Repot cacti: video tutorial & care tips

Even if the plants are very robust, they need a little attention from time to time. Melissa shows how to properly repot cacti in this video.

How-To-Repot Cactus Video [Music: www.bensound.com]

Cacti (Cactaceae) are considered to be the house plants par excellence and can be found in almost every home. No wonder, after all, the exotic guests have all sorts of advantages to show for themselves. In particular, its robust nature and the fact that the plant can cope with a little neglect over a long period of time make it a popular, easy-care houseplant that is just as appreciated by beginners as by garden professionals. But their appearance also makes the cacti so popular, because their spherical and prickly growth has now achieved cult status. From time to time, however, you should do something good for the robust indoor plants - for example by repotting them. In this video, we reveal how this works and what you need to bear in mind.

With their frugal nature and high level of robustness, cacti are ideal plants for anyone who does not have a pronounced green thumb. From time to time, however, the easy-care indoor plants need attention and should be repotted - this is the only way to keep them beautiful for years to come.

When and how often do you have to repot cacti?

In fact, cacti (depending on the species) only need to be repotted every two to five years. The perfect time to do this is from the end of January until March, when the new growing season for the cacti begins. But the cacti can also be repotted without any problems after they have bloomed until September.

The plant clearly shows whether it's time for a new pot: If it's too big for its old pot and grows over the edge or its roots are looking for new ways through the holes in the pot, it will Time for a change of scenery. The soil also provides information about whether the cactus needs to be repotted again - if it looks compacted or drained, you should think about a new container. You should also give freshly bought cacti a new pot in their new home. There are several reasons for this: On the one hand, one can hardly estimate how old the earth is, with which of thecactus was purchased. On the other hand, you always come across inferior substrate or pests that can damage the cactus in the long run. In order to give the new houseplant the best possible start in life, it is therefore advisable to repot it after purchase.

How to repot cacti

Repotting cacti can be a prickly affair if you don't know how to do it. But to ensure that the prickly indoor plants continue to thrive years later, such a change of scenery is essential - we'll tell you the best way to do it.

You need this

You don't need much to transplant cacti - in fact, most of the items can be found in every household. You need:

• cactus
• Bigger Pot
• Inner pot with holes
• Plant Clay
• Cactus soil
• Shovel
• Gloves

The right soil for cacti

Although cacti are considered to be particularly robust, they are rather fussy when it comes to choosing their soil. In fact, they can only rarely be cultivated in normal potting soil - this rarely meets the requirements of exotic houseplants and, thanks to its high nutrient concentration, ensures a masty growth. You should pay particular attention to the structure of the soil: only well-aerated and crumbly substrates allow the cactus to develop its roots and absorb enough nutrients and water. At the same time, however, the soil must also be structurally stable and offer the plant enough support so that it does not tip over. In addition, the earth should be able to absorb and store water, even if it was completely dry. Finally, the buffering capacity and the pH value are also important for the cacti to thrive - most species prefer slightly acidic soil.

In order to meet all these requirements, it is worth resorting to special cactus soil from specialist retailers. These are usually particularly well tailored to the needs of indoor plants and also have a particularly good concentration of nutrients, which is well accepted by almost all types of cacti. However, you can also mix cactus soil yourself. This offers the great advantage that you can adapt the substrate exactly to the needs of a specific species and thus respond individually to the individual cacti.

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The perfect container for cacti

Clay or plastic pot? Unfortunately, when it comes to cacti, this question cannot only be decided by personal taste, because the different pot materials can have a strong impact on the cultivation of the plant. Plastic pots offer the great advantage that water is distributed particularly evenly in them and excess moisture can escape through the drainage holes in the bottom, so there is no waterlogging. Clay, on the other hand, is breathable, but also absorbs water and allows it to evaporate through its pores. This phenomenon can be an advantage for species that are particularly sensitive to moisture, but it also means that cacti in clay pots have to be watered much more often. If you also use a cachepot, make sure that no excess water collects - otherwise there is a risk of root rot.

But not only the material, but also the size and shape of the pot are important for cacti: If possible, columnar cacti should have a heavy, stable pot to prevent them from tipping over. As a rule of thumb, the diameter of the pot should correspond to about one third of the height of the plant. Spherical cacti do not need such a firm footing, but there should be at least a finger's width between the plant and the edge of the pot to give the plant enough space to grow. Shallow-rooted species such as the agave (Agave) are better off in a planter, since the soil dries out faster here - cacti with turnip roots - such as the Schnapskopf (Lophophora williamsii ) - on the other hand, need a particularly narrow and deep pot.

Procedure for repotting cacti

Although cacti don't usually get a lot of attention, it's important to give them a little time every few years and repot them into a larger container. However, before you start working, you should make sure that you have suitable protective clothing: thorn-proof gloves made of leather or rubber protect your hands from the sharp thorns and prevent painful stings, which can also easily become inflamed when working with the cactus soil. In the case of cactus species with particularly long or sharp thorns, it is also advisable to work with tongs or a grip protection made of paper or styrofoam to minimize the risk of injury.

Now you can use the new potPrepare: Ideally, you should work with an inner pot with drainage holes, because this avoids waterlogging. This drainage effect is supported by plant clay, with which you fill a little less than a quarter of the pot. In addition to its structural effect, the plant clay has the additional advantage that it binds water particularly well and can release it back into the surrounding soil if necessary. Now you can fill the inner pot with some cactus soil.

Now you should carefully remove the cactus from its old pot and remove the soil. This requires special sensitivity, as if possible none of the fine roots of the cactus should be injured. Incidentally, the soil dissolves particularly well if you stop watering the cactus about a week before repotting - the dried-out soil comes off the fine root tissue much more easily. Then you can put the cactus in its new pot. You should not press the plant with force, but put it down a few times - this promotes a good connection between the cacti and the new substrate without compacting the soil too much. Once the plant has been planted, the substrate is loosely filled around the plant. Make sure that the cactus is just as deep in the ground as it was in its old pot. Otherwise, cacti that are planted too deep will begin to rot at the root neck. Finally, the earth around the cactus must be carefully pressed down before it can go back to its original place.

Summary - Repotting Cacti:

• 1. Put on thornproof gloves
2. Fill the inner pot a little less than a quarter with plant clay
• 3. Fill cactus soil in inner pot
4. Carefully remove the cactus from the old pot
• 5. Carefully remove old soil from root ball
6. Put the cactus in the new pot and press gently
• 7. Fill pot with cactus soil
• 8. Press the soil gently

Caring for the cactus after repotting

Repotting is a lot of stress, even for a hardy plant like the cactus. For this reason, it is particularly important to give her the right care after transplanting. But unlike many other plants, you shouldn't give cacti a large amount of water after repotting - in fact, it's ideal not to water at all for about a week after repotting, to allow the plant to adapt to its new environmentcan get used to at home. In addition, you should avoid locations with direct sunlight (especially with the scorching midday sun) for the first three to four weeks. Only when good re-rooting has taken place are the plants able to cope with extreme heat and sunlight again.

The perfect location for cacti

Originally, cacti mostly come from particularly dry regions with high levels of solar radiation in America. Their demands on a location in the apartment are correspondingly different: bright rooms with lots of light are ideal for the prickly exotic species. Even dry heating air does not bother the cacti - however, the indoor plants do not tolerate high humidity, such as that found in the bathroom, for example. The fact that cacti like it particularly hot, on the other hand, is just a widespread misconception. In fact, many can do with mild temperatures, and some species of cacti are so hardy that they are suitable not only as houseplants but also outdoors.

Cacti don't just need attention when repotting. You can find out how best to care for your cactus in everyday life here.

Many thanks to Floragard for the support!