Looking at rapaciously bristled up echinocactus or at sharp needles of ferokaktus, there is a wish to avoid cowardly them and to forget about change. But it is necessary though it is necessary to do it not so often as to other houseplants. Cacti slowly grow therefore to change the earth and pot it is necessary to them less often, at least once in three years. However, if the cactus not bad grows and blossoms in old pot, then change can and be postponed once again not to injure its root system.
1. It is better to replace cactus on spring. Usually, if the earth in pot with cactus did not become reinforced concrete monolith, it before change is not watered. The lump of the dry earth together with root system easily separates from pot. Professionals advise especially "predatory" copies to tie with rope between needles, and then to get cactus from pot, having just pulled for rope.
2. Shake off accurately the earth from roots if there are damages of root system, spots on it, then cut off them to healthy fabric and leave in the open air for several days to dry. On healthy roots suction hairs have to be well visible, and they - to be smooth, slightly yellowish color.
3. Material of which the pot is made can be any, cacti perfectly feel both in clay and in plastic tanks. And here the size of pot is chosen according to the size of root system. Roots from below can be turned in, and sideways to walls of pot about 1 centimeter of space has to have.
4. The earth has to be friable and easy, it is filled over the drainage hole covered with small haydite or clay crocks. Having filled the earth on each side, slightly knock with pot on table, settling the earth. The root neck of cactus has to be level with earth surface in pot, soil level – 1 centimeter from edges of pot.
5. After change the cactus cannot be watered several days. If roots have been cut off, then it is possible to leave it on quarantine and longer. At first do not expose cactus under bright sunshine. If you did transfer, having just changed pot and dosypav the earth, then leave the mode of watering former.