A Better Life with HIVE | Cactus & Succulent: Proper Care & Propagation

• DIY Wooden Plant Rack made

  I started collecting cactus and succulents in early 2020. From one kind to many. Then, I made my research, learned and applied the proper care on my plants. I also started propagating them, then sell them for additional income. And for those who are planning to have these plants, I got you covered.

  But first, let's define and differentiate the two:

  

  • Some of my cactus collection🌵

  Here are some of the important things to consider in taking care of your cactus and succulents:

  • REPOTTING. I really suggest to repot your cactus and succulents for their proper care. And when doing the repotting, just squeeze the side of the plastic pot to loosen the soil, then gently remove the plant from the pot. After removing the plant from the old pot, Remove the remaining soil from the roots by brushing it. Just be extra careful to avoid cutting the main root. This will avoid root rot and fungal infection of the roots. Always choose the pot with holes for proper drainage. The size of the pot will determine the size of your plant. The bigger the pot, the bigger the plant will grow.

  • SOIL MIX. The right soil mix needs to have a superior drainage that will dry out quickly after watering. The excess water needs to be evaporated or drained to prevent fungal disease and root rot. In my plants, I use 3/4 pumice and 1/4 loam soil with coco peat and rice haul, which I find effective as my fast draining soil mix.

  

  • My Succulent Dish Garden

  • WATERING. Never water the these plants on their body or stems to avoid rotting. Just water them in their soil and always let the soil dry out between waterings. During summer or in the hottest months, water these plants at least once a week. Lessen the watering during the cold months or at least once every 2 weeks. You can always check the soil if it is completely dry before watering. Over watering will cause root rot and mushy leaves on your cactus and succulents, then eventually kill the plant.

  • SUNLIGHT. Typically, these plants need at least 4 to 6 hours of sunlight to thrive. They love being in bright and sunny location. The best time for sun exposure is between 6am to 12am or morning sun, cooler and less intense than the afternoon sun. Take note also that lack of sunlight will cause the cactus to etiolate (thin, leggy, elongated growth and pale color), and the succulent to stretch out and bend towards the light source, losing its original and beautiful shape. Also, too much sun exposure can cause the succulents and Cacti get sun scorched and dried out very quickly. It can also cause sun damage or burn. Full sunlight exposure is possible but with proper moderation.

  

  • My cacti with pups/offsets

  •PROPAGATION. Dividing the offsets from the cactus is the easiest way to propagate. Just remove the pups from its parent cactus. Most offsets form at the base of the plant but some also form along the stem or even on the pads. You can remove any of these and root it for a whole new plant. Cactus propagation via offsets is easy as long as you take clean cuts, provide the right medium and allow the offset to callus before repotting.

  While in Succulent, propagation is mostly by cutting of stems or leaves. Just make sure to be careful not tearing the stems or the leaves. For the leaves cutting, put them in a tray with coco peat then water spray every once a day. For stem cuttings, callus off then set aside in dry area. Watch for the growth of roots over the next few weeks. Rooting time varies, but most succulent leaf and stem cuttings should root within two to three weeks. When the roots are visible, you can now plant them to new small container. See below photos for reference.

  

  • My Successful Propagation of Black Prince Succulent

  Growing cactus and succulents take a lot of time and patient for they are slow growing plant. But, it will be an amazing experience to witness the results of all your effort, how these plants beautifully grow.

  Additional Tips
  Because of the hype and rise of demand of these plants during the early pandemic, pots and other plants accessories started to mark-up. So I made an idea to recycle used cup noodles into small white pots.

  

  Wash the used cup noddles
  Remove labels and the glue.
  Make holes at the bottom part for drainage.
  Your cup is ready to use for planting.
  🌵 🌵 🌵

  Disclaimer:
  Please take note that the growth of the cactus and succulents varies from the plant care, temperature, environment, soil nutrients, and it's family origin.

  🌵 🌵 🌵

  I hope you have learned something from this blog!Please follow and support me here in #Hive Platform.
  Happy Planting!