How to care for cacti: three "whales" that you should know about

Fifty years ago, cacti farming in our countryrapidly gained popularity. For kaktusistov clubs were created on interests, lectures were read, books were written, instantly bought up, specialized shops were opened. It seemed that anyone you ask - everyone thoroughly knew how to care for cacti. Traces of this craze have survived to this day, although he remained true to either the most faithful, or received prickly handsome by inheritance: like, and there is no need, and throw out a pity.

They say that there are no two identical cacti. Even "brothers in appearance" can have different forms only because one has received a lot of sunlight, and the other hid in the shade. Nevertheless, all cacti, like the three "whales", are based on soil, light and water. Consider these three factors correctly - and most of the problems will be removed, and your plants will be healthy and strong.

The soil

In the soil of dry desert areas, where they livecacti, there are many mineral salts, and almost no humus and soil microflora. Be sure to consider this when you prepare the soil mixture for cacti. Of course, they will only be happy with humus and will grow violently. But in the end, you do not get a giant, and a loose plant, painful, barely blooming and poorly tolerating the winter temperature drop.

When you learn how to care for a cactus,take note: the characteristics of the soil mixture for it must be similar to the natural conditions of their growth. This, first, porosity, good permeability for water and air. Secondly, the mixture should be coarse and cloddy. Thirdly, an undecomposed organic must be excluded from it.

For such soil mixtures the following proportions are suitable: Heavy sod land (2 parts), sheet earth (2 parts), coarse-grained sand (1/2 part), brick crumb or claydite grain size grains of buckwheat (1/4 part), charcoal (1/6), lime ( 1/12).

Shine

He plays a crucial role in the life of any plant. In how to care for cacti, light will be your faithful assistant, if you understand the important details.

Many species of cacti are inhabitants of the highlands,The atmosphere there is sparse and due to this, more transmissive ultraviolet rays. During the evolution of cacti have adapted to this, having acquired a thick cover of spines and hairs. In the conditions of artificial cultivation, in the list of other problems concerning how to care for cacti, the question immediately arises: how to provide the "mountaineers" with the right amount of ultraviolet rays? After all, most of the year they will have to spend behind the glass, cutting off the lion's share of ultraviolet radiation.

We will have to take care of artificial lighting, and in the winter time - also to get the fluorescent or DRL lamps. In summer cacti must be kept in the open air.

But there are also cactus epiphytes. Their house - saturated with moisture forests of the tropics. They should be year-round shaded in greenhouses.

Water

Of course, cacti and succulents, to which theyrelate to the water shortage of deserts and semi-deserts. But this does not mean that asking experts how to take care of cacti should not pay much attention to this topic.

Spraying is of great importance becauseNatural conditions cacti in the morning collect abundant dew even where there is no rain for years. For morning and afternoon spraying, the warm sunny weather is compulsory. This is especially important during budding.

If the winter watering is usually reduced to a minimum,then in the spring and summer, ensure that the earth dump does not dry out. When watering, consider a number of factors, individual for this type of cacti. In autumn the plant is watered less and less, already without spraying.

Gradually you will get used to all these requirements, and they will not cause you any difficulties. And the cacti will more than once please you with its healthy appearance and beautiful flowering.

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