The Melocactus or melon cactus is not without good reason called the diva among cacti. Care is not easy and therefore not recommended for beginners, as the cactus does not forgive even small care mistakes. How do you care for a Melocactus?
How do I properly care for a Melocactus?
Melocactus care requires sparse watering with lime-free water in summer, occasional fertilization during the growth phase and cool wintering. Repotting in spring with mineral cactus soil and regular checks for pests are just as important.
How do you water Melocactus correctly?
- Watering sparingly in summer
- Better to spray occasionally
- use lime-free water
- Avoid waterlogging at all costs
- do not water in winter
The Melocactus needs very little water. Water it occasionally during the growing phase. If the location is not too warm, it is even sufficient if you spray it with water from time to time.
In winter you don't have to water the Melocactus at all if you keep it in a cool place.
For watering, you may only use low-lime water, preferably rainwater.
What should you pay attention to when fertilizing?
As with most types of cacti, fertilizing every month or even every two months is completely sufficient. A liquid fertilizer for cacti (€7.00 on Amazon) or a fertilizer for green plants is used. However, this should only be dosed in half.
Fertilization is carried out during the growth phase, which lasts from April to September.
When will the Melocactus be repotted?
Check in spring whether the Melocactus still has enough space in the pot. Shake off the old substrate and fill the pot with fresh soil.
Mineral cactus soil is suitable as a substrate, which you can loosen up with some clay granules.
After repotting, you must not fertilize the Melocactus.
What diseases and pests can occur?
Waterlogging can lead to root rot. Therefore, do not keep the Melocactus too wet. If spots or bubbles appear, the cactus is probably suffering from a fungal infection. This is difficult to treat and you will probably have to dispose of the plant.
Watch out for pests such as mealybugs and mealybugs.
How do you care for the Melocactus in winter?
The Melocactus is not hardy, but needs to be kept cooler over the winter. Only then can it develop flowers. While it tolerates temperatures above 20 degrees well in summer, it should be kept at around 15 degrees in winter.
There is no fertilization or watering in winter.
Tip
Six to eight years can pass until the first flowering occurs. Then a so-called cephalium is formed on the tip, which consists of wool hairs and bristles. The flowers then grow from this cephalium.
