How to Grow Saguaro Cactus

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If you're looking for a low-maintenance, long-lasting addition to your plant collection, you might love growing your own saguaro cactus! Our handy how-to guide will tell you everything you need to know about growing your own saguaro seedlings.

Steps

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    Choose a small- to medium-sized plastic planting pot with drainage holes.
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    Saguaro, like other cacti, need extremely loose, loamy and coarse soil that is free of organic fertilizers like manure.
    • Combine 1-part each of sand, peat moss, turf soil and garden loam.
    • Fill the pot 3/4 full of soil.
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    Poke several small holes in the soil 1 inch (2.54 cm) apart using a pencil. Make the holes about 1/8 inch (0.4 cm) deep. Place the saguaro seeds in the holes and lightly pinch the soil closed over them.
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    [1] Place plastic wrap securely over the pot. Poke holes in the plastic wrap to aerate the soil.
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    Sprinkle water over the soil every 10 days so the seeds don't dry out. Even when growing from seed, cacti do not like too much water, so do not water more than every 10 days.
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    After 4 to 6 weeks, you will be able to remove the plastic wrap. Keep the saguaro seedlings moist by watering once a month.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you take care of a cactus?
    Mark Leahy
    Plant Specialist
    Mark Leahy is a Plant Specialist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is the Co-Owner of Bella Fiora, a custom design floral studio, and SF Plants, a plant shop and nursery. Mark specializes in floral artistry and indoor plants including floral arrangements, terrace planters, office plantscapes, and living walls. Mark and his business partner have been featured in Vogue, The Knot, Today’s Bride, Wedding Wire, Modern Luxury, San Francisco Bride Magazine, San Francisco Fall Antique Show, Black Bride, Best of the Bay Area A-List, and Borrowed & Blue.
    Mark Leahy
    Plant Specialist
    Expert Answer
    It needs sun, it likes to be watered thoroughly, but you leave the soil to dry out and dusty before you water it. If you keep up consistency with that, you will have a healthy cactus, the main thing is to water thoroughly and let the soil dry out totally in between watering schedules.
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  • Question
    Where can I buy the saguaro seeds?
    Community Answer
    You can buy them online from sights like Amazon.
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  • Question
    How do I pot on the saguaro cacti seedlings?
    Community Answer
    Poke several small holes in the soil one inch apart, using a pencil. Make the holes about 1/8 inch deep. Place the saguaro seeds in the holes, and use cactus potting soil.
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      Tips

      • You can find pre-mixed cactus soil at your local home improvement store or garden center.
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      • Saguaros will die if left in temperatures below freezing.
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      • Saguaros will exhibit very slow growth, and will only reach a height of about 1 inch (2.54 cm) after 1 to 2 years. At this time, you may transplant your saguaro cacti into separate pots.
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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about growing cacti and succulents, check out our in-depth interview with Mark Leahy .

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhcCvGgYc04
      2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saguaro
      3. http://cactus-guide.com/abc-of-cactus-care/potting-cactus-in-proper-soil/

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