You can wrap the plant in several layers of newspaper and secure lightly with tape or twine. If you fertilize annually, the latter is more appropriate but if you don’t fertilize, repot in two years to replenish soil fertility. Only spread a thin layer of gravel on the soil surface, scattering it around the base of the cactus. Shake off the old soil and plant the cactus at the same depth it was growing in the old soil. Most plants are best repotted when they display new growth in spring, but Christmas cactus repotting should be done after blooming ends and the flowers have wilted in late winter or early spring. The best time to do this is in the spring. 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Choose a slightly larger pot, use a soil mixed for cactus and succulents, and use care to prevent damage to … A store bought cactus mix will also work well. Carefully adjust the position of the cactus in the pot as needed so that the green portion is above the soil while the brown root portion remains below the soil. Box= CACTUSMAIN P.O. Finally, fill in the space around your cactus with more soil. Use gloves. Repotting a Pothos Vine. Step 5. I am unsure of the scientific name, but I know it's the christmas cactus with the sharp, pointed leaf margins (I believe the tag called it a "Zygo" cactus). Mother's Day Orchid Disaster? By using our site, you agree to our. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. You can also use a pair of leather gloves or, for smaller plants, just grab your oven mitts. Re-potting Cactus. It is vital not to damage the roots as fungus could penetrate the plant and be potentially fatal.. Never press the cactus into the soil. You might think this article should really be called “How to Repot a Cactus Without Getting Pricked.” Don’t worry, though! Never attempt to repot the plant while it is actively blooming. When/how to repot store bought plants. 2009-11-03 cactusmain. Step 4. When to repot a cactus plant depends upon the plant and its condition. Let it dry. Water. Next, wrap sheets of newspaper around your cactus, lift it out of the old pot, and brush off large pieces of soil from the roots. The soil surrounding the root mass should be completely loosened before you remove the cactus. ... You can mix 1 part peat moss or sand to 3 parts houseplant soil mix to make a well-drained soil. This is an easy plant to move with just a few minor things to keep in mind. Thank you for stopping by CACTUSMAIN! A Christmas cactus has roots that do not really grow firm. Here are some ways to move these prickly plants without injury. Annuals, perennials & shrubs do fine in potting soil. This article has been viewed 76,859 times. Having purchased a smaller packet of this soil earlier in the year to repot a couple of cacti and some of the fertiliser by the same brand (which are doing fantastically! Debbie Salleng. For succulents and cactus, you can buy a soil specifically for them from a big box store. For more tips, like how to make your cactus grow better by maintaining proper soil acidity, read on! The roots may get damaged when you remove the plant from its pot, and any breaks are likely to become infected with fungi or rot. And this necessitates a change for your cactus to keep glowing. The roots will be similarly vulnerable if you decide to prune them. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Typically, repotting a moon cactus is done in order to change the soil within the pot. Letting the roots dry removes this risk of infection. A general rule of thumb is to repot every 2 to 4 years. They usually come out readily if the soil is dry but you may have to run a trowel around the edges to loosen the soil. Gloves alone may not be enough to protect your skin, but even if you take other protective measures, you should still include thick gloves among them. You may also want to consider laying a layer of drainage material, like gravel or broken clay pots (crocks), at the base of the pot before adding a layer of soil. TUTORIAL CACTUS E SUCCULENTS REPOTTING Our plants are growing and need to be housed in more and more big pots. If you are repotting a prickly cactus, wear a pair or sturdy gloves to protect your hands. They transport and store nutrients but do not actually absorb many, so they do not help the cactus grow faster. Sign up for our newsletter. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. Time to get to work Hey, Dustball! If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. Apply a gentle pesticide to get rid of any pests. When you purchase a beautiful succulent plant at your local store, they usually come in those small, cheap black plastic containers. One of the most complicated processes it may undergo is repotting. Part One: Removing the Cactus from Its Old Pot, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Repot-a-Cactus-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Repot-a-Cactus-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Repot-a-Cactus-Step-1.jpg\/aid4453698-v4-728px-Repot-a-Cactus-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
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