What Prevents A Cactus From Blooming?

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Cactus lovers create whole collections of these exotic plants in their apartments. And when the time comes, these gloomy at first glance, thorny beauties, turn the house into a real blooming garden. True, this magic does not last long, sometimes only a few hours. But even these few beautiful moments are often difficult to achieve. What can prevent cacti from blooming?

Features of lighting cacti

The peculiarity of the flowering of cacti is that plants form buds only under the condition of a constant directional source of light to one place. Those who are not familiar with this rule often try to turn their pets regularly so that the top does not have a slope. With this approach, the top will really turn out to be even and beautiful, but the plant will continue to refuse to bloom.

Moreover, it is not recommended to rotate the cactus pots on which buds have already appeared. The same applies to transferring a flower to another place. This is best done after the flower has spread its petals. And the procedures for leveling the plant can be postponed until the flowering period is over. After that, it is already allowed to turn the pots so that the sun shines on the top from the other side.

Seasonal cactus care

If in winter the cacti were in an insufficiently lit room, with the arrival of heat, it is necessary to move the plants to an open balcony, to the garden, and place them near the open windows. Fresh air is also essential for cacti. Such conditions facilitate the ripening of new growth, where the buds will be laid. In addition, it helps to strengthen the stem, as well as to tighten the skin. They are less sick than other cacti, do not suffer from parasites such as the red spider.

It is important to water the plants correctly. Many people know that cacti are drought tolerant, but this does not mean that they do not need frequent moisture. In particular, in summer, during a period of active growth, they need it, and how!

Moistening of the soil in the summer months is carried out in the evening hours. At this time, under the influence of cooler air, the soil also cools, and the water evaporates more slowly. In winter, on the contrary, the soil is irrigated in the morning.

Another nuance that is taken into account when watering is the age of the plants and the size of the pots. Older cacti are watered less often than young specimens. And plants in small pots need more frequent watering than large flowerpots.

In order for summer growth to mature and lay buds, cacti need to arrange periods of rest. This annual “leave” is necessary to stop growth so that the plant does not deplete. Preparation for it begins in the fall, reducing watering. You also need to gradually lower the temperature in the room where the pots are kept. In winter, the pots are watered approximately once every 10 days, and the thermometer is maintained at + 10 … + 15 ° C.

From mid-January, the frequency of irrigation is increased. This is especially true of moisture-loving varieties, as well as those cacti that tend to bloom in early spring. When the active growing season begins, the cacti are transplanted. More often this time falls in the spring. And those specimens that bloom in early spring are transplanted immediately after the end of the flowering period. Never water the substrate before transplanting. To make the soil easier to shake off the roots, the last moistening is done at least three days before the upcoming procedure.

The frequency of replanting also depends on the age of the flower. Young cacti are moved to fresh substrate every year. Starting from 3 years old, the next transplant is carried out every 2 years.