You don't need the famous "green thumb" if you want to care for a strawberry cactus. As with almost all cacti, you can hardly go wrong when caring for the strawberry cactus. Small instructions for caring for Gymnocalycium mihanovichii.
How do I properly care for a strawberry cactus?
Caring for a strawberry cactus (Gymnocalycium mihanovichii) includes occasional watering when the substrate has dried out, monthly fertilizing from April to September, repotting when necessary and site temperatures above 15 degrees. Reduce watering amounts in winter and do not fertilize.
How to water the strawberry cactus correctly?
The strawberry cactus stores water in its body. Even if you don't water it for a long time, it will survive in most cases. Nevertheless, you should water it occasionally during the growth phase, but only after the substrate has dried out at the top.
Do you need to fertilize a strawberry cactus?
The strawberry cactus does not need many nutrients. If you have just repotted it, under no circumstances should you fertilize it additionally. The substrate is then so rich in nutrients that there is a risk of over-fertilization. The cactus then becomes soft and rots.
If it stands in the same soil for a long time, give it some cactus fertilizer from April to September (€6.00 on Amazon). It is enough if you fertilize it once a month.
When should the strawberry cactus be repotted?
It's time to repot when roots grow out of the drainage hole at the bottom.
- Removing the strawberry cactus from the pot
- fill new pot with substrate
- Insert cactus
- Press the substrate carefully
- don't water too much
Normal cactus soil is sufficient as a substrate. You can also put it together yourself using two parts potting soil and one part sand.
Since the strawberry cactus has quite a few spines, cover it with a terry cloth washcloth or towel. Then you can't hurt yourself on the thorns.
Are there any diseases or pests you need to watch out for?
Like all cacti, the strawberry cactus is very resistant to diseases and pests.
If the cactus is rotting, you have watered it too much.
How to care for the strawberry cactus in winter?
The strawberry cactus cannot tolerate cold. It is therefore cared for in the room all year round. In winter, reduce the watering amounts slightly. There is no fertilization during the winter.
Make sure that the temperatures at the location do not fall below 15 degrees.
Tip
The strawberry cactus gets its name from the grafted top, which is often red. This variety is not a cactus, but rather a species composed of two different species.
