Tips for site selection and tillage
The vast majority of frost-hardy cacti are native to high up in the Andes and North American mountains. Shade and nutrient-rich soil are in short supply there. You should therefore coordinate your choice of location with the natural conditions. How to do it right:
- A sunny, rain-protected location
- Sandy-loamy to sandy-gravelly soil
- Fresh to moderately dry, without waterlogging
also read
- How to create a bed in front of the terrace - tips and tricks
- How to create a new bed - tips and tricks
- How to create a bed in the shade - tips and tricks
Conventional garden soil contains too many nutrients for frugal cacti. Targeted cultivation of the soil optimizes the quality of the location for the demands of the succulents. For this purpose, bag the bed about 30 cm deep. Spread a layer of chippings or gravel on the sole as drainage. Above this, fill in the excavation again after you have enriched it with lime-free quartz sand (€ 14.90 on Amazon *) or perlite (€ 32.90 on Amazon *).
Planting cacti in the garden - this is how it works
The ideal time window for planting outdoor cacti is open from mid-May to late June / early July. Please do the soil preparations 14 days before the planned planting date so that the soil can settle. How to proceed:
- Dig a planting hole for each cactus with 1.5 times the volume of the root ball
- Put on thorn-proof gloves
- Pot the plant and insert it in the middle of the pit as deep as it was in the pot
- Press the substrate on with your hands for a good connection to the soil
- Finally, spread a 3-5 cm thick layer of gravel, chippings or lava granulate (€ 13.76 on Amazon *)
Adjust the planting distance to the respective type of cactus. For popular outdoor cacti such as opuntia, a distance of 30 to 40 cm between the plants has proven to be good.
Tips
Your frost-sensitive cacti prefer to spend the warm summer time in the garden or on the balcony. From mid-May to mid / end of September, your summer visitors can enjoy the sun's rays in a rain-protected location. During this time, numerous species put on their flower dress to attract everyone's attention.
