Cacti are low maintenance plants for the home with a ton of character and a vast array of form. They are relatively maintenance free except for infrequent watering and annual food. Many gardeners ask “should I repot my cactus?” They don’t need repotting often, but once in a while for soil replenishment and when the plant needs a larger pot. When to repot a cactus plant depends upon the plant and its condition. Read on for tips on how to repot a cactus and do it without spending the rest of the day picking spines out of your hands.[图片]Tools for Repotting Cacti are succulents and tend to favor dry, hot conditions. They store moisture in their pads and use their spines as both defense and to provide some protection from burning hot sun rays. Cactus grown in the home can almost be ignored but they do require light, warmth, water and repotting to refresh the soil. Cactus repotting requires a special soil mix, well-draining container and some tactical protection.[图片]The first issue to deal with is the handling of a spiny plant. There are a couple of ways to go about this. You can wrap the plant in several layers of newspaper and secure lightly with tape or twine. You can also use a pair of leather gloves or, for smaller plants, just grab your oven mitts.[图片]One of the safest repotting tips is to use kitchen tongs. You will also need a cactus mix which you may purchase or make. A good combination is equal parts sand or bird gravel, potting soil and leaf mold. Your container must have excellent drainage holes and preferably be unglazed so the clay can direct away and evaporate any excess moisture.[图片]When to Repot You will know when to repot a cactus if you see roots coming out the bottom of the container. This indicates it is overly root bound. Most cacti find small spaces very cozy and can stay in their container for years. The sight of roots will let you know it has expanded too much and will need repotting.[图片]The next size up container will be appropriate since they like it snug. A general rule of thumb is to repot every 2 to 4 years. If you fertilize annually, the latter is more appropriate but if you don’t fertilize, repot in two years to replenish soil fertility. The best time is during active growth in January or February.[图片]How to Repot Once you have answered the question, “should I repot my cactus?”, it is time to gather your tools and trade in the old soil or container. Not every cactus needs a new container, but fresh soil is a good idea. Only pot bound plants need a larger pot.[图片]Wrap, glove or tong the plant gently out of its pot. They usually come out readily if the soil is dry but you may have to run a trowel around the edges to loosen the soil. Shake off the old soil and plant the cactus at the same depth it was growing in the old soil. Fill in around the roots with your medium and place it in a sunny southeast or east window.[图片]Among important repotting cactus tips is to not water the plant yet, as it is adjusting to being handled and new soil conditions. After a few weeks, you can water the plant and allow it to dry out before watering again.

...显示更多

Although a cactus plant prefers slightly cramped growing conditions in a container, there may come a time when it outgrows its pot and needs a larger one. When the cactus roots reach the edge of the container, you must repot a large cactus. With attention to detail and by following expert recommendations, you can give your cactus fresh soil in a larger container so it can continue to thrive.[图片]Instructions Choose a container that is only 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) larger than the present container to ensure that you do not place the cactus in a pot that is too large. A cactus in a container too large may begin decaying because the soil will stay too wet. Fill the container approximately halfway with cactus potting soil.[图片]Wear the leather gloves and long sleeves to protect your hands and arms from the cactus. Loosen the cactus from the container by inserting the trowel gently around the perimeter of the container. Wrap the cactus with newspaper so you can grasp it and work [图片]Transfer the cactus from the old container to the new container. Set the cactus into the container so the plant will be at the same depth as it was growing in the old container. Fill additional soil in around the roots of the cactus and firm the soil down gently to finish repotting it.[图片]Place the repotted cactus into its regular growing location with direct sunlight. Do not water the cactus for two to three days after repotting. Tips and Warnings Repot a cactus in the spring before the plant begins growing actively again.[图片]Install a stake in the new container at the time you repot if your large cactus requires support. Choose a stake that is as tall as the cactus and place it into the container as you place the cactus into the container. Fill soil around both the cactus roots and the stake then tie the stake to the cactus with stretchy plant ties.

...显示更多

You may have seem some brilliant book planters for succulents and marveled at how such a simple project can yield such beautiful results. It’s a fun, easy project that anyone can do with just a few simple tools and some supplies from a local hardware store or garden center.[图片]If you have some old hardcover books lying around that are just aching to be filled with flora, here is a step by step lesson on how to create book planters yourself.[图片]Supplies – 1 Vintage book. – 2-3 small succulents. Any more than that will get really heavy. Home Depot sells them for like $2 each. Be wary of “top-heavy” succulents as they are hard to keep leverage in such a relatively shallow pot. Even little miniature cactuses are nearly impossible to keep erect. “Wide and flatter” work MUCH better than “tall.” – Little bit of potting soil – 1 exacto knife – Parchment paper or plastic bag – White glue – Dry moss or ground cover[图片]Instructions 1. The night before, rub a very thin layer of white glue against the loose paper binding, just enough to make some of the pages stick. It doesn’t need to be precise. It just helps when starting to cut into the book that the pages stay in one place.[图片]2. Cutting the square in the book is the most time-consuming part. Decide how big a square you want to have for planting. I find that the smaller patches tend to look better. I like to leave some of the text of the book visible. Using your metal ruler you will measure out your square and cut through a few pages at a time, pull them out (you will need to break the glued seal you made to get them out), and then do a few more pages, pull them out, and work your way down the book. You will need a hole that is at least 1 1/2 inches deep.[图片]The hole does not need to be clean or pretty because the only page that will be visible is the top page, so don’t worry if it tears badly, or seems jagged. You wont be able to see any of it and its going to be filled with dirt. I also recommend you start with the page under the Title Page and save the Title Page for last. By the time the rest of the hole is made, you will have a better sense of how to make the cutout for the Title Page the most centered and clean. Remember this is the only page where the look of the cut out matters.[图片]3. Line the hole with parchment paper or plastic. This just prevents any watering from damaging the rest of the book. 4. If your book is very, very deep, you can put a layer of gravel at the bottom of the hole. This will provide some drainage that your succulents would appreciate. Succulents don’t need much water but they do prefer to not have their roots sitting in water so the gravel provides a place for the water to drain that the roots wont touch. In a regular sized booked you wont have room for gravel. Don’t worry: the succulents will still live even without the drainage.[图片]5. Start with the main succulent and separate it from the soil its packed in. Place it in the hole where you like. Then repack the soil around it so it can stand on its own. For the larger plants, you will need to wedge them into the corners so they stand up until they start to grow on their own. You will need to pack the soil tightly around the roots to make them stand. A little water in the soil will also help.[图片]6. Once you have the succulents where you want, cover the soil in dry moss. You can leave the soil exposed if you like, but I think it looks nicer with the moss because that will cover the hole in the book, and the moss will also help support the plants.[图片]7. Cut the parchment paper just below the surface of the moss so that its adequately hidden. Seeing the parchment totally ruins the illusion. Blow off any dirt that you’ve gotten in the book. There will be dirt everywhere.[图片]8. About once a week I spray a little bit of water into the roots with a squirt bottle. Like I said, succulents need very little water but they do need a lot of sunlight so if you are keeping them inside, make sure they are by a window or put them outside as much as possible. When you water them, try to avoid getting water on the Title Page.

...显示更多

Christmas Cactus is a jungle cactus that prefers humidity and moisture, unlike its standard cactus cousins, which require a warm, arid climate. A winter-bloomer, Christmas Cactus displays flowers in shades of red, lavender, rose, purple, white, peach, cream and orange, depending on the variety. These prolific growers eventually need to be repotted. Repotting Christmas Cactus isn’t complicated, but the key is knowing when and how to repot a Christmas Cactus.[图片]When to Repot Most plants are best repotted when they display new growth in spring, but Christmas Cactus repotting should be done after blooming ends and the flowers have wilted in late winter or early spring. Never attempt to repot the plant while it is actively blooming.[图片]Don’t rush to repot Christmas Cactus because this hardy succulent is happiest when its roots are slightly crowded. Frequent repotting can damage the plant. Repotting Christmas Cactus every 3 to 4 years is usually adequate, but you may prefer to wait until the plant begins to look tired or you notice a few roots growing through the drainage hole. Often, a plant can bloom happily in the same pot for years.[图片]How to Repot Here are some Christmas Cactus potting tips that will help you find success: Take your time because repotting a Christmas Cactus can be tricky. A lightweight, well-drained potting mixture is critical, so look for a commercial mix for bromeliads or succulents. You can also use a mixture of two-thirds regular potting soil and one-third sand.[图片]Repot Christmas Cactus into a pot only slightly larger than the current container. Be sure the container has a drainage hole in the bottom. Although Christmas Cactus likes moisture, it will soon rot if the roots are deprived of air. Remove the plant from its pot, along with the surrounding soil ball, and then gently loosen the roots. If the potting mix is compacted, gently wash it away from the roots with a little water.[图片]Replant the Christmas cactus in the new pot so the top of the root ball is about an inch (2.5 cm) below the rim of the pot. Fill in around the roots with fresh potting mix and pat the soil lightly to remove air pockets. Water it moderately. Put the plant in a shady location for two or three days, then resume the plant’s normal care routine.

...显示更多

Succulents grow thick fleshy leaves and stems that store moisture and nutrients. This ability allows the plants to thrive in dry conditions. Potted succulents often require less watering and fertilizer than other houseplant varieties, but the irrigation they do require flushes nutrients out of the soil, so they need periodic feeding. Too much fertilizer, especially high-nitrogen blends, increase leaf and root rot problems. It’s vital to use the right blend and avoid overfeeding to keep the succulents healthy.[图片]Dissolve a low-balanced soluble fertilizer, such as an 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 formula, in 1 gallon (3.8 l) of water, Use half the amount of fertilizer recommended on the package for most succulents. For example, use ½ tablespoon 10-10-10 fertilizer if the label recommends using 1 tablespoon per gallon of water. Dilute to one-quarter strength for tropical succulents that require more frequent watering, such as a Christmas Cactus.[图片]Water succulents with the half-strength solution until the excess moisture just begins to drain from the pot bottom. A gallon ((3.8 l)) of fertilizer solution may be enough to feed several plants, depending on size. Apply the fertilizer in spring as new growth begins and again in late summer or early fall. Do not fertilize when the succulents are semidormant in winter.[图片]Irrigate tropical succulents weekly with the quarter-strength solution during the plant’s active growing season. Some tropical varieties actively grow in summer, while others are winter plants. Stop the fertilizer applications when plant growth naturally slows.[图片]Apply fertilizers when the soil in the top inch of the pot has dried completely. Postpone a weekly application if the soil is still moist, so the soil can dry. Tip You can substitute the quarter-strength fertilizer for most succulents if the soil is drying rapidly in the pot and necessitating more frequent watering. Frequent irrigation flushes the nutrients from the pot before the plant can access them.[图片]Outdoor succulents usually don’t require fertilizer because they can access the nutrient store in the soil. If they do need feeding, apply half the recommended amount of a balanced slow-release fertilizer in spring.

...显示更多

下面介绍的这类植物可以说是品种最多的植物之一了，它就是属于凤梨科的空气凤梨，它一直都是一种很好照顾的植物，慢慢地就在全世界普及，逐渐进入人们的视野，变成室内盆栽植物，它有各种各样的形状和颜色，开花的时候就更加迷人了。 [图片]#空气凤梨 实际上就是一种附生植物，你可以将它放在各种地方，只要能固定下来就能生长，令人影响深刻的就是它叶子的颜色，会因为环境变化而变色，而且不用经常照顾。 空气凤梨不需要太多的水分和营养物质就能保持亮啊后多额生长，以为它的叶子可以通过自身的组织来吸收空气中的水分，就能维持自身的生存，所以不要养在空气过于干燥的地方就行了。 [图片]如上图所示，空气凤梨可以直接悬挂在空气养护，不过为了固定，可以用水苔将它包裹住，之后用吊绳固定，就能变成靓丽的空中盆栽了，而且不用担心会有土壤弄脏环境，只要定期适当喷水就行了。 空气凤梨养护的过程中可以适当给予光照，这样还能促进开花，它的花朵比较常见的凤梨花，不过花朵比较小巧，大多都是粉色或紫色的花朵，看起来让人惊艳。 [图片]除了观赏性，空气凤梨还能成为好看的装饰植物，它也是很有吸引力的，关键是利用它能够附生在各种东西上面，上图就准备了一些木头，直接将空气凤梨附着在木头上，是怎么做到的呢？ [图片]方法还是很简单的，可以直接用热熔胶将空气凤梨直接粘附在木头上，这样对空气凤梨是没有什么危害的，因为它本身就没有根系，只需要叶子能够吸收到水分就能维持生存。 不过想要空气凤梨生长更加良好，还是需要给它提供适宜的环境，最好是放在一个有一点散射光的地方，保持较高的环境湿度，环境温度保持温暖，避免受冻。 [图片]不同颜色的空气凤梨对环境的要求也是不同的，比如常见的灰色空气凤梨就要适当的散射光，而绿色和白色的空气凤梨则要稍微遮阴养护，可以给一点点的散射光，但不能过量。 栽培空气凤梨的理想温度是在15~20度之间，在窗台、阳台或露台都是可以的，养护的过程中不要频繁改变养护的位置。 大多数的空气凤梨都是不会生根的，所以我们可以用各种东西来代替土壤，像常见的树木、墙壁、石头或各种木板等，当然要避免使用会腐烂的东西。 [图片]虽然栽种空气凤梨不需要土壤，但还是要定期浇水的，而且要保持较高的环境湿度，空气过于干燥，它们的叶子就不能从空气中吸收到水分了，就很容易干枯。 栽种空气凤梨虽然不能在土壤里面，不过可以选择用一些颗粒较大的颗粒土栽培，或者用松树皮等。 [图片]养护空气凤梨需要经常在周围喷水，保持较高的空气湿度最重要的，特别是在冬天，冬天温度较低的时候可以在周围喷温水，当然避免水珠残留在叶心。 喷水最好是用软水，自来水可以用容器放3天后使用，空气干燥的时候几乎天天喷水。 养在室内的空气凤梨除了保证有适当的散射光，温暖的环境和较高的空气湿度，还可以定期给一点稀释的液体肥料，这样可以促进空气凤梨开出惊艳的花朵，春秋季节各给一次肥料。 [图片]如果发现枯萎或死掉的叶子，要及时剪掉，不要用手掐。花朵枯萎之后也要及时掐掉残花，这样才能保持养分，促进植株生长。

Even if you love that great succulent look, or if drought has led you to these plants, you may already have had trouble growing them. The cause of death is overwatering, after which rot sets in, and the plants literally melt down into a gushy rotten mess. The problem is knowing when they want water and when they don’t.[图片]For you to understand the “when to water” question, you need to know how succulents are different from ordinary plants. The chief characteristic is specialized cells that hold moisture ready rather than deriving new moisture daily from the soil. After they are watered, succulents take up moisture until every succulent cell is fully hydrated. Over time, they utilize this stored moisture, gradually reducing the hydrostatic pressure inside the cells and tissues within the plant. In between water applications, the roots prefer a dry, airy soil, which is why they are typically grown in porous potting soils for cactus and succulents.[图片]Problems arise in wetter or more humid climates when soils don’t dry out in between water applications. They also occur when the drain hole in a pot becomes blocked or if it was too small to begin with. Pots designed for succulents often have numerous holes for this reason. To know when to water them, you must learn how to tell when hydrostatic pressure is low.[图片]Physical Touch When your newly watered succulent is fully hydrated, it’s in the “hard body” stage. Squeeze it gently to get a feel for how hard the individual plant becomes, and let this serve as a basis for future comparison. When the internal moisture is used up, the whole plant will gradually soften due to loss of pressure. They actually yield to your touch. Beware of those with only some parts softening, as this can indicate invisible rot is spreading into healthy tissue.[图片]Visual Change Every succulent plant when fully hydrated will stand up to its full height and form, which combine to create attitude. Many alter their overall attitude when internal pressure drops low enough. For example, Pachypodium’s long thin stalk will literally fold in half, then once watered, it straightens right back up again as hydrostatic pressure returns. Others will show slight wrinkles on the skin caused by reduced interior tissue volume. Drooping leaves, sagging tips or subtle leaning are all changes of attitude caused by low internal moisture.[图片]Watering Method In my experience, there are a lot of problems caused when succulents are watered from the top down like ordinary potted plants. Water travels down the edges of the soil mass and out the bottom, leaving too little behind for adequate uptake. Succulents often rot right at the soil line due to this kind of watering. For easily handled pots, simply set them in a pan of water so the soil inside can wick up the water through the drain hole. When the moisture wicks up to the surface of the soil, take the pot out of the water and let it drain. This method ensures that the entire soil mass, not just the edges are fully moistened.[图片]Remember that most succulents originate in habitats with occasional heavy rain events followed by extended periods of drought. Fortunately they speak to us in the silent language of touch and appearance, which tell you clearly when they’re dry enough for a drink.

...显示更多

下面就给大家介绍一种可以盆栽或地栽养护的可爱花卉，它一种草本小花，花朵长得一串串的，它就是鲁冰花，也叫羽扇豆，以前儿歌里也常听到鲁冰花，可以你见过真正的花朵么，它的花朵看起来还是挺惊艳的。 [图片]#鲁冰花 的花色有蓝色、粉色、白色和紫色等，花朵一串串挺立在植株上面，看起来特别迷人。鲁冰花的叶子长得像是鸭脚木一样，植株是比较矮小的，花朵却是高高耸立。 鲁冰花是一种春季开花植物，播种繁殖的时间一般是在10~12月，它就是用种子培育的，现在就能买种子了，播种的时候最好用软盆，移栽时直接带土移栽，不然就很难存活。 播种的时候一定要覆土，之后保持土壤微润，温度保持在20度左右，一般3周左右发芽生根。 [图片]鲁冰花是一般都要越冬后，春季开花，有一定的耐寒性，避免霜冻即可，栽培的注意过于过度高温和潮湿即可。 鲁冰花反而是略微喜欢冷凉的环境，如果想要栽培一些耐热的品种，在购买种子的时候注意看清楚品种的特性，这样在春秋播种的时候，来年春暖之后就能看到靓丽的花朵了。 [图片]播种一个月左右就可以适当补充稀释的液肥，促进植株生长旺盛，之后一般是1~2周给一次稀释的液肥或复合肥，这样可以促进它长得更健壮，越冬后才能开出灿烂的花朵。 如果在9月中旬栽种，一般在春末就能开花了，10月栽种一般就能在夏初开花，不过注意要在霜冻前30天栽种，偏南地区过度高温就不适合播种，不然会影响种子发芽，而且容易感染病害，刚播种的时候是需要适当遮阴的。 [图片]鲁冰花的幼苗长壮之后要注意避免招惹病虫害，最好是经常检查叶面和叶背，看到蚜虫或其他吃叶子的飞蛾幼虫，都要及时杀掉或喷药，预防为主。 下图就是在阳台上盆栽的鲁冰花，看起来长得还比较葱郁的，已经可以看到小花苞了。 [图片]注意幼苗的生长期温度不宜过高，最好不要超过25度，保持在10~18度左右最适宜，在冷凉的环境中鲁冰花就能保持良好的生长，从幼苗长到开花，一般只需要11周左右的时间就行了。 [图片]上面就是鲁冰花刚开放的时候的状况，它的花序会越长越长，随着花朵的开放，就能闻到它的花香，它的香味就像是平常我们看到的豌豆的花香，味道恬淡清新。 [图片]再过一周左右，花朵就能完全开放了，这些粉丝的花朵看起来还是挺精致的，花开一大片的时候就特别惊艳。 不过盆栽养护的鲁冰花自然是没有地栽长得茂盛，根系生长受限，不过看起来也是挺可爱的，如果喜欢这种花，秋季可以尝试播种。

Succulent plants store water in their tissue. That, by definition, is what makes it a succulent plant. Succulents use the water they store in their tissue to help them survive long, dry periods. Since cacti and other succulents as a general rule grow in dry places, they take up water through their roots very quickly and efficiently. On the other hand, they do not have the ability to quickly get rid of excess water. While this all works out fine in the wild, when csucculents are grown in cultivation, people can supply more water than the succulents needs. This is actually a common situation and the plants in cultivation look plump and happy compared to their habitat counterparts.[图片]But the real problems start when people don’t just give their succulent more water than it needs, but more water than it can handle. This is overwatering. When a succulent is overwatered, it will swell up more and more and often times the cactus stem will become so saturated that it splits open in one or more places. While a succulent can usually recover from this, the other result of overwatering (especially when combined with cold temperatures) is rot. Sometimes just the roots will rot off, but often times the whole plant will turn to mush.[图片]Treatment The first thing to do with an overwatered cactus or other succulent is stop watering it! In most cases, repotting would also be a good idea. When the plant is unpotted, you can let it stay unpotted to dry out for a week or two and then repot it. If the plant body has split in any place, the damage is permanent and there is nothing you can do but let it scar over. If the plant has started to rot, saving the plant will depend on how far the rot has set in.[图片]

...显示更多

Q. I set a small pot of Baby Toes in a sunny window and watered on the same schedule as my other plants. What caused the plant to disintegrate?[图片]A. You gave your Baby Toes too much water. This succulent, Fenestraria aurantiaca, which originated in the Cape Province of South Africa, does its growing in winter and can then be watered sparingly. Summer heat turns this plant off and dictates light sprinkling only.[图片]Baby Toes (Fenestraria) belongs to the Aizoaceae, or Carpetweed, family. Ice Plants (Dorotheanthus) and Mesembryanthemum are related, as well as the living-stone Lithops, Tiger Jaws (Faucaria) and a host of other fascinating succulents.[图片]With a name like baby toes, we can take for granted that this plant might be thought cute or adorable. What turns me on is the translucent window set within the pearly whitish top of each gray-green club-shaped leaf. At home in the sand dunes of southwestern Africa, these exist buried to the windowed tops. In cultivation, the crown is set high to avoid rot.[图片]As a growing medium, expert suggests adding extra portions of clean, sharp sand to packaged all-purpose potting mixes, including the so-called soil-less types. Very dilute low nitrogen fertilizer is applied during active growth.

...显示更多