I have a few questions about cacti culture. I'm never sure when to start watering my cacti in the spring (more regularly). I've read that one should begin when the tips start to show lighter green (growing), but in the past I've found that it can be quite late in spring and light green isn't showing. What I do is then start watering gently and things start up. There can be variability when I start as I'm not confident about what to do. Also when can I repot them most successfully? I always do them in late spring after they've started growing (?). Lastly, should I repot my cacti and take them out of the soil and plastic pot they came in? I haven't always in the past, just waited until it was very obvious that they needed repottting, but I wonder sometimes...
Watering: when it is warm and sunny enough, i.e. it depends on where you live (too many Victoria in the world for me to make a guess). I start watering (lightly) most of my cacti in April, but it also depends on the species, some like to be watered earlier, other later. I do not wait until they show signs of new growth. Repotting time is largely a matter of taste. I prefer to repot them in winter, the plants get more time to heal before they get wet again and they are not disturbed during their growing period. Late summer - autumn seems less favourable, I have had some casualities (root damages). Nothing wrong with plastic pots if the soil is right. What type of soil do they come in? If it is peat I suggest that you remove it, it generally does not work well in plastic pots.
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. I should have said. Right-O on all points. Most of my cacti come potted in some kind of sand/gravelly cactus mix, but I do have a peanut cactus in peat, so I shall get on that one soon. Thanks Mandarin.
Chester, what ever you do, water sparingly, the humidity in most of our homes in our climes can cause rot...if left near a damp single pane window, so ensure good drainage for the transplant, and wait a few weeks before watering..
Right-O again. I have a tendency to give a good soak after repotting and then think "now what in the heck did I go and do that for?" Especially with my pokey friends. Thanks for the pointers all.
