pet, use handy tools. You can wrap the plant in several layers of newspaper and secure it lightly with ribbon or twine. Such actions will significantly speed up the transportation of the plant. You can also use a pair of leather gloves or mittens.
One of the safest ways Transplantation is to use kitchen tongs or Chinese chopsticks. If the specimen is large, it should be moved to a new pot using two sheets of foam rubber, clamping it on both sides. At home, ordinary dishwashing sponges can serve as such means of transportation.
Do not pull the cactus, as this may damage the roots. If the roots of the individual do not slip out of the pot, you need to place the plant on its side on a hard surface and press down on the pot. Turn it a quarter turn and press again, repeating these steps until the cactus is free. If the roots have grown to the sides of the pot, you can try to separate the soil from the walls of the pot using a screwdriver or a wooden spatula. If these actions do not have any result, you can carefully cut or break the pot and remove the plant.
Methods for cleaning roots
After removing the cactus from the pot, it is necessary to remove the soil from the roots. There are two cleaning methods: dry and wet. Dry cleaning is carried out using a wooden stick or tweezers. The roots should be exposed enough to show whether they are susceptible to pests. Wet cleaning is carried out only for healthy roots that are not susceptible to rot. This procedure should not be carried out in a cold or damp room. After removing soil from the root ball, cut off any damaged roots.
Root trimming can be done with a sharp thin knife or regular office scissors. To protect the plant, the tool must be moistened in an alcohol solution. It is better to trim thick roots, since thin roots are necessary for the succulent to feed. When cut, the roots need to be treated with activated carbon powder, sulfur or cinnamon. Then you should air dry the treated roots for a couple of days. . Drying allows the roots heal and heal all the tiny damage that is inevitable when tearing a cactus out of the soil.
Planting a home cactus in a new pot
Before replanting the cactus, the pot should be thoroughly rinsed with hot water. Then you need to place a sufficient amount of drainage material at the bottom of the pot and fill it one-third with soil mixture. Expanded clay, crushed brick, crushed stone or crushed wine corks can serve as drainage material. You should place the plant in the center of the pot unless it likes to travel horizontally. In this case, it should be placed on the edge.
It is advisable to ensure that the plant will not be too deep in the pot or too high above the top of the pot. All cactus roots should be pointing downwards, this will prevent them from dying and rotting. Then, carefully holding the plant, you need to fill all the space between the plant and the pot with soil mixture. For convenience, you can use a tablespoon or a children's spatula. It is necessary to shake the pot so that the soil settles and add a little more soil.
What can harm a cactus?
The main troubles of a home cactus are:
Protecting the plant from rotting
For the normal functioning of the plant, knowledge of how to replant a cactus is not enough. It is important to be able to protect it from rotting. The stem of a newly planted succulent should not be in the ground. To protect the stem from rotting, you can pour a layer of fine gravel on top. One of the important reclamation tips is that Immediately after transplantation, the cactus should not be watered, as it adapts to cultivation and new soil conditions. You should give it a break from direct sunlight. And only after two weeks can the plant be irrigated. You can feed the cactus with a mixture of compost and vermicompost.
Watering conditions
The most active time for watering cacti is spring and early summer. As winter approaches, you should begin to reduce the frequency of watering. In winter, most cacti do not need water, provided they are kept at low temperatures between 5-15 degrees. Lack of watering in winter is the key to successful flowering of a cactus in spring and summer. Tap water is not suitable for cacti. If possible, water the cactus collected rainwater or melted snow is used. It causes chemical reactions and provides the soil with nutrients. Do not water cacti with cold water.
Watering methods
Most cultivated cacti are desert dwellers, so they can be watered in a tray. Potted plants need to be placed in a saucer of water so that they absorb moisture through the roots. Another method of watering cacti is to apply water to the surface of the soil. In this case, the amount of water will depend on a number of factors: heat, direct light and planting. Succulents need watering when the soil is completely dry. To find out if a cactus needs water, you can insert a pencil all the way to the base of the pot. If wet soil sticks to it, it is not time to water.
Transplanting cuttings
The procedure for transplanting cactus cuttings is carried out similarly, with the exception of some subtleties. After cutting, allow the cutting to dry in a slightly shaded area.. This makes the new plant less susceptible to rot. It is better to keep the neckline on a paper towel away from direct sunlight. The drying process can take from two to seven days. After this time, you can transplant the cuttings into the ground. If the leaf becomes very creased during this time, you may need to plant it earlier.
Planting cuttings in the ground
After transplanting into the ground, the cuttings begin to actively develop root system. At this time, they should be watered once every two to three days. Then you should reduce the frequency of watering. Thus, if all the above conditions are met, the home cactus will delight its owner for a long time.
Cacti can be replanted at any time of the year, however, subject to certain rules, but if possible, try to replant the plants during the period of active growth, that is, after the start of the growing season in May-June and in the fall in August and September.
The need for the procedure usually arises after several years of growth in the same pot with the same substrate.
If the plant has shriveled, growth has slowed down, the epidermis has lost its elasticity and color, and the roots have filled the pot, then it’s time to replant.
Sometimes this happens after 2 - 3 years, and in some cases after 5-6 years, depending on the type of cactus, growth rate and soil quality.
Cacti are also replanted immediately after purchase.
Before the procedure, you need to decide on protection from sharp thorns. Typically, gloves made of thick material, rubber or leather, or two pieces of thick foam rubber are used. You can also wrap the cactus several times with a folded piece of paper or newspaper.
This method is suitable for replanting large specimens.
Some stores sell special tongs that help hold small plants.
Transplantation technique
Hold the cactus, turn the pot upside down and lightly tap the bottom to remove the plant with a lump of soil. Do not pull the plant under any circumstances.
After carefully cleaning the roots from the old soil, dead and diseased roots are removed.
Cut off any that are too long and treat them with activated carbon. Then the plant is placed in an empty container and left without soil in a warm place for a couple of days so that the wounds on the roots heal.
To prevent and treat possible diseases, do hot bath for the root system. Cut a stand out of cardboard and make a hole in the middle for the roots.
Place the cactus on the stand, immersing the roots through the hole in hot water at a temperature of + 50-55 ° C for 15-20 minutes, and then let it dry well for 3-4 days.
After the steps described above, proceed to planting.
For the procedure, use a special ready-made soil for cacti and succulents or prepare the mixture yourself: add fine gravel and coarse sand to the universal soil in proportions 1:1:1.
The filling of the pots itself is carried out as follows.
The thickness of the expanded clay or gravel drainage layer depends on the size of the pot. Place a thin layer of soil on top of the drainage. Holding the cactus in the center, spread the roots in a circle, then begin filling in the soil.
When the pot is almost full, you need to vigorously tap its sides or press the surface of the substrate with your hand.
The remaining top layer of the pot can be filled with decorative crushed stone or expanded clay. This is especially useful for large specimens.
For tall plants, after transplantation, fixing supports are placed, which are removed after rooting.
Transplantation also makes it possible to immediately carry out vegetative propagation by separating rooted side shoots (if any) without damaging the roots, and then planting them in separate containers.
Choosing a pot
The new pot should be 2-3 cm larger than the previous one; preference should be given to ordinary plastic ones. When choosing it, you should be guided mainly by the type of root system of your pet.
If the plant has a well-developed thick root, then it is planted in a deep and narrow container. Cacti with thin and long roots are best grown in shallow and wide bowls.
Short video of replanting cacti at home
Care after transplant
Cacti should not be watered immediately after replanting. Watering begins only after 2-3 weeks.
Pots with cacti should also not be placed directly in the sun. They will do best in a partially shaded area for a few days.
You will need
- A new larger pot, universal soil or soil for cacti, drainage or stones, sand, oilcloth for work and a scoop, thick gloves, a long strong stick with a blunt end, a sheet of foam rubber.
Instructions
Take a pot of cactus. Place it on the floor or on your desk. Check if there is enough space to work. If the cactus is placed on its side, it should fit completely on the work surface.
The biggest problem in replanting a cactus is the presence of needles. It would seem that you can put on thick gloves and take the cactus in your hand in such a way that the needles do not pierce the gloves and do not reach your hands. But this way you will damage the cactus needles. Not every type of cactus tolerates this easily.
Therefore, very carefully place the pot with the cactus on its side, holding the cactus itself with gloves. We place a sheet of thick foam rubber under the cactus.
When the cactus lies on its side, we have the opportunity to work with a lump of earth in a pot. Carefully, using a stick with a blunt end, we begin to pierce the old earthen lump next to the walls of the pot. As a result, you will separate the earthen lump from the pot.
Now very carefully shake the cactus and the pot separately. If you can see that just slightly pulling the pot will remove it from the earthen ball, then remove the pot, holding the cactus. The cactus lies on its side all this time. If the pot is not yet separated from the earthen clod, then perform step three until free movement appears.
When the pot has separated and the earthen lump has been released, you need to carefully remove the old soil and clean the roots as much as possible. This must be done very carefully.
Now we prepare the soil mixture. Pure universal soil can burn the roots of the cactus. Therefore, we mix it with sand in the proportion of 40% sand / 60% soil. If you have special soil for cactus, then adding 10-15% sand is enough.
Sprinkle drainage with 2-3 cm of prepared soil. We lift the cactus using foam rubber, take it in our hands (through the foam rubber) and place it in the center of the pot. The cactus must be handled carefully so as not to damage it. Sprinkle the roots with prepared soil. We compact the soil. There is no need to compact the earthen ball too much, but it should not be left loose either.
Now we water our cactus more abundantly than we usually do. Surely the soil is subsiding. The failed parts must be sprinkled with a new portion of soil. Also make sure that the cactus does not tilt.
If the cactus does not tilt to the side and the soil does not sag, then the job is done.
note
You cannot pull the cactus with great force. This can damage the root system and the flower will die.
- When filling the roots with soil, do not forget to leave about 1 cm of space on top of the pot. This will prevent water spillage when watering.
- The pot with soil must be of sufficient weight so that a massive cactus does not turn it over in a vertical position.
The most difficult part of the whole job is interacting with the cactus spines. Try to build your interaction through intermediate surfaces - at first the cactus will lie on the floor on its side. All you have to do is lift the cactus and insert the roots into the empty pot. The cactus is wrapped in foam rubber. After this, you can carefully hold the cactus itself in an upright position with one finger in the place where there are the fewest needles. The method works even with large cacti.
Experience shows that cacti benefit from regular replanting, especially during periods of active growth. With the correct size of dishes, cacti under the age of 4-5 years should be replanted annually, at the age of 5 to 10 years - once every 2 years, and subsequently according to individual indications.
Almost all types of cacti are best replanted from late spring to mid-summer. At this time, the cacti “wake up” and begin to form fresh, bright spines.
For cacti that bloom in spring, a more convenient time for replanting is at the end of summer stagnation, the end of July and the beginning of August.
When replanting, plants are removed from the pots using a removable bottom, carefully squeezing it out, or, if the pots do not have a removable bottom, shaken out, gently tapping the pot and helping with an ordinary knitting needle, trying not to damage the root system. Next, the old soil is carefully and carefully removed using a stiff paint brush so that the roots are completely freed. Cacti whose roots are severely damaged or infested by pests should be set aside for special treatment. The root system damaged by scale insects must be treated with poisons or hot water; damaged by a nematode or rotten must be removed with a sharp knife and treated with hot water. The water is heated to 45-50 °C for healthy plants, which has a beneficial effect on root development, and to 52-56 °C for those damaged by pests.
After treatment in hot water for 1-2 minutes, the cacti are laid out in the shade or covered with paper, so they rest for 24-48 hours. During this time, healing of injuries occurs. If necessary, if the roots are too large, the root system can be trimmed with a sharp knife to the required size. When cutting roots, you usually leave about a third of the root length. It is useful that in the new pot the roots do not reach the bottom and have a reserve for growth.
If time permits, it is useful to subject the root system to deeper aeration when replanting. It is not necessary to buy aerators. To do this, regardless of the shortening of the roots, the plants freed from the ground are laid out on a plane or in a suspended state for 2-3 weeks, after which they are planted in fresh soil. Aeration can be carried out both in the shade and in the sun, while ultraviolet irradiation of the roots helps to destroy root fungus and rot.
Before planting, drainage (expanded clay, broken brick or sphagnum moss) is laid at the bottom of the pot in a layer of 1-2 cm, then a little earthen mixture is poured. Before planting, the roots of the cactus can be rolled in ash or sulfur powder, after which they are lowered into a pot, carefully straightened and sprinkled with earthen mixture. To ensure that the earthen mixture penetrates between the roots, you can shake the pot or knock several times. It is unacceptable to press the soil against the roots and compact it after planting. The plant is planted correctly if the root collar is just below the top edge of the pot. The root collar of the cactus should remain free of soil; it is then sprinkled with gravel or pebbles so that water does not erode the earth mixture when watering. Transplanted cacti should be placed in partial shade for a week and not watered.
Cactus is a slow growing plant. Inexperienced flower growers believe that he does not need a transplant. They argue this by saying that in their natural environment, cacti grow in one place.
This opinion is wrong: in natural conditions, plants develop freely, their roots easily find fresh soil. If you keep cacti in one pot for a long time at home, they will suffer from soil depletion and crowding.
Drainage in pots
Changing cactus pots is a pain. Transplanting them is a real art, which is not difficult to master if desired.
Cacti need drainage, especially if the grower does not know how to choose the right pot size. This question is also relevant for those who want to plant a composition of cacti in one small pot. The drainage hole is not able to prevent stagnation of water at the root. Excess liquid often remains in the pan, from where it is difficult to drain. The drainage dimensions are relative: the minimum is 1/6 of the volume of the pot used, and the maximum is 1/3 of the volume.
Use as drainage: expanded clay, small gravel or pieces of broken bricks. You can also add pieces of foam and cork, cut into pieces.
The wine cork is the easiest to use - it can be cut into pieces of about five millimeters in size without much effort.
During transplantation, the old drainage can be thrown away because salts accumulate in it.
Drainage will flow better from the roots if the cactus is thoroughly watered before replanting. After shaking off the remaining old soil, let the succulent lie in the shade for several hours. You can add broken eggshells.