I recently grabbed a new cactus from the garden center, and since it’s almost fall, I thought I’d repot a few others too. Cacti don’t grow much during fall and winter, so it’s a great time to repot cactus, but you can do this any time of year for a new cactus you bought, or if one is struggling.
Let’s Talk Soil!
Before we take the cacti out of their pots, let’s talk about soil. I usually go for a cactus-specific mix. If you don’t have cactus mix, that’s ok. You can mix one of your own using potting soil, sand, and perlite. A good mix is three parts potting soil, three parts sand or gravel, and two parts perlite. If you grow a lot of cacti or succulents, you can mix up a big batch. Be sure to keep it dry and store it in a bin to use whenever you get a new plant.
To get the cactus out of its pot, you can use a folded-up paper or a rag to gently wrap around the spines. Carefully lift the cactus out and shake off some of the old soil, especially if you’re moving it to a slightly bigger pot. This helps blend the new soil with the old.
Repot Cactus: This Can Get Prickly
Put some potting mix at the bottom of the new pot and check the level to make sure the cactus sits right. Gently tap the pot to settle the soil around the roots, avoiding any air pockets. When upsizing, don’t jump from a tiny pot to a huge one. Small increments are best when you upsize. Cacti don’t usually mind growing in a small pot. They do mind too much wet soil around their roots, though.
For any new houseplants, including cacti, removing some of the soil can help avoid bringing in pests. Also, make sure you take a really good look at your plant. Look for any signs of disease or insects. This cactus looks really good, so next I’ll be putting it into its new pot. Fill in around the cactus, and make sure the soil is evenly distributed around the roots.
Just Remember:
Cacti are super low-maintenance if you follow a few simple rules:
- They need well-draining soil.
- Give them lots of natural light.
- Avoid overwatering – that’s the quickest way to hurt your cactus.
- They need minimal water in winter.
- Hold off on fertilizing until spring.
- And go for a cactus-specific fertilizer that’s low in nitrogen.
I’ve also found that cacti prefer natural light over grow lights, but I know people have found success with grow lights as well. We have ours in a south-facing window, which is a bit risky because of the harsh sun, but it’s all we’ve got. A west-facing window would also be ideal.
And that’s it! All my cacti are repotted and ready to head back to their windowsill! I hope you’ve found this guide helpful. If you have any questions, be sure to put them down in the comments. Don’t forget to subscribe to the Frog Pond Gardening YouTube channel for more gardening tips and advice, and I’ll catch you next time.
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