Getting cacti to bloom requires commitment. While not requiring rigorous attention, these plants “ask” for obedience in terms of soil preparation and adequacy of the environment that hosts them.
Moreover, flowering is an act that demands serenity, because unlike what happens with other species, it does not occur as quickly. Nor is it continuous, much less lasts that long.
Cacti are distinguished by their timbre and breadth of purposes, among them Research in Phytotherapy highlights its uses in forage, food, medicine and as an ornamental plant. It is in the latter utility that the concern for flowering arises.
Does it occur in all varieties? What time does it happen? Let’s find out.
“Not all cacti bloom”: myth or reality?
Cacti belong to the family Cactaceae of the kingdom installations AND they are characterized by their thorny appearance, softened by large, colorful, solitary flowers. THE Encyclopedia British details that all genera of the species have a floral tube with petal-shaped structures and others similar to leaves.
Because of its rough appearance, some believe that the plant never flowers. But an article published by the Secretary of Culture, Recreation and Sports of Bogotá demystifies this appreciation.
The text makes this clear all cacti flower, only some types do only when they reach a height of 2 meters or add up to many years. After the first annual flowering, the buds appear again at the same time.
What can cause cactus flowering to stagnate?
The age of the plant is the first cause of stagnation for its flowering, so it is pertinent to know if she is young or adult, exhibits tropical nature. They argue that, in particular, cacti experience different ripening times, determined by the species.
While some take more than 10 years to flower, others do it in a year and a half. And if it grows in one column, the lag may be bigger.
Another cause affecting flowering is disease. Cacti can be infected by aphids, mealybugs and fungi which delay or permanently prevent the appearance of flowers. If they manage to sprout buds, pests would cause them to wilt, he adds tropical nature.
factors such as little light and lack of substrate also affect the prosperity of the plant, as well as the time of year according to the species. That is, even if you focus on providing fertilizer, if it’s not its flowering season, it just won’t happen.
Recommendations for making a cactus bloom
The easiest way is to buy a flowering cactus instead of growing and waiting for flowering. Instead, To experience the process, the first thing is to investigate the variety of Cactaceae what do you have at home.
For example, the Waxy they open their petals at dawn, Selenicereo they do it about 2 hours before midnight and the Epiphyllum after midnight. But the flowers don’t last long and then they fall, details Munich Nature Encyclopedia.
1. Sow in the appropriate pot
To promote cactus flowering, take advantage of clay pots. This material is porous and collaborate aerate the substrate and speed drying between waterings.
When planting, choose not so large pots, so as not to accumulate water. Small containers are best, as long as the roots don’t spill out of the drainage holes. Once these organs begin to leak out of the drainage holes, consider transplanting.
2. Fertilize in the corresponding season
Fertilizing cacti is important, but this activity is done a couple of months before flowering. Ideal in spring and summer.
When doing this, check that the fertilizer is specific for cacti or that it contains a high dose of potassium. agro-producers he claims that this mineral is related to the activation of over 50 enzymes essential for plant development and is involved in controlling the amount of water entering and leaving plant cells.
3. Let them sunbathe
Cacti love the sun and therefore lighting. When plants are grown indoors, flowering is difficult, as they require a location where they receive as much light as possible.
During the spring and summer it is fine to take it out indoors so it can get some sun, but you need to acclimate it before you leave it outdoors. In winter it is important to leave the Cactaceae Inside the house, in a point of light and where the heat is perceived at night.
4. Respect the space between risks
A cactus’s hydration is determined by how dry the soil is and the ambient heat. The higher the dryness and temperature, the more water it requires. But do not abuse watering, so as not to flood it.
Instead, space out the water supply during autumn and winter, since it is the passive phase of the cacti and they have a reserve of water stored in the previous months.
5. Provides nutrients
Whether in open ground or in pots, cacti require special soil to thrive. It is recommended that the substrate be porous, not obstruct drainage and contribute to oxygenation of the roots. You should also clean it of weeds and pathogens.
Botanical monographs delimits that the substrate can be organic, inorganic or mixed; specifically, those with proper grain size, pH, and water retention for cacti. The following options are considered valid:
- Gravel.
- perlite.
- vermiculite.
- Silica sand.
- Coconut fiber.
- Volcanic rock.
- Expanded clay.
- Blond and black mobs.
- Washed river silica sand.
6. Let them rest
Cacti varieties rest in winter, and if you want them to flower, don’t disturb their rest. How to help them? With the transfer in a luminous zone, isolating them from the cold and limiting the maximum waterings to a couple of times a month.
Do “everything” and the cactus cannot flower, what measures to take?
If you meet all the guidelines mentioned, but you don’t see the cactus blooming, you just have to be patient. Many of these plants respond to slow growth; so much that it can be years before the first flower blooms.
Similarly, when buying a Cactaceae, ask the clerk for all the details on the specimen, to know from the very first moment how long it would take to flower, the treatments that would support this purpose and if it is a momentary flowering variety. This is how you get ready to contemplate this natural spectacle.
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