Cacti are usually on the windowsills of people who have little time for plant care. But there are also rules that should be observed when it comes to cacti. Mistakes can be made, especially when repotting.
Can you repot cacti in regular potting soil?
Can you repot cacti in regular potting soil? Yes, but it is recommended to mix the potting soil with 20% lava or expanded clay and 20% pumice. For some types of cacti, a mineral mix of more lava, expanded clay, pumice, river sand and some clay or zeolite is also beneficial.
When should a cactus be repotted?
Cacti are relatively undemanding. They grow very slowly, it is enough to plant them in a different container every two to five years. At the latest when the cactus has become very large or roots grow out of the pot, it needs a new home.
The right soil for cacti
Cactus soil must have various properties to thrive:
- Structural stability so that the plant has support
- crumbly texture
- Air exchange easily possible
- good water storage
- Nutritional richness
- pH value at 5.5
Commercially available or your own mixtures can be used.
The standard mix
It contains mature, three to four year old compost that has been sterilized. There is also peat, which has good air and water retention. Fibers made from bark, wood or coconut can also be used instead of peat. Crumbly lava, expanded clay or pumice are also added. The materials keep the soil airy and store water. Good potting soil can be used as a basis for the standard mix. It is mixed with 20% lava or expanded clay and 20% pumice.
The mineral mix
Some cacti need an additional portion of minerals. Here, more lava or expanded clay is mixed into the potting soil, plus pumice, river sand and some clay or zeolite (volcanic mineral).
Repotting
When repotting your cacti, follow these steps:
- Avoid watering for a week.
- Get sturdy gloves (€15.00 on Amazon) to protect against the thorns.
- Carefully remove the cactus from the pot.
- Shake out the roots and loosen them with a wooden stick.
- If the cactus has rotten spots, they must be cut out.
- Leave the plant exposed to air for a few hours, up to two weeks for rotten spots (the wound should be dry)
- Prepare the new pot and place a drainage layer of shards, gravel or expanded clay over the drainage hole.
- Fill in soil and place the cactus in its new environment.
- Do not water the plant until after a week.
- Avoid direct sunlight for about three weeks.