Even if you have never considered these spiky plants, cacti and succulents are fantastic plants to keep indoor and outdoor. Many are quite low maintenance, so they are good for anyone just starting out on their cactus growing journey.
These lovely desert plants make great housewarming gifts, an addition to you indoor garden, or a great way to make your own desert oasis in the city. Since most readers do not live in a desert location, we will be focusing on how to plant cactus for indoor use.
How to Plant Cactus: 3 Ways
When it comes to methods of planting cactus, there are 3 primary ways most people do so. Seeds, propagation, and already grown container plants are the most common. Stay tuned to see which method is the best for you!
#1. From Seed
If you want to plant your cactus from seed, there are a few different ways you can collect said seeds. The first is by purchasing them. Not all home and garden stores carry cacti seeds, so you will most likely need to venture online. Make sure to buy your seeds from a reputable source.
Another way to start from the seeds is by collecting the seeds yourself. This only works if you already have a plant or access to one. The key is to look for the cactus fruit. It is usually a brightly colored flower. If the plant itself has been fertilized, you can harvest the seeds when the fruit falls to the ground. However, if you only have 1 cactus, chances are the seed isn’t fertile.
1. Plant the seeds in well draining soil. There is plenty of cactus soil available at your local garden store.
2. Sprinkle the seeds on the top of the soil. Do not bury them, because cacti seeds need a lot of energy from the sun to sprout!
3. Water thoroughly.
4. Cover the container with a transparent top and place it in a sunny location. However, do not place them in direct sunlight. If you want, you can plant these seeds in a greenhouse.
5. Be patient. It may take weeks to months to see the seeds sprout!
6. Once they do sprout, take the cover off of the plants and allow them to breath.
7. Now you will need to start watering them. Make sure to allow the soil to get completely dry before watering. Cacti do not like too much water or standing water.
8. Once your plant is established with a root system, go ahead and move it to a new container. Follow the steps in the third section to learn how best to transplant a cactus.
Remember, starting from scratch will take much longer than the other 2 methods. Cacti are slow growers. So, if you are impatient we recommend you try propagation or planting a store-bought plant straight from the container.
#2. By Propagation
Propagation means removing part of the parent plant and using that as the new growth. You want to make sure that the parent plant is healthy. You also want to make sure that the pup you are taking is healthy as well. They should be free of defects and plump!
1. After cutting the bud, place it in a sunny windowsill for 2 days to let the wound heal. If not, there is a good chance your sprout will rot.
2. Choose your pot wisely. There should be a lot of drainage holes at the bottom. Cacti do not like to sit in water. In fact, they will rot.
3. Fill up your container with cactus soil.
4. Plant the cutting just deep enough that it can stand on its own. Too deep, and it may rot.
5. Gently tamp down the soil around the bud.
6. Mist the soil. Too much water can rot the plant right away. You should only begin to water normally once the roots have taken hold.
7. Keep the pot in indirect sunlight for the first few months. Once a new growth appears, you can transfer the plant to direct sunlight.
8. Water the plant weekly as long as the soil isn’t still moist from the last watering.
9. Fertilize the cutting weekly and provide good circulation.
10. Rotate the container monthly to avoid an unbalanced cactus.
Although technically anyone can propagate, it is extremely important that you follow the instructions above. This method can be tricky, and has a higher rate of failure than planting out of the pot.
#3. Out of the Container
This is by far the quickest and easiest ways to get the cactus plant you have always wanted! In fact, most of the hard work has already been done for you. You just have to make sure the cactus transplants well.
1. Choose a new pot that is a size larger than the pot your cactus is currently in.
2. Fill the pot with soil to the level of the root ball. Make sure to only use cactus approved, high drainage soil.
3. Put the plant down into the hole, making sure the roots are spread out to give them circulation.
4. Add the rest of the soil and tamp down lightly.
5. Water the cactus, and if need be add more soil to cover the roots.
6. Set the plant in an area that receives full sun all day.
7. At first, indirect sunlight may help the plant take hold. After the first couple of months, you can move the plant to direct sun.
8. Allow the soil to dry completely before watering again.
9. During growing season apply fertilizer once a week.
One Final Word…
When deciding to grow cactus and succulent, keep in mind your own level of dedication and knowledge. Although most desert plants are known for their resiliency, do not pick plants that will be difficult to take care of. Instead, collect cacti that all require the same watering schedule, lighting, and soil to make it easier.
Wishing to find more about gardening and wooden buildings - visit the website here!
