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Tips on Caring for Cacti

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Growing cacti has been a favorite pastime of a lot of gardeners because cacti are hardy plants that are low-maintenance and easy to grow. They make for perfect backyard and balcony plants that can also be used to decorate interiors of your apartment in Singapore.

If this is your first time growing cacti, here are practical tips to keep them healthy.

  • If you buy a new cactus, it is good practice to transfer it to a new pot or garden bed. This will allow you to inspect it for possible diseases and ensure that it gets proper drainage, good soil, and nutrients. You should also place the pot away for a few days from your other plants to make sure that it does not transmit diseases or pests to your other plants.
  • The most common pests found in cacti are spider mites, scale, and mealybugs. Quarantine the affected plants and buy the appropriate remedy to get rid of the pests.
  • It’s also a good idea to research about the specific cactus you just bought. This will allow you to give it the required love and care it needs to thrive.
  • When transferring cacti to a plant box, place it in an area where the plants will get plenty of sunlight. If you build a box, make sure that it has plenty of drainage holes at the bottom. Any material will do as long as it can drain the water well. Avoid getting pricked by wrapping newspaper around the plant.
  • To determine if the plant is getting enough sunlight, observe the greenness of the cacti. The greener the color of the cacti, the more likely it will survive in low lights. On the other hand, if you notice that there’s a large space in between the leaves, it means it’s not getting enough light. As a general rule, bright lights are very good for cacti, so even if they are indoors, place them near windows where there’s plenty of light.
  • If you are going to transfer the cacti to a pot, make sure the container has a hole in the bottom to drain excess water. The size of the pot will also determine how big the cacti will grow. The bigger the pot, the better the chances of the cacti to grow larger.
  • Do not water the cacti if the soil is still moist. Remember that these plants can survive for a long time without water, but the most ideal is to water them once a week only. Overwatered cacti look dimpled and shriveled.
  • If you need to use a fertilizer, purchase a product that is specifically manufactured for cacti. These are similar to the ones sold for succulents. When applying the fertilizer, add it to the water to dilute it.
  • Don’t forget proper ventilation. They can thrive with less water but not when there is poor ventilation. Install a humidifier in your apartment to avoid killing your plants.

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