All about how to transplant cacti: basic rules and important details

Many beginning gardeners have a stereotype in their minds about a cactus as almost the most undemanding plant that does not need anything other than rare watering. And caring for a cactus has many nuances, the knowledge of which is the key to its longevity and joy of the owner. In this article, we will talk about transplanting: what is needed, are there any general rules, can it be deepened into the ground and what should I do if my favorite flower becomes soft after transplantation? We will tell you when and how to transplant cacti - large and small, prickly and not so, adults and young, at home in another pot and in the open ground, without pricking. Is it possible to transplant an already blooming cactus? What to do next with all this - find out below.

Why is a transplant required?

And why do you need to transplant a cactus? A cactus grows, like any plant, and has the ability to outgrow its pot. If you don’t think about moving on time, then over time the cactus will stop blooming, the roots will abut the walls of the pot, which will lead them to decay, and the plant will die. Not the best outcome.

How often and when is it possible?

We made sure of the need for transplantation. Now it's time to answer a few more questions:

1. How often to transplant a cactus? You can transplant fast-growing and young people every year, if it is clear that the cactus has become crowded. Older plants will be ready for transplanting a little later, they should be transplanted in 2-3 years, but only if necessary. Do not create unnecessary problems either to yourself or to your pet.
2. What time of year to transplant succulent? It is believed that cacti are ready for transplanting at any time of the year, but most often they do this either at the beginning of winter or at the end of spring. In November and December, succulents are at rest, and in April and May they are only beginning to grow actively - both of these conditions are favorable for transplantation.
3. How to determine that a cactus needs a transplant? When there is a need for transplantation, the cactus stops growing, grows dull and loses elasticity. Sometimes it may seem that the cactus is crowded, but if its growth and flowering continue, then there is no danger.

What land is needed?

When transplanting, the old soil is completely replaced only by acquiring a sandy-grayish hue (which means that there are no useful substances left in the soil). In other cases, it is enough to sterilize (put in the oven for 1-2 minutes, warming up to 100 degrees) soil, add from a third to half of fresh soil and transplant the cactus. In a separate article you will find detailed information about which soil is suitable for cacti.

Capacity

It is always necessary to transplant the succulent into the pot 1-2 cm more than the previous one. Do not forget about the presence of drainage holes, and there should be at least 4 of them, as well as the type of root system of the selected plant, on which the shape of the pot will depend (for rod or turnip roots, deep pots are needed, and for fibrous ones - wide.).

The opposite situation is possible, when the pot is too large for a cactus, then when transplanting, you will need to place the cactus in a smaller container. Read more about choosing a pot for this plant here.

Transplanting at home into another pot step by step: correctly so as not to prick

Enough theory, it's time to practice. The transplant process itself is quite laborious and painstaking, but if you follow the following tips, then neither the planting man nor the cactus will have any problems.

The transplant will not do without-:

• new pot;
• soil;
• expanded clay and pebbles for lower and upper drainage, respectively;
• tweezers;
• gloves or towels or heavy paper.

There are two types of transplants.: with change of soil and without.

With soil change

1. First you need to ensure the safety of your hands. In order not to prick during the transplant, you can use gloves or gently wrap the cactus in several layers with thick paper or a towel.
2. Shortly before the transplant, you need to completely stop watering or spraying the succulent, that is, let it “dry”.
3. Knock on the walls of the pot if it is clay, or gently squeeze if plastic to peel off a lump of earth along with the roots.
4. Grab tweezers by the root neck and gently pull out the cactus.
5. Inspect the roots for damage or pests, remove damaged parts.
6. Create a bottom drainage layer of expanded clay at the bottom of the pot, place a cactus, slowly fill it with suitable soil, create an upper drainage layer of pebbles. The top layer should barely touch the stem of the plant.
7. Use your fingers or a small spatula to compact the soil.
8. It is important to note that the root neck of the plant should not be buried in the ground, it should be at ground level.

Transshipment

1. Get the cactus together with the ground (it’s enough to simply cut the pot if it is made of plastic, and get the ground. If you don’t want to spoil the pot or it is made of clay, you will have to use the methods described in “replanting with changing the ground”).
2. In the new pot, create a bottom drainage layer, add a little soil and place the succulent with the ground.
3. Create an upper drainage layer.

During flowering

As already mentioned, succulents can be transplanted at any time of the year, even during flowering. But if the plant has already started buds, it is better to wait. In case of transplanting, the buds will fall off, and the cactus will lose all its attractiveness. It’s worth replanting a cactus with buds that have begun if the refusal to transplant results in the death of the plant.

After the purchase

And what to do with a cactus bought in a store? It must be transplanted immediately after purchase. Shop succulents are “fed” only with nutrient solutions, so the plant is no longer able to receive nutrients from the soil on its own, a quick transplant allows the plant to adapt to the new environment. To transplant a purchased cactus you need:

1. first get it out of the pot;
2. completely clear the roots of the soil;
3. check for parasites or rot;
4. only then sit in a new place.

In open ground

Maybe for some it will be a real shock, but there are cacti that can be transplanted into the open ground in our latitudes. One of them is prickly pear. This succulent will delight the owners of cottages and private houses by the fact that it can be planted right in the garden. But for this you need to observe some conditions:

• The soil for the cactus should be airy and loose, as well as good air permeability.
• You should often water the succulent, as well as overlay it with gravel to prevent the root neck from rotting (read more on how to properly water the cactus).
• It is desirable to plant it on an elevation. Necessarily where the summer is the warmest and the winter is the driest.
• To ensure the dryness of the soil around the plant, you can make a canopy for the winter.

Photo

Here you can see a photo of the plant:

Care after

So, everything is behind, the cactus is successfully "relocated". How to look after him now?

1. The first and main rule is that a cactus is not watered immediately after a transplant.
   • If it’s not winter in the yard, then this is done in 2-3 days to prevent damage, and they will begin to rot during root transplantation.
   • If a cactus was transplanted in winter, then it is not watered at all, but it is warmed up for 3-5 days and left for wintering.

     Important! If the roots were severely damaged during the transplant, then the first watering should be postponed for at least 10 days. Do the same if the roots were affected by the fungus. In both cases, a plant can be sprayed once or twice, but no more.

2. If the transplant took place in the warm season, you do not need to immediately leave the cactus in direct sunlight, burns will slow down the adaptation of the "adult" cactus, and for the young can become fatal.

What to do if succulents begin to disappear?

At first glance it seems that everything is done correctly, but after the transplant the cactus disappear. What is the reason? And there may be many reasons:

• illnesses;
• fungi;
• parasites;
• wrong soil or pot;
• lack / excess of water (read about proper watering here);
• decay.

Only a timely reaction and no less timely treatment can help here.

For example, a cactus began to become soft - what to do, who is to blame? The rot is to blame, which hit the roots first, and then the stem itself. To save the prickly pet you need:

1. urgently get it out of the ground;
2. Examine the roots for rot;
3. remove affected roots and treat the plant.

However, if the disease is started, it will not be possible to save the succulent.

I hope now it’s clear that transplantation is a necessity for the life of any succulent. Yes, the need is difficult and requires tremendous patience and attention, but if everything is done right, the cactus will repay with its long flowering, and no time will be a pity.

Useful video

We suggest you watch a video about a cactus transplant:

Watch the video: How to Grow Dragon Fruit Part 1. Soil, Sun, Water, Containers, and Fertilizing (November 2024).