Stimulating the flowering of cacti is not an impossible task, although it may sometimes seem that way. What you should keep in mind is that the growth and flowering of these plants is not the same as that of others, and they need to take their time.
Let's take a look at some care tips that will help your cacti grow stronger, healthier, and produce impressive flowers.
How long does it take for a cactus to flower?
If you've had a cactus for years and it has never flowered, don't worry, the problem is probably not that you're taking poor care of it. What happens is that some species can take a long time to flower.
The small cactus and fast growing ones may take between two and three years to bloom. As long as they are exposed to the right environmental conditions.
However, large cacti and slow-growing ones may take a while to develop. between five and 10 years to give flowers, especially if grown from seed.
With some plants, if you grow them indoors, it is very difficult for them to produce flowers. The good news is that this does not happen with cacti. Even if they are kept indoors, if they receive the right care, they will eventually produce flowers.
Tips to stimulate cactus flowering
Here are some important tips to help your cacti flower:
Light, the most important factor
We've all heard that cacti hardly need any care, but that's not entirely true. It's true that they are very hardy, but they do need minimal environmental conditions to be able to grow and, of course, bloom.
They need to receive lots of direct sunlight to give flowers. Therefore, the best location for them is near a very bright window facing south or west.
If your plant is not getting enough light, consider using a special LED grow light.
With four to six hours of direct light, the cactus will grow and flower. Otherwise, it will grow elongated (etiolated) and will most likely not produce flowers.
suitable temperature
The cactus develops best in environments where the temperature remains between 18º and 30º C during spring and summer.
Contrary to popular belief, cold (but not frost) is good for cacti. In fact, they need what is known as a "cold break" to stimulate their flowering. That's why during the winter it's a good idea to keep them between 5º and 15º C.
Irrigation: little and very precise
Irrigation can be a great ally when it comes to stimulating cactus flowering, but we know that it is difficult to get it right.
Water requirements may vary depending on the species and the environmental conditions in your home, but this general rule can help:
- En Spring and summer water every 10 or 15 days, allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings.
- En In autumn and winter, water once a month, or even not at all., it depends on the environment.
If you overwater, you already know that you can cause root rot. Even if the amount of water is not enough to cause root rot, it can inhibit flowering.
Substrate with good drainage capacity
It is no coincidence that in gardening stores it is easy to find a specific substrate for cacti and succulents. It is a soil that has a great drainage capacity and hardly accumulates moisture.
If you don't have this type of substrate on hand, you can make your own by mixing:
- 50% topsoil.
- 25% coarse sand or perlite.
- 25% pumice, gravel or vermiculite.
The ideal substrate for cacti is one that is airy, loose and dries quickly.
suitable pot
It is advisable to use pots of clay or ceramic, which are materials that help facilitate the evaporation of moisture. In addition, it is essential that they have drainage holes.
The pot should be only a few centimeters larger than the root ball. In fact, a A container adjusted to the size of the cactus can stimulate its flowering.
Moderate fertilization
Cacti don't require too many nutrients, but they can use a little fertilizer from time to time.
During the time of active growth (spring and summer) you can apply a specific fertilizer for these plants once a month or, failing that, one that is low in nitrogen but rich in phosphorus and potassium.
Do not overdo the fertilizer, as this can inhibit flowering.
Avoid excessive stress
The location of your cactus should be as stable as possible, and its care should also be regular. This way you avoid it being stressed more than necessary and this could interrupt its flowering cycle.
Winter rest to stimulate cactus flowering
No matter how well you take care of your cactus, if it does not go through a winter dormancy cycle it will probably not flower or will produce very few flowers.
During the winter:
- Place the cactus in a place where the temperature remains between 5º and 15º C.
- Make sure he receives a minimum of four hours of direct sunlight each day.
- Dale very little water, and even nothing if you don't see that you need it.
- Don't give it fertilizer.
It may seem like we are neglecting our plant, but nothing could be further from the truth. This winter rest allows the cactus to accumulate energy that it will use to flower when spring arrives.
Species that flower more easily indoors
Seeing your cacti bloom is a matter of providing them with good care and having a lot of patience. However, here are some species that bloom easily even indoors:
- Mammillaria spp. It produces pink, white or red flowers that form a crown around the cactus.
- Rebutia spp. Its flowers are large compared to the size of the plant and stand out for their bright colors.
- Gymnocalycium spp. It produces elegant-looking flowers in white, pink or lilac tones.
- Notocactus or Parodia spp. It stands out for its large, showy yellow or orange flowers.
Now that you know how to stimulate cactus flowering, it's time to get down to work. Can you tell us about your experience?