Simple Guides for Growing Healthy Cacti
Gritty cactus soil mixes, choosing a pot, what good drainage means, and how to repot a cactus and check its roots while keeping your hands safe.
5 guides published
How to slide a cactus out of its pot for a root check, what healthy, dry, rotted and root-bound roots look like, and how to put the plant back with minimal disturbance.
When a cactus needs a new pot, how to get it out without getting spined, how deep to set it in fresh gritty mix, and why the first watering should wait.
Good drainage means a hole in the pot, an open mix and nowhere for water to pool underneath. Find out why a gravel layer cannot stand in for a hole, how to manage saucers and outer pots, and what to do with a container that has no hole.
How to choose a pot for a cactus: a drainage hole first, a snug size, a material that dries at the right speed, and a shape that matches the roots and keeps tall plants stable.
What a cactus mix should contain and why: the job of each ingredient, a simple starting ratio to adjust for your home, two quick tests, and what to leave out.
