Improperwatering cactiis the most common cause of losing them. The assumption that semi-arid cacti do not need too much water to live is wrong! Cacti love water and need a lot of water for proper development and flowering. However, these unique plants require special treatment. There are a few basic rules to follow when watering cacti. Seehow to water cactito grow he althy: -)
How to water cacti?
Fig. depositphotos.com
Basic rules for watering cacti
Many people believe that cacti do not require a lot of water. Although cacti can do without it for a long time, during this time they do not grow and bloom, but only vegetate. There are no clear guidelines as to how often you should water them.Too rare and meager watering of cacti during the growing season adversely affects their growth and floweringNever let the cactus shoots start to wrinkle and shrink. In turn, excess water in the substrate causes them to rot.
It is assumed thatcacti are watered on average once every 2-3 weeksThe water requirements of these plants change depending on the current conditions in their surroundings. However, there are somegeneral rules for cactus irrigationthat must be followed for he althy growth:
1. Water the cacti using the soaking method.
Traditionalwatering cacti with a watering can is ineffective , because the water quickly rinses the substrate and the plant has no chance to store it.In addition, as a result of such watering, plant shoots are soaked, and the water flowing from them leaves a sediment of scale, which not only disfigures the plants, but above all clogs their stomata. Additionally, watering cacti with a strong stream of water destroys the structure of the substrate.
Thereforethe best way to water cacti is thetrickle method. Therefore, a small amount of water should be poured into the bowl and the cactus pots should be placed in this water, letting all the soil pass through with moisture.
2. It is better to water cacti rarely and abundantly than often, but with small doses of water.
Water the cacti only when the soil in the pot is dry all the way. As the water loses from the substrate, it is replaced by the air necessary for the proper development of the roots. Thereforeyou should not water the cacti a little every 2-3 days, but wait until the soil is dry and then water them abundantlyTo properly water the cacti, put them in a vessel with water and wait, until the top layer of soil in the pot becomes wet.Then the cacti should be removed from the water and placed on a grid to let them run off.
Watering cacti with the soaking method
Fig. © Agnieszka Lach
3. The higher the ambient temperature, the more water the cacti need
High temperature and dry air cause the cacti to transpire strongly, which means they lose water faster. In order to replenish its losses, they intensively draw water from the substrate.In hot summer it may turn out that cacti need to be watered abundantly even every few days!
In spring and summer, on warm and sunny days, in addition to periodic irrigation,should also be sprayedcacti in the morning. This treatment creates a pleasant atmosphere for cacti, and the additives protect the plants against attack by mealybugs and spider mites.
Good to know!
Many species of cacti (including the genus Mammillaria) in the hottest period of summer (July and the first half of August) go into a certain type of dormancy.During this time, they stop growing, they do not take up water and nutrients. At this point, you must stop watering them. The water remaining in the substrate at this time leads to rotting of the roots. The damage to the root system, however, is not immediately visible, but often only in autumn, when, with the onset of colder days, the cactus begins to die for no apparent reason.
Cacti should not be watered during cloudy, cool and rainy weather. During prolonged cool and rainy weather, the substrate in the pot is sprinkled with water every now and then.
4. In summer we water the cacti in the evening, and in spring and autumn - in the morning.
During hot and sunny summer days, the cactus stomata close. They only open in the evening when it starts to cool down.Then the plants start the transpiration process and start replenishing water supplies Therefore, watering them in the morning is ineffective, because in hot heat, as a result of evaporation, very large losses of water from the substrate occur.
In autumn and spring, when daytime temperatures are lower and sunlight is lower, the water management of cacti is similar to that of other plants.During this period, cacti should be watered early in the morning to allow them to dry before nighttime . This protects them from the development of diseases.
5. In winter, cacti are not watered at all
In winter, cacti should go into a state of rest. Then they stop growing and take water from the ground. During this period, it is necessary to provide them with a temperature of around 12 ° C and a bright and dry place.
From September, watering of cactiis gradually reduced to prepare them for the period of winter drought. Cacti are not watered from December to the end of February. Watering resumes in March.
After such a long period of drought, cacti cannot be watered abundantly right away, because their shoots could burst due to the strong osmotic pressure.Watering begins with gently sprinkling the plants and gradually increasing the doses of water .
What water should I water cacti?
The quality of the water used to water the cacti is extremely important. Cacti require soft and slightly acidic water (pH 5-6). This means thatthe water taken from the tap should be boiled before giving it to the plants and set aside for several hoursWatering cacti with hard water leads to inhibition of their growth and dieback due to too high pH of the substrate.
Cacti must not be watered with cold waterbecause it causes thermal shock. Water for watering cacti should always be at or slightly warmer than the ambient temperature.
Worth remembering!
1. In spring, to accelerate the development of cacti and facilitate their transition from the dormant period to the growing season, the first watering should be done with hot water (approx. 45 ° C).
2. The described rules of irrigation apply to the group of terrestrial cacti. In the case of epiphytic cacti (e.g. Epiphyllum), the watering principles differ significantly. Epiphytic cacti require frequent watering and sprinkling in both spring and summer as well as autumn and winter.
MSc Eng. Agnieszka Lach
Read also:
