There are approximately 2,000 species of cactus in the Cactaceae home , the vast majority of which arenative to arid regions . Many cacti are belittled enough to be grown indoors , though some winter hardy varieties can also be cultivated outdoors in the landscape in parts of the U.S. Many types of cactus blossom , and most have spines .
If you are wonder how to take attention of a cactus , you ’ll be happy to know that most cacti are grim - maintenance plants .
Cactus Environmental Needs
When they are actively growing , most cacti need to be kept at temperatures between 65 and 85 ° farad . In the winter , a 45 to 55 ° atomic number 9 range is suitable for sleeping plant .
Indoor cacti are best kept near a gay window where they receive trickle light , not direct Dominicus .
Warning
Do not place cacti in direct sunlight , as this can cause the flora to burn off .
How to Care for a Cactus
Like any other plant , cactus plants require paying attention watering and fertilization to perform their best .
Watering
As works native to desiccate regions , cactus plants do n’t involve a lot of water . During the growing time of year , you should water your cactus plants when the soil feels somewhat dry . Watering should be reduced in the winter .
Not overwatering cactus plant life is essential , as excessive wet can quickly cause the roots to rot . dirt with good drainage help to avoid this trouble .
Fertilizing
Indoor cactus plant benefit from fertilize with a fertilizer low in N during the summertime , begin in June . you may fertilize indoor cacti through September , but avoid fertilizing in winter when the plant are hibernating .
Repotting
In general , cacti industrial plant like to be root - bound , which have in mind that the roots have no more space to farm and start to overlap .
About every two to four years , however , it is often necessary torepot cactus plant . It ’s time to repot if you could see antecedent peeking through the drain holes .
When repotting cacti , practice a commode that is only somewhat larger than the current container . A pot that is too big requires more grime than is necessary , which can lead to moisture retention and root rot .
Tip
Plan to repot a cactus plant every two to four years .
Pests
Like many indoor plants , cacti can become infested with pests , including aphids , mealybugs and spider mites . Horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps can be used to keep these pests under mastery . Scale , another plague of cactus plants , can sometimes be cull off manually .
It is important to isolate infested cacti from other plant in the habitation to prevent the infestation from spreading .
