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Cactus pots and transplant
There are two different types of pots available, clay or plastic.
Plastic pots are lighter, cheaper and require less watering. On the
other hand, clay pots provide better stability for higher plants and
help avoid over watering.
It is better to use deep pots. The use of shallow pots (like the ones
used for Bonsai) are not recommended. In any case the height must
be increased for the species with tuberous root. It is important that
the flowerpot be the smaller size possible in relation to the size
of the plant, this will allow to control better the humidity of soil.
Symptoms like lack of growth, bad color of the plant, roots appearing
from drainage holes or simply an out of proportion size between plant
and pot, indicate that the transplant to a bigger container becomes
necessary.
The best moment to do this is at the beginning of spring, although
can also be made during the rest of the spring and all the summer.
If there is a cause for changing the pot during winter, it can be
done, but taking more precautions with respect to watering, and considering
that the plants transplanted during the winter will blossom later.
Once retired the plant from its pot, old soil surrounding roots must
be eliminated, paying attention to the possible existence of wooly
masses on the root, which would indicate the presence of root mealy
bug (Rhizoecus cacticans). Given the case, it would be necessary put
the root system in an insecticide solution during several minutes.
Cover the drainage holes of the pot with a piece of broken pottery
with the convex side placed upwards or with coarse gravel.
Next put a layer of soil while holding the plant in place with the
other hand. Add more soil until cover the whole root system but not
the neck of the plant.
Then add a 1 cm. layer of coarse gravel. This will help in preventing
stem rot.
Once the transplant is done, and just if it is done on spring or summer,
we must not water for about a week so the wounds produced in the roots
during the operation can heal. Also, we must avoid direct sun exposition
during this period.
Then we can water, in a moderate fashion at first, and later normally. |
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