Posted by Editor on May 15, 2019 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Tips on Caring for Cacti
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.