Choosing capacity and soil

Select capacity: Cacti quite demanding on capacity, which will grow. Pot size should correspond to the root system of a cactus. To choose the right pot, you must remove the cactus from the old dishes, gently straighten the roots and examine the root system. Some cacti roots better developed in the upper part and not very long, then the pot should be wide enough, but not deep. In other cacti roots grow in length, especially if the root system is expressed rod-like main root, then the pot should be deep but not broad. In any case, the volume pot or other container for planting should not greatly exceed the volume of the root system to expand form, but it must be borne in mind that some place in the pot will drain. |

If a cactus is sick, or somehow damaged, the dishes should be slightly smaller than the volume of the root system. Just when choosing containers should take into account the nature and growth of cacti. For example, mammilyarii form many kids and one gets a lot of pot plants, so they need greater pots, but not deep. But for Ariocarpus, for example, the capacity should be more deep than wide.

What material is the capacity to grow a cactus - a matter of taste. Usually cactuses grown in plastic pots, but they can be grown in clay pots and plastic cups of yogurt under, and in ceramic cups and coconut shells, etc. Undesirable to grow cacti only in metal utensils, which can rust, and this would adversely affect the plant. If a lot of cactus and a collection grows, it is convenient enough to plant cacti in square or rectangular containers, which are then easily and tightly to each other are put on a common tray, it facilitates the transfer of cacti, tightly drawn pots hold a stable position. From that, the material from which container is made, depends only on the frequency of watering. In plastic pot soil retains moisture longer than clay.

Another condition for the capacity of a cactus - a drainage hole. I would say that it is a prerequisite, as well as cacti do not like stagnant water in a pot (especially epiphytes). The water that remains in the roots may cause them to decay and death of plants.

Soil: Soil Preparation for grafting cactus complex and controversial issue, in the sense that the composition of the soil depends on many factors, such as the type of cactus, age, etc. In various literature using various recipes and preparation of soil for cacti. Despite the fact that they sometimes differ, each author advises that a recipe for soil, as a rule, based on his experience, who had good results. Ingredients included in the traditional Cactus soil varied, but always the same, is:

Ingredients	Properties	Where to find them
Sheet earth	rich in nutrients, loose, lightweight, easy to absorb water	In spring (April), when the snow just melts in any birch grove or park, where there are deciduous trees, shovel snow, the old leaves and sovochkom going to land
Clay-turf ground	firmly holds water and nutrients are washed out of it slowly	Around the garden, where the land is overgrown with grass (dense grass), the turf was removed with a shovel and laid the ground layers, which can shed slurry, and then hiding and left at least one year. If you have such a complicated technology, we can get this on a different ground. Must podkopnut turf and keeping the grass with a good shake to its roots soil. In this case, it is not as nutritious as if pressed the year, but the structure will meet the requirements.
Old warm soil	applies when there is no possibility to get the leaf and clay-turf ground	In the garden at the garden of
Well rotted manure (humus)	used in limited quantities to be added to a nutrient-poor soil	In the spring of cow manure in the garden or in the garden is laid in a tank or a compost pit and top floods leaves (birch or apple) and the land on the next spring, dig and used
Coarse river sand	attached soil friability and porosity, is an integral part of any soil for all cacti	On the river, on the beach, always well-rinsed
Charcoal	(only deciduous trees), is used for disinfection in the form of powder (sprinkle poranennye roots) and added pieces to the soil, because has antiseptic properties	Burn in the garden or on wasteland every stick of hardwood trees, the best birch, embers cracked into pieces. Part grind into powder, and some leave small pieces and add to the soil.
Brick chips	Gives soil friability and porosity, has the ability to retain excess moisture	Hammer to break into crumbs red brick, which can be found wandering around town or at the nearest construction

Before choosing a particular soil mixture, be aware that in any case, it must meet the following requirements:

- Soil for any cactus should be loose, easy to hold water and air,
- Acidity of the soil for almost all cacti should be better than a weak acid reaction pH = 4,5 - 6.

We must know that the ground sheet is looser than that of clay and turf and greenhouse. Friability of the soil attached brick chips and river sand. And to give the desired acidity of soil or peat is added (to increase acidity) or lime (gives an alkaline reaction and reduces the acidity). Note that the young cacti and prick need more friable and fertile soil, so a significant proportion of the soil mix for them is the ground sheet. For adults and older cacti need more dense soil, so they take more greenhouse and clay-turf ground. Rapidly growing cacti add to the soil mixture of humus. What else will depend on the composition of the soil mixture? From the species characteristics of plants, such as cacti, completely without spines require less calcium content in the soil than the richly decorated with cactus spines, which is useful to add in the soil crushed eggshells.