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Repotting cactus

Becky_howard2ukBecky_howard2uk Posts: 6
in Plants
Hello

Can anyone advise how to repot our cactus? It's close to 5ft tall and is starting to look unstable in the current pot. It's an indoor plant. 

Thanks very much. 
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Posts

  • BrexiteerBrexiteer Posts: 955
    That's a whopper and I'm jealous 😌😌  what I repotted mine I used folded up newspaper to lift them out but nowhere near that size 
  • Becky_howard2ukBecky_howard2uk Posts: 6
    Thanks BirminghamMarc1972. Anyone have any tips on soil type or pot size to go for? Current pot is only 7inch. 
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    If it's just for one pot then you're probably better off buying a bag of specialist cactus compost. As for pots don't go for anything too much larger than the one it's in but make sure it has a good drainage hole and a wider base. Like Marc I use a few sheets of newspaper folded over into a 10" wide strip and then wrap it around so you have a handle to hold onto. A couple of nice solid kitchen forks helps to lift the soil up out of the pot. Lift by the soil but support the body so it isn't going to topple over. 2 man job really.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • Becky_howard2ukBecky_howard2uk Posts: 6
    That's great. Thanks Wild edges, wish us luck!
  • BrexiteerBrexiteer Posts: 955
    The only thing that may happen as it maybe a bit top heavy and it may fall over. My cacti which were only 3ft were unsteady then I repotted them. I only went up to a pot 1 inch bigger
  • Becky_howard2ukBecky_howard2uk Posts: 6
    The cactus falling over is our worry too, do you think we should plant it in a deeper pot to help anchor it?
  • BrexiteerBrexiteer Posts: 955
    Not really sure mate
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    A wider rather than deeper pot will make it more stable. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Have a look at this vid on the Youtube. It's a really helpful channel for cactus stuff. I'd go for a terracotta pot with a wide base for stability and the terracotta will help the roots breathe too.




    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • Becky_howard2ukBecky_howard2uk Posts: 6
    Thank you all. Really helpful. 
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