Cactus Care Guide, How to Care for Cactus? Tips

Cacti, which are very popular in home and office environments and are found in different types, stand out as plants with effortless and practical care. However, cactus care is still a subject that needs to be treated carefully because although cacti are durable plants, they do not dry out and some species bloom, so care should be taken for cactus care tips. Since they are one of the easiest plants to care for, it is quite easy to answer questions such as how to care for a cactus, but as mentioned, attention should be paid to the necessary points for cactus care.

In addition to creating beautiful decorative environments, cacti are also preferred to eliminate radiation in the environment. The spread of succulents, especially known as thornless cacti, brings up the question of how to care for a cactus. Since cacti are divided into types among themselves, it would be more correct to be able to provide care specific to each type.

What is a Cactus?

These plants, generally known as cacti and attracting attention with their thorny appearance, are known as cactaceae in botanical literature. Although cactus is not a species or genus name in itself, it has become a general name due to widespread use. A distinctive feature of cacti is that their trunk structures are plump and their interiors are filled with water. They have a flat appearance in terms of shape. The regions where cacti grow most frequently are regions with tropical climates, especially deserts. Since the cactus plant does not need much water or rain, it can live independently of water conditions. At the same time, the long and thick plant roots of cacti can also provide all the minerals they need from a wide area of ​​soil. Their most distinctive feature is their thorny leaves. In fact, the thorns of cacti are their leaves and have developed so that other living things do not harm them. Although the thorns of cacti are not harmful, they can cause pain to every living thing when they prick. In this respect, cactus varieties and care have reached a very important point with the use of cacti in large areas. Cacti have recently started to be widely used in areas with televisions or computers on the grounds that they are also good for radiation.

What are the Features of Cacti?

According to some views, cacti constitute a plant family with approximately 100 varieties. The care of some species is not suitable for home environments and may require open areas or very hot climates. The general characteristics of cacti are that they do not have large leaves and large flowers. However, there are blooming cactus species and they can bloom extremely beautiful and unique flowers. Cacti, which are suitable for home environments thanks to their heat-loving structures, should never be left in the cold. Every cactus variety that is left in the cold loses its vitality.

For the care of succulents, which are thornless cacti, general cactus care features should be taken into account. The most important points for all cactus varieties belonging to the cactus family are temperature and sun values. At the same time, since they also like sandy soil, attention should be paid to sand for cacti that are kept at home.

How to Care for Cacti?

In order to grow a healthy cactus for the popular rabbit ear cactus care or general species, it is necessary to be careful about cactus care. Whether it is small cactus care or larger cacti, you can grow healthier and livelier cacti by paying attention to the following points;

Choosing a Pot for Cacti

One of the most important points for cactus care at home is the choice of pot. When you buy your cactus, it will usually be in a small pot. Changing this pot is important for growing a healthier cactus. However, you should avoid using large pots for cacti. Although it may be right for other flowers, very large pots do not provide good conditions for cacti. Therefore, you should choose pots that are proportionate to its size. If your cactus is small, you can choose a pot that is slightly larger in width. For this, you can take a look at the pot varieties specially produced for cactus pots. Another important point is that the pot must be drained. In other words, the pot you will use for your cactus must have channels at the bottom to allow water to drain. Otherwise, the water will remain in the pot and cacti will be damaged in moist soil. Therefore, your pot must have a water-retaining feature.

How to Change Soil and Pot for Cactus?

Another important point for cactus care is the selection of soil for its healthy development. The selection of soil is also related to the change of pot. Because when you first buy your cactus or depending on its growth, it is necessary to change the pot. You should not use large pots for cacti, considering that they will grow over time. It is better to be careful to choose a pot proportional to its size and change its pot as it develops. Since cacti develop slowly, you do not need to change the pot and soil frequently. First of all, sprinkling pebbles on the bottom of the pot you will use will prevent excess water from damaging the cactus. Then you can use cactus soil made from a mixture of flower soil and coarse sand. These soils differ from the soils suitable for other flowers and provide the minerals that cacti need. Fill the cactus soil you have obtained over the pebbles you have previously placed, more than half the size of the pot. When filling, be careful not to compact the soil and do not apply pressure with your hand to compact the soil. Then, taking care not to let the cactus' thorns prick your hand (you can use gloves for this), remove the cactus from its current pot and place it in the new pot, paying attention to its roots. After making sure that all the roots are in the pot, pour the soil in your hand onto the pot so that the space you left is filled with soil again. Here, take care that the soil does not cover the body too much. Again, unlike other plants, do not apply the first watering called life water when you change the soil of your pot or put it in its new pot. After waiting a few days, water it in a way that ensures the soil is moist.

How to Water Cactus?

Cacti are the plants that need water the least. In this respect, it offers great convenience in terms of water for cactus care and reproduction. However, they still need to be watered at certain intervals. Before watering the cactus, check that the reservoir under the pot is empty. Because cacti and cactus soil do not retain water, and cactus pots also release water outside. Therefore, if there is no tray or if it is full, this may cause the surroundings to get dirty. After making sure that the tray is empty, check the soil of the cactus with your finger, if the outside and inside are dry, that is, if it is not moist, then you will need to water. Dry means that the soil is completely dry. You can also check the dryness of the soil with a stick. When the soil is dry, you can water it very slowly, ensuring that the soil is moist. When draining the water, you should also be careful not to get it on the trunk of the cactus, and only water the soil. Some species in particular can be damaged when they come into direct contact with water. You can use a thin-tipped watering can to prevent this.

What are the Temperature, Light and Humidity Values ​​for Cacti?

Since cacti like to get plenty of sun, it would be better for them to place it in the sunniest place in your home. For cacti that you can keep on your windowsill or balcony, although they like to get sun, it will be useful to protect them from the burning sunlight at noon in very hot weather. Especially small cacti will be damaged by very effective temperatures such as midday sun. In terms of temperature values, cacti are resistant to 40 degrees. However, low temperatures, especially when the temperature drops below zero, can be very harmful for cacti. Similarly, it is very difficult to grow cacti in places that receive frequent rainfall, so if you want to look after cacti in your garden, make sure that the climate conditions are not rainy frequently. In addition, since there will often be humidity in areas such as bathrooms or kitchens, you can keep your cacti away from these areas. Humidity causes rotting and also brings problems such as fungus.