How to plant a cactus without roots: all methods of plant propagation, stages of the procedure, the right choice of pot and soil, as well as subsequent flower care

The main methods of planting a cactus without roots include its propagation by processes, cuttings, seeds, grafting. All the advantages and disadvantages of these methods will be discussed in this article. You will learn at what time the cactus is best propagated by shoots and cuttings and how to do it correctly.

And also we will tell you in detail about how to choose the soil and capacity for planting this succulent, about the rules for caring for the planted plant and about the problems that may arise when it is rooted.

Advantages and disadvantages of the methods

The simplest and most beloved by many flower growers methods of propagating a cactus without roots is the separation and planting of processes, cuttings. These methods are simple and suitable even for inexperienced prickly plant lovers. The methods also have disadvantages: with each subsequent generation of detachable processes, the mother plant will degenerate, that is, become weaker.

Reproduction by seeds requires a long time, not all seeds will germinate and produce “offspring”. Vaccination propagation is suitable for conserving whimsical and slow-growing cactus species., requires certain skills from the grower. However, the result is always unpredictable.

When is it best to cut and propagate processes?

The best time for cuttings and propagation by processes is from April to July. Cactus prefers spring and summer - periods of active vegetation of plants. In the winter season, all metabolic processes in any plant, including succulents, proceed slowly. It is undesirable to make any manipulations with the flower in the winter.

How to choose and prepare the land for planting?

Definitely in ordinary land a young plant cannot fully develop. Therefore, for planting, you need to purchase a substrate in a specialized store. On the package should be marked "For cacti and succulents."

You can make the necessary mixture with your own hands: mix 2 parts of river sand, 2 parts of garden soil, 1 part of peat. You can add a little foam balls, ground on a coffee grinder, eggshell.

A prerequisite for filling the tank is the presence of drainage.. It should occupy a volume in the pot equal to its 1/2 - 1/5 part.

Drainage can consist of expanded clay, pebbles, small pebbles, broken bricks, broken polystyrene foam, previously cut wine corks.

What should be the pot?

You can plant a cactus in both plastic and clay containers. Plastic does not absorb water and does not change the temperature of the soil, clay provides air access to the roots. Of course, the capacity should not be iron: corrosion will negatively affect the soil and the state of the root system. The main condition is that the pot must have drainage holes.

As for the size of the pot, it is necessary to take into account the structure of the root system of each type of cactus. Holders of the core system should be grown in deep and narrow pots, and surface and branched - in shallow and wide.

How to plant a flower at home?

Scions

Carefully separate the “children” from the mother plant with a sharp disinfected knife. Sprinkle the place of cut with charcoal.
Dry the shoots in a dark and cool place for 3 days - 1 week (the duration of drying depends on the type of cactus).
Fill the pot with drainage, then the soil. The top layer of the substrate must be moistened.
The shoot is placed in the center of the pot with a slice down, without dropping. If the process is with roots, then after being placed in the recess, it is necessary to smoothly straighten it, and fill the voids with soil, slightly taking it at the base of the process for fixation.

Read more about cactus breeding in children in a separate article.

Cuttings

With a clean sharp knife, cut the stalk from 8 to 20 cm long, giving it a conical shape (slices are made along the edge at an angle of 30 - 40 degrees).
Place the cut must be sprinkled with charcoal.
Next, you need to dry the stalk for 2 days - 3 weeks, leaving it in an upright position. The shank must have a hard surface on the cut, otherwise it can simply rot in the substrate.
Cover the bottom of the pot with drainage, then a moistened substrate.
The stem is strictly vertically buried in the soil by 1.5 cm, the ground is slightly crushed around it for better fixation.
For forest cacti, you can organize a mini-greenhouse: cover the container with glass or a bag, not forgetting to systematically ventilate it.
But in no case can this be done for desert succulents - the plant will die immediately.
After 2 - 3 weeks, the greenhouse can be removed.

Seeds

Soak the seeds purchased in the store in water for a day.
After 10 minutes, place the seeds in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Cover the bottom of the container with coarse sand (1 cm), then with soil.
Cactus seeds are distributed evenly over the surface of the soil (3 - 5 pieces per 1 cm square). They do not need to be pressed into the ground.
Top can be crushed with a light layer of sifted sand.
Immerse the container in water so that it moistens the soil through the drainage holes.
To maintain the necessary soil and air humidity, seed pots should be covered with glass, leaving a small gap for air circulation.

We wrote here about the features of growing cacti from seeds, as well as what to do if the seeds do not take root.

Vaccinated

First you need to water the stock.
Use a sharp and sanitized knife to cut the stock.
Apply a scion to the stock so that their centers coincide.
Fix the stock and scion with each other through the entire pot (elastic band, tape, bandage). This fixation can be removed after 1.5 - 2 weeks.
Cover with a glass jar, which must be opened daily for ventilation of the plant.

You will find out what the vaccination procedure is about, why it is needed, its advantages and disadvantages here.

Follow-up care

Scions and cuttings.
1. A container with a young seedling is placed in a place in which the average temperature is + 18C - + 20C.
2. The first few days the plant is not watered: in order to prevent it from drying out, you can simply spray the top layer of soil from the spray gun.
3. After the young cactus is accepted, it should be watered 1-2 times a week: the topsoil should always be slightly dried.
Seeds.
1. The temperature in the room, which contains containers with cactus seedlings, should be quite high - + 25C - + 30C.
2. Watering is carried out 1 time in 3 - 4 days.
3. When the seedlings reach the size of a pea, they must be planted in individual pots.
Graft.
1. The plant should first be protected from direct sunlight, but its habitat should be bright.
2. At first, until the cut is dried, the plant does not need to be watered, and then - moderate watering and temperature conditions + 18C - + 20C.

Why can't root?

Cactus is a plant that does not require special attention and care. Almost all attempts to propagate it are crowned with success. But certain difficulties can still arise.

Seeds do not sprout.
Most likely, the seeds were sprinkled with a thick layer of soil. The situation cannot be resolved; this fact should be taken into account at the next attempt. Or the room temperature is not high enough, perhaps the grower forgot to cover the container with glass or film. The way out is to increase the temperature in the room, create a mini-greenhouse.
The shoot without roots withered.
The reason for this phenomenon lies in the small size of the "baby": she simply did not have enough reserves of nutrients for rooting.
A shoot without roots does not root.
Perhaps when watering the "baby" moves. It is necessary to ensure that the shoot is immovable.

There are plenty of ways to propagate cactus. And only the grower chooses the method that will help him replenish his own collection of prickly favorites.