Due to the extreme hardiness of these plants, I’ve had much success with all varieties. I often forget to water plants and end up killing them or placing them in the sun for too long. Here are 5 tips on growing cactus to go along with your recently acquired cacti.
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Container
You might not think that the type of container you put the cactus in actually matters, but it does. Plastic or glazed pots don’t let the water evaporate the way it should, so the cactus remains moist for a longer period of time. This wouldn’t be so bad if the cactus actually wanted this excess moisture. Unglazed clay pots are the best kind to use.
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Temperature
Spring and summer are the main growing periods for cacti, so the temperature shouldn’t be below 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night and should be 10 to 15 degrees warmer in the daytime. The temp can be dropped down to around 45 to 55 during the fall and winter time.
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Water
Basically, you only need to remember to water your cactus once a month and that’s during the very hot months. These prickly plants go dormant in the winter time, so they will only need water occasionally. In order to keep from overwatering the cactus, put the container in a bowl of water and let it absorb as much as it wants for a few hours. Be sure to remove it from the bowl so it doesn’t stay too wet.
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Soil
Cactus soil should be well-draining. At least a third of it should consist of sand and the other two-thirds can be soil. There are a variety of cactus soils available. Some of these also contain pumice and peat moss as well as the potting soil. The soil needs to hold the cactus upright, but allow water, food, and air to reach the roots.
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Light
Though cacti are found in the desert, the amount of sunlight needed for each type of cactus varies. The larger cacti are usually fine in full sun, while smaller ones prefer lots of light, but not direct sunlight. Check to see what your particular type of cactus requires before you set it in full sun and scorch the poor thing.
I find cacti the perfect plant for a household that is always on the go. I don’t have to worry about them dying while I’m on vacation. The neighbors don’t have to be bothered to watch them either. I just wish I lived in an area where I could plant some outside too. What types of cactus do you find the easiest to take care of, indoor or outdoor plants?
Top Photo Credit: cobalt123
