How And With What To Fertilize Cacti?

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

A couple of decades ago, experts categorically did not recommend fertilizing cacti, but later it turned out that fertilizing them is not only possible, but also necessary! True, this must be done very carefully! Systematic fertilization of these very unpretentious plants can significantly improve their development and growth, actively stimulate their flowering, and also makes it possible to transplant cacti much less frequently. How to fertilize cacti correctly, and what exactly is better to use as fertilizer?

What substances are cacti especially in need of?

To enhance the growth of cacti, as well as for the successful set of green mass by them, nitrogen-containing dressings are usually used, however, it is very important not to overdo it with this substance - in excess quantities of nitrogen can lead to painful growth, in addition, the stalks of cacti in this case simply do not have time to get stronger, as a result of which they are often attacked by a putrefactive fungus.

Potassium will also bring a lot of benefits to cacti - despite the fact that it is endowed with the ability to retard plant growth, it perfectly helps to strengthen their tissues and increase their resistance to a wide variety of ailments. At the same time, it is important to know that it will have a particularly beneficial effect only in combination with calcium - this valuable element helps stimulate the action of soil bacteria, the best development of seeds and flowers, and also boasts the ability to neutralize harmful acids. Calcium is directly involved in the formation of buds, flowers and thorns, and its deficiency adversely affects the development of the root system - it becomes underdeveloped and weak. It is especially useful for Mexican cacti who are extremely partial to lime. As for the other varieties of cacti, growing mainly on slightly acidic, neutral and humus soils, they do not need large amounts of calcium at all.

And, of course, do not forget about phosphorus - its deficiency can cause extremely unimportant flowering of cacti, even if all the necessary requirements for temperature conditions, humidity and lighting are met. And in the case of a lack of phosphorus, cacti, as a rule, do not form children. Fluoride, sulfur, iron, as well as zinc and manganese with magnesium will not be superfluous in the composition of dressings.

Features of applying dressings

Cacti should be fed exclusively at the stage of their active growth. And for these purposes, both mixtures specially designed for cacti (Pokon, Bona Forte, Master, Flower Paradise, Agricola, etc.) and some universal store fertilizers are perfect. It is not forbidden to prepare formulations for dressing and independently, for example, you can prepare a solution according to the Kadatsky recipe: two grams of potassium nitrate is combined with ten grams of monovalent potassium phosphate, half a gram of magnesium sulfate, four grams of ammonium sulfate and one and a half grams of ammonium phosphate. And then this mixture is diluted with ten liters of water. The ratio of potassium-phosphorus-nitrogen in this case is 4: 1: 2.

How often are cacti fertilized?

It is recommended to fertilize cacti every twelve to fifteen days, and it is best to do this on wet soil (so as not to accidentally burn the root system) and in the evening. In the heat, as well as in cloudy or too cold weather, feeding is highly undesirable. Plants placed in a draft should not be fed, and if the cacti are very poorly lit or get sick, then it is better not to fertilize them at all!

In addition, these plants should be fertilized at home as carefully as possible, not forgetting that fertilizers will help improve the quality of only healthy and strong specimens. At the same time, both excessive and untimely fertilization can harm these prickly beauties quite a lot. If everything is done correctly, then under favorable conditions, cacti will invariably delight you with their excellent growth and bright flowering!