Every 2 to 3 years your cactus will get too cramped in its pot. To ensure that your protégé continues to thrive and bloom magnificently, the change to a larger container with fresh soil is part of the care program. This guide explains how to properly repot the thorny fellow. Benefit from our tips on the ideal substrate and the perfect pot size.

Cacti grow slowly and therefore rarely need to be repotted

When is the best time?

If a cactus has fully rooted its pot, if the soil is depleted or infested with pests, the plant will feel uncomfortable. So that it does not lose its will to live, repot the thorny gem in spring. A good date is at the end of winter, during the months of March and April. This not only reduces the stress on the cactus. Since the substrate is almost dry at this time, the work is particularly easy for you.

Cacti appreciate this soil

The vast majority of cactus species are native to regions with sandy-dry soil, which consists primarily of mineral components and contains little humus. For this reason, conventional potting soil is unsuitable. Therefore, please use special succulent soil from specialist retailers. If you like to mix the soil yourself, you can prepare a mineral-organic mixture based on one of the following recipes:

  • 2 parts leaf compost, 2 parts coconut fiber, 1 part pumice, 1 part lava granulate
  • 3 parts succulent soil, 2 parts expanded clay, (19.73€) 2 parts pumice
  • 2 parts perlite,(37.51€) 2 parts pumice, 1 part lime-free quartz sand,(15.85€) 1 part vermiculite

Please place any soil with humic components in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes to sterilize it at 150 degrees.

How to determine the perfect pot size

So that the new pot is neither too big nor too small, we give you a simple rule of thumb here:

  • Growth height below 100 cm: pot diameter corresponds to a third of the size
  • Growth height over 100 cm: pot diameter corresponds to a quarter to a sixth of the size

A bowl is the right choice for shallow-rooted cacti. Beet rooters thrive better in a deeper pot.

Repot cacti - step-by-step instructions

If the sterilized, cooled soil and the new pot are ready, please put on thorn-proof gloves. Now proceed as follows, step by step:

  • Unpot the cactus and remove the dry soil with a wooden stick
  • In the new plant pot, lay out drainage made of expanded clay or potsherds over the water drain
  • Fill in a first layer of the new soil
  • Place the cactus in the middle

Fill in the substrate gradually. To distribute it properly, knock the pot on the tabletop. Finally, press the earth. After 2 weeks, water the cactus again with lime-free water for the first time.

tips

Tired of bothering with the sharp thorns? Then you don't have to do without the cultivation of the fascinating desert beauties, because there are cacti without spines. The Mistletoe Cactus (Rhipsalis Cassutha) is a shining example of cactus species that are kind to your gardener.

Category:

Vegetable garden