Did you know that the largest cactus in the world is almost 20 meters high? It has taken this plant hundreds of years to reach this height. On this page you’ll find all information on Cactus care, from the ideal spot until repotting instructions. Follow these Cactus care guidelines and help yours live a long and healthy life.
Cacti are among the most popular indoor plants. This is partly due to its beautiful appearance, but also because the cactus is known for its easy care. While the care is indeed quite simple, most cacti kept indoors are only semi alive. This is because most people expect this plant species can withstand neglect, and because it is not immediately clear if the cactus isn’t doing too well. Neglect usually just causes cacti to stop growing, which is very difficult to notice as cacti are slow growers. To ensure that your cactus continues to grow healthily (and possibly flower), it is important to take good care of it, especially during the warmer months. The only season during which you can neglect your cactus, is during winter. Read on for all Cactus care tips.
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Cactus light requirements
Place the cactus in a sunny spot, for example on the windowsill. Especially during winter it’s important that the cactus is placed in a sunny spot.
Cactus care: water
How much water the cactus needs varies greatly per season. From around mid-October, we recommend that you don’t water the plant: give just enough water to prevent the plant from drying out. In April you can slowly start giving it a little more water, and from May on you can start treating the cactus like a regular houseplant. Give the plant a good splash of lukewarm water as soon as the potting soil starts to dry out. Do make sure there’s never a layer of excess water at the bottom of the pot. This is one of the very few ways to kill a cactus. In late summer you can slowly start giving less and less water.
Repotting tips
You can repot young cacti every year to promote growth. Do this during spring. You only need to repot older cacti when the plant gets way too big for the pot. Only repot cacti during spring, when the plant recovers fastest from repotting. Be careful not to damage the roots too much when repotting. Use a pot that is at least 20% larger than the current pot, allowing the roots plenty of room to grow. We recommend placing a layer hydro granules at the bottom of the pot when repotting. That way, it won’t matter if you overwater the plant, as the hydro granules provide drainage.
Cactus care: Fertilizer requirements
Once you receive the plant, it will not need any fertilizer for the next 2 months. This is because the plant can still obtain sufficient nutrition from the fresh potting soil. After this period, we recommend applying a bit of fertilizer every now and then during spring and summer. Do this approximately every fourth time you water it. During autumn and winter the plant doesn’t need any fertilizer.
Is the Cactus plant poisonous?
All outdoor and indoor plants on Plantler have a decorative purpose; they’re not fit for consumption – unless it is explicitly stated that they are (i.e. a fruit tree). Some cactus species contain a milky juice that’s poisonous. If you get this juice in your mouth or eyes, contact a doctor immediately.
