Watering cacti correctly
Many novice flower growers believe that cacti are the most unpretentious plants, because they almost do not need watering. In general, they are, of course, right, but about watering it is not entirely true. Although most cacti are native to the desert, where there is very little rainfall, they cannot exist without water. Needless to say about the flowering varieties of this prickly beauty - they certainly need moisture.
Correct and, most importantly, timely watering is the key to the good condition of the plants. Knowing how often you need to water the cacti, you can not only grow a large and beautiful flower, but also wait for the peduncle to appear.
Watering frequency
The need for moisture in cacti is predetermined by many factors, among them:
- species affiliation;
- conditions of detention;
- season.
Today varieties cactus lots of. There are varieties among them that can do without water for a very long time, because they accumulate water reserves in themselves (for example, plants native to Africa). But at the same time, there are such cacti for which a prolonged drought is simply destructive (tropical and forest species). Therefore, it is important to consider the origin of a particular species.
As for the conditions of detention, everything is quite simple - the lower the temperature, the less often watering should be.
And, of course, it is necessary to take into account the general recommendations regarding the frequency of watering cacti, depending on the season. In winter, the length of daylight hours decreases significantly, which affects the growth rate of flowers. In this regard, the watering schedule for most types of cacti looks like this:
- from November to March - provided that the flower is kept in a cool and dark room, a single watering is enough for a month, or even without it;
- April-May - gradually removing cacti from winter dormancy, periodically humidify the air above them and water them twice a month;
- from June to August - when keeping cacti in the sun and hot weather, water at least once every 5 days, but if the summer is rainy and cool, once a week is enough;
- September-October - reduce watering to once a month.
So that the water quickly penetrates to the roots and does not stagnate in the pot, drainage should be laid at the bottom of the flowerpot, and the correct soil (a mixture of peat, sand and universal soil).
How are cacti watered?
Most growers water cacti directly into the pot. You can do this, but it must be borne in mind that water should not fall on the cactus itself.
For watering in this way, it is better to use a watering can.
But there are more advantages to watering cacti in a pan, when water enters them from below, through the drainage holes. Firstly, the soil in the pot is not washed out this way and there is no risk of wetting the root collar, and secondly, moisture enters the roots faster, since they are closer to the bottom of the flowerpot.
Thus, when caring for and watering your cacti, one must take into account not only their type, but also the season, as well as the conditions of their maintenance.