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How to grow cactus plants from seed
- BBC Gardeners' World Magazine
Published: Wednesday, 4 August 2021 at 5:05 pm
Cacti are fun, easy and cheap to grow from seed – we show you how.
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Cactus plants, or cacti, make excellent house plants. Like succulents, they're used to hot, dry, sunny conditions – many are native to the desert. Their fleshy, usually leafless stems are designed to store water, so they’re able to cope with long periods of drought. As such they need very little watering and can even rot if given too much. They come in a range of shapes and sizes and – if you're lucky – they bear delightful, brightly coloured flowers in summer.
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Cacti can be grown individually in pots or as part of a long term indoor pot display. They also work well in terrariums. Slow growing, cacti can be grown in the same pot for years.
In the above Golden Rules video, Stan Griffin of Craig House Cacti reveals his three top tips on growing cactus plants with success, including when to water and feed, and when not to. He also gives advice on how to take cuttings from cacti.
How to grow cactus plants
Grow cacti in free-draining compost in full sun. Water sparingly between spring and autumn and stop watering completely for the rest of the year.
Growing cactus plants: jump links
- Where to grow cacti
- How to plant cacti
- Caring for cacti
- Cacti problem-solving
- Cacti varieties to grow
Where to plant cacti
How to grow cactus plants - where to plant cactus
Cacti need a sunny spot in very well-drained compost, such as cactus compost, to thrive.
For best results choose a south- or east-facing windowsill. You may need to find an alternative spot for them in winter if the windowsill becomes too cold.
How to plant cacti
How to grow cactus plants - planting cactus
Always plant cacti with care. The spines can prick and hurt your skin. It's a good idea to use common kitchen items such as a thick tea towel, spoon and fork to help you plant your cactus, so you can avoid hurting yourself.
Plant cactus in a very free-draining compost such as cactus compost. Alternatively use a peat-free multi-purpose compost with added horticultural grit or vermiculite, to aid drainage.
Mulch with a layer of horticultural grit or pebbles to complete the look of the pot display. This also prevents water splashing back on the cactus.
Kevin Smith, Gardeners' World Magazine, explains how to create an attractive display using cactus plants, in our No Fuss video guide. Kevin explains why salad tongs are the tool of choice for handling cacti, which compost to use, and how to create a decorative mulch:
Caring for cactus plants
How to grow cactus plants - caring for cactus plants
In summer, water cacti no more than once a week. A good watering less often is better than a little-and-often approach. You shouldn't need to water cacti at all in the coldest months.
Repot cacti every couple of years, to give them fresh compost – you won’t necessarily need to pot them into a larger pot.
Growing cactus plants: problem solving
Cactus plants are usually trouble free. If overwatered or not given enough light they can rot at the base. This is usually fatal for the plants.
Cactus plants can develop spindly growth but it's easy to rectify. Emma Crawforth, BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, explains all, in our Quick Tips video.
Cactus varieties to grow
How to grow cactus - Rebutia krainziana
- Echinocactus grusonii – golden barrel cactus is globe-shaped but eventually grows tall. Native to Mexico, it bears bright green stems with spiked ribs. Bright yellow flowers appear in summer.
- Gymnocalycium paraguayense – a variable cactus with flattened spines. It produces creamy white flowers in spring and summer.
- Mammillaria spinosissima – a globe-shaped cactus with bright pink, funnel-shaped flowers. Its central spines are a reddish-brown or yellow.
- Rebutia krainziana – a clump-forming barrel cactus, forming dark green stems up to 7cm in diameter, with contrasting small, white areoles and spines. In late spring large, yellow or red flowers develop around the main stem, forming a tight clump.
How to grow cactus plants from seed
Cacti are exciting to grow from seed – their plump seedlings appear quickly and they’ll begin to develop their characteristic spines in under a year. Cactus seeds are available from seed merchants and specialist societies, but if you know someone with a fruiting plant, then you can get yours for free. The best time to sow cacti seeds is late February or March.
You Will Need
- Cacti seed
- Small plastic and terracotta pots
- Free-draining compost or cactus compost
- Vermiculite or fine grit
- Sheet of glass
- Fork or spoon
- Tweezers
- Gravel
Step 1
Harvesting fresh cactus seeds from a melon cactus Jason Ingram
Cactus seed grows best when fresh, so harvest your own from fruiting plants like this melon cactus (Melocactus). Ripe fruits are fleshy and colourful. Split them open and remove the seeds, then clean off any flesh as this can cause mould to develop. Place the seeds on a sheet of kitchen towel to dry out for a couple of days. Another option is to buy dragonfruit from a grocer – these exotics contain thousands of small seeds that will develop into vine-like cacti.
Step 2
Growing cactus plants from seed - sowing cacti seed
Fill a pot with a moist, gritty, free-draining compost. Gently firm down and level the surface. Scatter your mixed cactus seeds over the surface, taking care not to sow them too thickly.
Step 3
Growing cactus plants from seed - covering cacti seed with vermiculite
Gently sprinkle a thin layer of vermiculite or fine grit over the seeds, covering the whole surface of the compost. Leave the pot in a greenhouse or on a warm windowsill, covered with a clear plastic bag to preserve soil moisture.
Step 4
Growing cactus plants from seed - cactus seedling
Seedlings will develop within a few weeks. Remove the plastic bag and water when the compost becomes dry, but spray the surface with water regularly, to keep it moist.
Step 5
Growing cactus plants from seed - pricking out cactus seedlings
The following spring, your seedlings should be ready to transplant. Use a fork or spoon to gently tease out individual cacti, taking care not to catch the spikes on your skin.
Step 6
Growing cactus plants from seed - potting on cactus seedlings
Part-fill a small pot with gritty compost and gently ease the cactus seedling into place. Use tweezers to ensure the seedling is not sitting at an angle.
Step 7
Growing cactus from seed - adding gravel around cactus seedlings
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Fill around the seedling with compost and water well. Add more compost if necessary and then use the spoon to arrange gravel around the seedling. Keep in a sunny spot such as a windowsill, and pot on as and when you need to.
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