Growing Cactus From Seed

Cacti are great plants for beginners and experienced gardeners alike. Being able to live in arid conditions, where the sun shines bright and the winds are dry. Their fleshy stems allow them to store large amounts of water to get them through the dry season. With this, cacti need little watering in order for them to flourish in your garden. These plants come in different shapes and sizes, ranging from spiky forms to those adorned with beautiful and vibrantly colored flowers.

Where to Plant Cacti

Consider planting your cactus during late spring, transitioning into summer, as this is the period when plants experience active growth. When planting cacti, ensure the use of well-draining soil and position them in areas where they can receive abundant sunlight. Using a cactus mix is essential for promoting healthier growth and ensuring thriving conditions.

If you choose to grow your cactus in a pot indoors, providing outdoor exposure during the summer can be beneficial for the plant. It is important to begin by placing the cactus in a protected area outdoors, allowing it to gradually acclimate to the environment before exposing it to increased sunlight. When transitioning the cactus between your home and garden, remember to place it in an area that receives morning sun for optimal results.

Safety Measures and Best Practices in Handling Cacti

Always handle your cacti with care, as the spines that cover most of them can easily attach to your skin and cause injury. It is advisable to use gloves or wrap your cactus with thick newspapers when directly handling the plant. Cacti thrive in well-draining soil that is slightly acidic. If not available, you can substitute it with peat-free multipurpose soil mixed with vermiculite or perlite to enhance drainage.

How to Care for your Cacti

Caring for cacti isn’t rocket science. All you have to do is water it once a week during the summer. Watering well, every once and awhile, is better than over watering and drowning your plant. Remember that cacti need less water in colder seasons.

It is best to repot your cactus periodically. You don’t necessarily need to transfer it to a larger pot, but providing fresh soil with just the right amount of organic nutrients can greatly contribute to the plant’s overall health.

Best Cacti to Grow from Seeds

Below is a list of cacti that are best grown from seeds. These plants showcase beautiful flowers or unique shapes and colors, making them ideal centerpieces for gardens or attractive indoor decorations.

Barrel Cactus

A staple in cacti gardening, the barrel cactus grows can reach heights of five to ten feet. They produce a beautiful yellow orange flower.

Ball Cactus

This cactus typically reaches heights of around three feet. It blooms with yellow flowers during the summer.

Prickly Pear Cactus

The prickly pear cactus has rounded and flat leaves which are called pads. These pads are covered with small spines.

Golden Barrel Cactus

This plant is considered rare and endangered. They grow up to three feet high. A beautiful, yellow flower blooms during spring.

Pincushion Cactus

A peculiar looking cactus that resembles a pincushion. This cactus produces pink funnel-shaped flowers during spring.

Step by Step Process of Planting

Step 1: Fill a pot with well-draining soil. Fill a pot with well-draining cactus soil. Pat down the soil to level the surface. Then, scatter your cactus seeds over the soil.

Step 2: Sprinkle a thin layer of soil over your seeds. Make sure to cover the whole surface of your soil by about 1/2 an inch. Then, leave your pot in a warm area and cover with a plastic bag to preserve moisture. It’s important not to leave these seed starters in hot, direct sunlight or it will be too difficult to keep the soil damp during the seeds’ germination phase.

Step 3: Remove the plastic bag after a few weeks or immediately once you see cactus sprouts. Once your baby cactus plants have emerged, wait for the soil to dry before watering the cactus seedling.

Step 4: The following spring, your cacti should be ready to replant. Pry out the young cactus gently, using a spoon or fork. Be careful. Even if cacti are small, their spikes will hurt.

Step 5: Partly fill a small pot with soil and gently place the cactus inside. Try to properly angle the cactus and make sure it isn’t sitting sideways. You can adjust its position using a pair of tweezers or needle nosed pliers. Be careful not to crush your baby cacti plants!

Step 6: Fill the rest of the pot with soil and properly water the plant. Add more soil if necessary and use a spoon to properly arrange the soil. Place the pot near a window or wherever your plant will receive an ample amount of sunlight.

Common Problems of Cacti

Cacti face problems like any other plant. Below are some examples of problems that you, as a gardener, should be aware of when caring for cacti.

Overwatering – Cacti are generally adapted to dry environments which makes overwatering a common problem for many species. Overwatering may cause the plant’s roots eventually causing the plant to die.
Lack of Light – Insufficient lighting can cause discoloration and alter the shape of your cactus. Generally, indoor cacti need a bright spot near a window. Not all cacti can take the all-day direct light of a southern facing window. Be sure to pay attention to your cactus and how they are reacting to the amount of light they receive.
Pests – There are quite a few pests that cacti attract, including scale insects and mealybugs. If left unchecked, these pests can cause severe damage and even spread to other plants in your garden.

Pros and Cons of Growing Cacti from Seeds

Though growing from seed adds extra steps to caring for cacti, they do prove to be inexpensive as compared to buying a live plant. Cultivating these wondrous plants from seed also gives you the chance to grow more than just one cactus, giving you an opportunity to share them with friends and family.

The process of caring for cacti from seeds will also help you learn more about their process of growth and serve as future knowledge for other plants.

While there are advantages to growing cacti from seeds, it is important to consider the time factor. Growing cacti from seeds requires more time than buying mature plants. If you plan on seeing your cactus bloom, it might take longer than usual for one grown from seeds to reach the flowering stage…many years in fact!…

It is also known that keeping plants alive when grown from seeds is a tad more challenging than caring for those that have matured. With this, gardeners must always weigh the pros and cons before deciding to care for cacti from seeds.