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Cactus

Are you interested in goring cactus or are you facing any problem in gardening cactus? Then this article is for you. In this article we will tell you everything about cactus plants; you will know what are they, why to grow them and how to grow them? We are going to give a detailed explanation on how to develop the cactus plants, what diseases it is likely to face and how to prevent them? Excited! Read further to know more…

A Cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. A distinctive characteristic of the Cactus plant is the presence of thorns. In order to grow healthy cactus plants, we must know some important facts about the Cactus which will be discussed in the below points.

Why does a cactus have thorns?

A Cactus generally has thorns with a thick and succulent stem. Cactus plants have evolved in order to endure ans survive in harsh and hot climates. In order to prevent water loss due to transpiration in leaves, the leaves of the cactus have evolved into thorns. The stem of the cactus is generally succulent and fleshy. The water is stored in the stem part which also carries out the process of photosynthesis. Also, the thorns help to protect the cactus plant from grazing animals which would have otherwise eaten them up.

Are cactus plants useful in any way?

Many species of the cactus plants are used for ornamental value, fodder, forage, fruits (prickly pear dragon fruit), cochineal (dye), fencing material, valuable wood for construction (Dead pillar) and pharmaceutical significance.

Will a thorny cactus plant look good in my garden?

Many cactus plants are very pretty to look at and what most people don’t know is that they have the capacity to flower too. The common mental picture of a cactus plant is a prickly green plant, but there are many cacti with accents of red, pink, yellow and other colours. A cactus garden adds not only variety to your garden but also beautifies the garden. It lends an exotic look to your collection of plants. Moreover, they are incredibly easy to maintain and are very cost effective to grow.

cactus with double flowers

Is a cactus plant difficult to grow?

Cactus plants are mercifully very easy to grow. Like the Flobberworms in Harry Potter books, they flourish with minimal care, rather a cactus plant may die due to factors such as an excess of watering. They can survive for extended periods without water and in harsh climates. Cactus plants are very cheap to buy; you may get them for free on most occasions unless you are looking for very exotic or rare species.

What kind of soil is suitable to grow cactus plants?

Not every soil is useful for growing cactus. Soil should be porous that drains well and allows some drying out between watering. Covering the top soil with shells, small pebbles or coarse gravel, offer quicker water penetration, slower water evaporation, elimination of a crust on the top of the soil, and a neat, attractive look. Two parts perlite or pumice and one part washed building sand is a good ratio of soil that can be used. Adjust the ratios according to your growing conditions, climate and the species of plants you want to grow.

cactus soil

How much sunlight does a cactus need every day?

All cacti in order to flower and to photosynthesize need at least four to six hours of strong light daily.

What is the watering method to be used for cactus plants?

Never let cacti sit in standing water. Water well and thoroughly, letting water pour out of the drain in the pot. Let plants go thoroughly dry between watering. Water infrequently during winter months as cacti grow very little in cold climatic conditions. When plants are vigorously growing and blooming, they will need more water, which is usually seen in the summer season.

cactus fertilizer

Do we need to apply a lot of fertilizers to grow cacti?

Diluted liquid fertilizer can be added to the water every second or third watering during their growing season. Fertilizer with balanced amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous and potash (20-20-20) can be used. Slow release granular fertilizers can also be used. Low nitrogen and high phosphorous content induces bloom and improves flower size. Precaution should be taken not to over-fertilize as plants may grow too lushly or lose their characteristic shape . It is safe to use less fertilizer. Do remember that cactus plants have adapted to grow in arid soils and do not need excess water or fertilizer.

How frequently do we need to transplant cacti? What precautions must be taken while handling cacti?

Cacti do not need frequent transplanting as they are slow growing plants. Thin rubber gloves can be used to protect the fingers while transplanting and handling small plants. Tongs also work well. Rolled newspapers, section of hose wrapped around the larger plants makes it easier to move the plants. Be gentle while taking the plant from the old pot otherwise the roots may cut. Slowly take away old soil around the root ball, without breaking the roots or the root ball. In the new pot add new soil mix and place the plant on top filling in around the sides maintaining the same level as it was in the old pot. Keep the plant dry for few days. This will avoid rot of broken roots that are damaged or broken during the transplanting when watering, let it drain thoroughly.

How do cactus plants propagate?

Cactus plants can propagate by seeds, cuttings, leaves, tissue culture and grafting. The easiest method that we recommend for beginners is propagation through cutting as it involves the least amount of complications and as per our experience, it has high successful yielding rate. Nevertheless, you are free to explore all the methods of growing cacti and choose the method that you are happy with.

• Propagation by seeds: The seed is minute, as big as a dust particle. Soil has to be fine for germination. Moderate heat, shady place and watering regularly in small quantities so that soil should not become soggy.
• Propagation by cuttings: Cutting should be 2”-3” in height (as small ones may rot).Use a sharp knife to prevent tissue damage.
• Propagation by Leaves: This process takes few weeks for the leaf to bear a tiny plantlet at the base. The leaf should be placed in a cool, shady place. Carefully plant the leaf in a container with porous soil, and should be watered frequently in less quantities, not to dry completely while the roots form.
• Propagation by Tissue Culture: This method is followed in laboratories. This produces many plants fairly rapidly from the cells of just one plant. In petri dishes agar, hormone and nutrition liquids are used. From single cells many cells are produced leading to the formation of a new, complete, fully functioning plant. Tissue culture propagation is very akin to “cloning”.
• Propagation by Grafting: In this method two cactus are taken. A process that unites one cactus with another cactus (usually one that grows faster or is less problematic).

What are the diseases that may affect a cactus?

Cactus can be affected by bacteria, fungus and pests. The following are the different diseases caused by various organisms

Bacterial diseases: Soft rot
Fungal diseases: Aloe Rust, Basal Stem Rot, Black or Sooty Mold
Pests: Aphods, Whitefly, Snails, Scale Insects, Aloe Mite, Red Spider Mite, Mealy bugs

cactus with mealybugs

How do we prevent these diseases?

The pests most frequently affecting cactus plants are mealybugs, nematodes and scale insects. If affected by nematodes, soil from the roots must be removed and re-potting must be done with pasteurized soil or fertilizer mix. For mealybugs and scale, you can scrub with warm water and toothbrushes.

The most common disease is rot. Rots can be aggravated by improper watering, forcing growth during periods of dormancy, and wounding plants when re-potting.

Sometimes the plant can be saved by cutting out and removing material one-half inch beyond the area that looks decayed. The wound should be washed with a solution of one part household bleach and nine parts water.

The plant should be kept in intensive care in an area of low humidity until it recovers. If this does not result in a recovery, it is better to get rid of the plant.

In a nutshell, what care needs to be taken to grow cactus plants?

Proper proportions of good drainage, generous but infrequent watering, regular diluted feedings, good light and fresh air are the basic needs.

In conclusion, Cactus plants are a low cost (almost free), low maintenance, less water consuming plants to add variety and exoticness to your garden. Even without much gardening knowledge or experience, you can have reasonable success growing cactus plants.

I can tell you one thing for certain, i.e., after reading this guide, you will definitely get interest in growing cactus, so while doing the same, if you have any doubt or facing any problem, feel free to ask us. Good luck!

nitrogen cycle

To increase the level of productivity of fruits and vegetables in your home garden few tricks are necessary to learn. But before that it has to be understood what is the most important factors that matter the most to the growth, repair and developments of your plants. The scientific research evidently shows that the presence of nitrogen in the soil proves to be most vital in the healthy cell formation as well as in photosynthetic reaction. It has been known that if the plant is deprived of nitrogen it may lead to the most fatal state.

To get the increased productivity in your home garden a consistent flow of nitrogen is necessary at a regular interval after testing the quality of the soil. Volatility of nitrogen supply is absolutely undesirable as the plant may fall short of this major element. For vegetable nutrition there is also another danger of nitrogen getting set free into the air through de-nitrifying process. Sometimes excessive rainfall washes all the nitrogen away from the soil. The volatile condition may cause the leaves turn yellow. And any novice person having wrongly understood the symptom as the cause of water deficiency starts showering more water over it. As a result more amount of nitrogen compound drains out fro the soil.

Now you may argue what would be the result is excessive amount of nitrogen is added. The leaves may turn red or the stem may bend down or the plant becomes dry. This is another phenomenon. So a balanced diet is the correct solution. But it is difficult to understand how much nitrogen you have to add to banish all these possibilities.

nitrogen in soil

That is exactly why we advise you to buy a tester. This instrument will help you to take the readings of how much nitrogen the soil contains or how much it needs. However if you see that it crosses the optimum level, you don’t need to put any extra to it. But if the readings show that it is bellow optimum level and the soil still requires some amount of nitrogen some amount of nitrogen.

Now you have to decide whether you would prefer chemical fertilizer or natural fertilizers that are easily available in the home. Blood fish, Soybeans, Alfalfa, animal waste are rich source of nitrogen, so you may try any of these.

Home gardening is very widely popular practice as the garden is in itself a good source of fresh oxygen. The sweet aroma of flowers and fruits keeps you refreshing all the day. You breath fresh, you eat fresh, the vitamins provide vitality in your body and you enjoy life.

soil for plants

The first chapter of home gardening is to educate you about the nature and character of soil in which plants and vegetables take their roots and from which the root noodles suck the fluid for their sustenance. Among all the elements that are necessary for vegetable nutrition nitrogen is of uppermost importance. Cell division and photosynthesis both these processes may literally stop provided the plants do not get adequate nitrogen.

Nitrogen is the chief component of amino acids and this amino acid forms protoplasm and protoplasm make the formation of cells. So this is the process how cell division goes on and vegetable grows. Process of photosynthesis depends on nitrogen. Plants catch a disease called clorosis in which condition green leaves turn into yellow. And yellow leaves are inactive for photosynthesis reactions. Thus here we come to know how the lack of nitrogen in the soil affects both these processes and inhibits the growth of your plants.

If the supply of nitrogen becomes volatile or inconsistence you can not get rid of the danger of many diseases. So the provision of nitrogen in the soil is one of the important lesion in home gardening. Some expertise is off course needed in this field. Otherwise it becomes difficult for a novice to give proper treatment to the vegetables in his garden. Sometimes watching the yellow leaves they immediately come under the impression that the plants may be decaying due to the deficiency of water. And the more water they give , the more water dissolves away from the soil. Over pouring rain sometimes washes away nitrogen. Then the situation becomes worse.

identifying soild for gardening

When this is the case, the safe way is to buy a tester that takes the readings of the nitrogen in the soil. You may afford to buy an inexpensive one for your home gardening. You get sure about the level of nitrogen that is exists in the soil or the quantity that it still requires. Nothing in excess is good either. If too much nitrogen is provided it drags some side effects. The leaves grow red and the plant attracts harmful insects. Even the plant may begin to wither away. So the quantity of nitrogen must be proportioned and balanced and up to the level of requirement.

Now we advice you that if you want to avoid chemical fertilizers like ammonium Salphate or Urea, blood fish, soybeans or alfalfa , animal waste are good substitute for you.