Re-Pot a Cactus

Before we get started re-potting our cactus there are some important things that you may or may not know about cactus plants, but definately should take into consideration.

1. A cactus, similar to mine, will only grow as big a its container. So, if you do not want a six foot tall, 1,ooo pound, cactus growing in your house don't plant it in an extra large, 20 gallon pot.

2. Cactus love the sun. Mine simply adores its chosen place in my southern facing window where it can have sunshine all day. It is so happy there that it blooms from late January until June every year. So make sure that whatever pot you put it into that it will still fit onto that sunny window sill or in that sunny spot in your house.

3. Cactus are COVERED with millions of needles! Prepare yourself and your re-potting area carefully. Long, heavy, leather gloves are a must! It's a good idea to wear a heavy duty, long sleeve shirt also, especially if you don't have some long leather gloves.

4 Cactus require a special potting soil so make sure you have purchased the appropriate soil for it.

5. Cactus require a VERY good draining pot. I like to use the real terra cotta pots because they will not only drain water out of the bottom really well, but the pot itself will soak up the excess water out of the soil and provide the roots plenty of air circulation.

6. And finally, cactus are HEAVY. My little cactus is only about 8 inches tall, but it weighs 15 pounds!!! Unlike your other house plants, cactus are full of "water" and so every bit of that 8 inch plant is water.

So, here are my gloves and the cactus potting soil that I am going to use. Notice the package of soil says, "Provides Excellent Drainage". This is important if you want to have a healthy cactus plant. Notice that my glove are large, padded, and long enough to cover my hands up past my wrists--VERY important!
And here is my little cactus. I have had this plant for about eleven years. I have only re-potted it twice because after each re-potting the cactus has immediately grown to the capacity of the new pot. The only reason I am re-potting it this time is because the soil has sunk so low into the pot that the cactus is not stable anymore. I am not going to change pots, just add some new fresh soil and build up the soil level in the pot.

The proceedure is similar to the steps for re-potting any plant except that you need to be VERY careful that the cactus does not end up stuck to your bare arms or hands.

1. Moisten the soil and allow to drain completely until the soil looks nice and firm. While the soil drains, prepare new pot with layer of rocks or packaging peanut at the bottom and a few inches of soil, or in the case of mine, I will prepare the pot after step 3.
2. Loosen the soil and cactus by leaning the pot over and allowing the cactus to rest in the palm of your gloved hand.
3. Without pulling or bending the cactus slowly dump the whole plant into your gloved palm that the cactus was resting in in step two. Make sure that this whole process is done close to the table or counter top so that the plant roots and soil can come out onto the surface and the entire weight of the plant doesn't end up in your hand.
4. Using both gloved hands, pick up the cactus, by the root end, and carefully place the cactus into the new container. Fill in all the edges with more soil using a large spoon or small garden shovel. Don't pack the soil down. Here it is! All re-potted. I like to put decorative rock around the bottom of my cactus plant. It won't need watered for about a week or so. I don't water my cactus that much because cactus are desert plants and don't need much water. I may only water it two or three times in a month and only about 1/4 of a cup of water each time.

Next time........re-potting an extra large plant.

Yours Truly,
Mrs. Know-It