Cacti are considered the paragon of frugality and ideal houseplants for the beginner. In order for the thorny blossom beauties from distant countries to feel at home on the windowsill, species-appropriate care is important. The following answers to important questions convey how to properly care for the succulents.

Most cacti have similar care requirements

Pour cacti correctly - how does it work?

As succulents, cacti will immediately soak up any drop of water they can get their hands on and store away in the stem or leaves. By watering the plants infrequently but thoroughly, you skillfully tailor the water supply to this specific trait. How to do it right:

  • Water from spring to autumn when the top layer of soil has dried out
  • Let the lime-free water run onto the substrate until the saucer fills up
  • Gradually reduce the amount of water from September

In winter, only water your cacti in sips so that the root ball does not dry out completely. This near-dry dormant period makes an important contribution to the formation of buds for the next festival of blooms.

Do cacti need to be fertilized?

The modest demands of cacti do not mean that the plants can completely do without a supplementary nutrient supply. Therefore, please add a liquid fertilizer to the irrigation water from May to September. A normal fertilizer for indoor plants is unsuitable for this purpose because it contains too much nitrogen. Therefore, use special cactus or succulent fertilizer, the composition of which is tailored to the special needs.

Can I cut my cactus?

If a cactus becomes out of shape, grows too large, or has diseased, rotting branches, pruning will fix the problem. The best time for pruning is between March and May. For soft plant parts, ideally use a disinfected scalpel. A thick or lignified epidermis is severed with a sharp serrated knife. Don't forget to wear sturdy gloves to protect yourself from the thorns.

An oblique incision ensures that no water collects on the cut. Lightly dust the open cut with charcoal powder so that it does not bleed too much and heals quickly. So that the cactus can sprout again, please only cut so deeply that at least 2 sleeping eyes remain on the shoot. Buds capable of sprouting are usually found where thorns or leaves are still sprouting.

How do cacti hibernate intact?

From October to February, cacti stop growing to rest until the next spring. For most species of cacti there are two options for overwintering, which require appropriate care measures:

  • Light to half shade and cool at 5 to 10 degrees Celsius
  • Do not water or fertilize
  • Sunny and warm with normal room temperatures
  • Water in sips and do not fertilize

Most cacti bud during the winter dormancy period. Therefore, we recommend the light to partially shaded and cool variant, which proves advantageous for a lavish bloom. From April/May, the cacti are awakened from hibernation by allowing them to get used to the sun's rays in a partially shaded location for 14 days and watering them a little more. After acclimatization, the normal summer care program begins in the sunny location.

What diseases threaten a cactus?

Despite their hardy constitution, cacti are not entirely immune to disease. Fungal infections such as Fusarium wilt, Phytophthora or Botrytis are at the top of the inglorious list of common cacti diseases. Affected plants have softened, discolored shoots, stems or roots and are usually beyond saving.

In the early stages of infestation, cut off the infected shoots, leaves or roots and dispose of them with household waste. Immediately repot the cactus in fresh, disinfected substrate and treat it with a fungicide. Please avoid warm, humid cultivation in humus-rich potting soil, as this is the cause of most diseases.

What pests can attack cacti?

Some pests cannot be deterred from attacking the plants by the thorns of cacti. We have compiled the most common parasites with tips on how to combat them for you here:

  • Mealybugs and mealybugs: dab with alcohol-soaked cotton swabs
  • Spider mites: shower vigorously and treat with soft soap solution
  • Root lice: pot out, rinse the root ball and treat with neem oil insecticide
  • Fungus gnats: repot in a mineral substrate and keep the drying phase as long as possible

Once you have discovered the infamous pests, quarantine the affected cactus immediately. Thanks to this prudence, you effectively prevent spreading to neighboring cacti and other indoor plants.

tips

On average, cacti have fully rooted their pot and are repotted every 2 to 3 years. The best time for this care measure is at the end of the hibernation. The diameter of the new planter corresponds to about one third of the current growth height. So that the fresh cactus soil does not have any pathogens in its luggage, it is sterilized in the oven at 150 degrees.

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Vegetable garden