How Much Should You Water A Cactus

I'm a stay-at-home mom of two. Kids will tell y'all when they're thirsty, merely learning to read a cactus'southward signs tin can be catchy.

What Does a Cactus Need?

I don't know about you, but I'm a very decorated person. I take two small children–which on its ain is a full-fourth dimension job–but too have to cook, clean, run errands, and have care of the household. I'm not going to remember to water a plant every day, so it shouldn't be whatsoever surprise that I would wind upwardly with a cactus.

Originally, I idea that a cactus would be an easy constitute. I apace realized, however, that I had absolutely no thought how much (or how lilliputian) work it was going to take. I knew that I wouldn't have to h2o the cactus every day, but I definitely had to ask, "What does a cactus demand?"

Very early on equally a cactus owner, I learned that there'south a pretty big deviation between "thrive" and "survive." Truth be told, I had ever just assumed that cacti would thrive if they were left in a sunny spot and watered in one case every few weeks. Isn't that what it's like in the desert, after all? A cactus can survive nether those conditions, just in order for it to thrive, it needs a fleck more. Although cacti can survive without water for weeks on cease, there'south no way that it's going to thrive with that trivial attending.

Now, my cacti thrive. Here's what I learned.

How Often Do Y'all Water a Cactus?

How much water you need depends on a wide range of factors, simply the first affair to know is that not all cacti are the aforementioned.

"Cacti" is brusk for the plant family Cactaceae, merely that umbrella term encompasses a broad multifariousness of types that live in drastically different habitats and take vastly different needs. Many—like those in the genus Ferocactus—are the typical, hardy desert-dwellers that need niggling water, but the genus Echinopsis (from the grasslands of South America) and genus Oreocereus (from the loftier Andes mountains) both need a bit more water, while genus Epiphyllum (from jungles)—a cactus that roots in copse rather than clay—likes cooler and damper habitats. Deciding how much to water depends on:

The blazon of cactus that you have
What its normal growing flavor is
The typical temperature, soil, and weather condition of its original habitat
What type of temperature, soil, and conditions information technology'due south being grown in now

How do I know which type of cactus I have?

Look at the container it came in. Normally, there will be a tag or a sticker to help you identify the type and understands information technology needs.
Bring a photo to your local nursery for assist with identification.
Try to identify your cactus by looking at photos of cacti online, or come across if your local library has a good reference volume.

Every cactus is different, and has its own requirements for water, soil, and sun. — Every cactus is different, and has its own requirements for water, soil, and sunday.

How Much H2o Exercise Cacti Need, and How Often?

Water—either too much or not enough—is the hardest thing to get right and the well-nigh common reason cacti fail to thrive (or even survive), but sweeping generalizations about how much and how often to water won't help y'all, since every type of cactus is different. Here are some general guidelines to follow:

Arrange watering schedule for each season. During the growing flavor (normally from leap to fall) cacti want regular watering and fertilizing. In the hottest, driest months, thoroughly water your cactus once a week.
E'er let your cactus dry out betwixt waterings. The meridian few inches of soil should be completely stale out. A water gauge tin assistance you decide the soil's moisture level, or yous can stick your finger into the clay to gauge it yourself.
In a pot or in the ground? Of course, plants in pots need more h2o than those planted directly into the ground, so adjust accordingly.
Environmental considerations. Many plants rest in a semi-dormant land from late fall to early spring and demand less water and then. If you live in an area that gets more h2o than that cactus's natural habitat, you won't need to water.
Less water during dormancy and wintertime. Some say that cacti need a niggling water during their dormant season, but others say that they don't demand any during winter. You'll demand to test and spotter advisedly to see how much h2o your cactus wants.
Know how to "read" your cactus's "torso language." Sentry for signs in the leaves or stems that show that the plant is getting stressed due to a lack of or backlog moisture. An underwatered cactus might look deflated, rubbery, skinny, or pale. At showtime, an overwatered cactus might expect happy and plump, with new pups growing, but waterlogging a cactus volition cause its roots to die and rot, so eventually, the found will get soft and pale. Grab the symptoms early and stop watering too much and ofttimes.
Consider the water. Your water's hardness makes a departure. If your water is hard, re-potting is recommended every couple of years to prevent salt build-up.
Avert puddles. If potted, your cactus should exist in a well-drained pot. Cacti never like to stand in puddles.

How to Water a Cactus

Alright, so how often do you h2o a cactus? Although it can depend on a number of the different factors which nosotros've already talked almost, in that location is a full general rule of pollex that can exist used for virtually varieties.

Most horticulture professionals agree that y'all should h2o a cactus around once a calendar week in the hottest months. In most cases, this is the perfect amount to provide adequate moisture without causing too much water to remain in the soil and soak the roots.

When information technology's fourth dimension to water, do and so until the soil is saturated. If yous see water slowly dripping out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot, this is a sign that the soil is thoroughly soaked. If the cactus is in the ground, you lot tin use your finger or a water gauge.

Roll to Go on

Signs Your Cactus Needs More or Less H2o


Signs of Overwatering	Signs of Underwatering
Cactus looks plump, full, and turgid.	Stems look desiccated, limp, rubbery, or soft.
You tin can't come across under the surface just if you could, you'd come across that its roots are rotting.	The institute may lean or slump to the side
Pools of water under your cactus. (Cacti never like this.)	Entire plant may change color—commonly they become paler.

How Do I Know How Much H2o My Cactus Needs Even If I Don't Know What Kind Information technology Is?

If yous don't know the proper noun, place of origin, or care instructions for your cactus, answering these questions should aid y'all determine how often to water.

Does information technology have leaves or stems? Near species of cacti don't have true leaves, just some do. As a general rule, the thinner the leaf, the more than water the cactus volition need. Cacti with a high surface-expanse-to-volume ratio (like those with sparse leaves) lose water at a higher rate than those with a depression area-to-volume ratio (those with thick, fat stems).
Does information technology have spines? If your cactus has lots of spines, it might need less water than one with few spines. Well-nigh cacti have spines, which are modified leaves. Although spines contain little or no water, they do help a cactus conserve water by trapping air on the surface, which creates an insulated layer that reduces evaporation and transpiration. Spines also provide a little shade, lower temperature, and reduce water loss. Spines are good at capturing moisture from the air.
Does it accept a solid stalk? If so, it probably does a groovy task of conserving water itself. The stem is the principal organ a cactus uses to store water. Both the round shape of a globular cactus and the cylindrical shape of a columnar cactus take low surface-area-to-volume ratio and practice a great job of storing h2o. If the central stem is ribbed, this allows the cactus to shrink or bang-up with water like an accordion.
Is it small-scale or large? In general, small-scale cacti demand less h2o than big ones.

Is It a Cactus or Is It a Succulent?

"Succulent" is a larger umbrella term that describes any plant that stores h2o in its leaves or stems. Almost all cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti.

In general, cacti are even better at water storage than succulents are. Cactaceae have fleshy stems that store water, spiny or hairy coverings, and few (if any) leaves.

Most succulents have leaves; most cacti don't. Observe I said "most," since the dividing line between succulents and cacti is blurry.

Cactus Diet: Do Cacti Need Fertilizer?

If you idea that the but thing yous'd need to practice to care for your cactus would be water it, I hate to be the one to disappoint you lot. But just like beingness watered, cacti need to exist fed nutritional additives (natural fertilizers) on a regular basis.

Although they're far more than resilient than most other types of plants, cacti notwithstanding need a good residual of fertilizers to assistance them thrive throughout their growing season. For most varieties of cacti, this is going to be in the warmer, more than humid summertime months.

Withal, there are many types that grow during the wintertime and prevarication dormant during the summertime, so be sure to check the schedule for your specific species of cactus. While you even so need to h2o cacti while they're fallow, yous don't need to worry almost the fertilizer. Almost cacti prefer many pocket-size feedings rather than one gigantic dose of fertilizer.

What kind of fertilizer should I use?

Use a depression-nitrogen type. Any blazon that is higher in phosphorus than nitrogen will exercise.

How you care for a cactus depends on the cactus you have. — How you care for a cactus depends on the cactus you lot have.

What Else Does a Cactus Need?

In addition to moisture and fertilizer, you'll also desire to consider lite, temperature, soil, and pot size.

How much sun does a cactus need?

Every type is different, but virtually cacti require a minimum of four hours of direct sunlight per day. If the plant is indoor, place it almost a due south- or east-facing window. They as well similar even exposure, so you'll want to periodically rotate the pot.

What temperatures do cacti need to survive?

They can take temperatures from 45°F to 85°F without complaint, as long as they are dry out.

What kind of pot should you lot use?

If you lot're planting or re-planting in a pot, utilise one that'due south just large enough to fit the cactus. This will help ensure that the roots dry out every bit speedily as possible. Consider widening or adding holes to the bottom of the pot to make bleed-fourth dimension even quicker.

What kind of soil should you use?

Drainage is more important than potting textile, simply the soil should be porous (non clay). Succulents without spines or needles tend to capeesh more than humus (organic matter) in their potting soil.

Cactus Intendance Quiz

For each question, choose the best answer. The answer key is below.

How often do y'all water a cactus?
- Usually, in one case a twenty-four hour period.
- A little water once a week is more than like it.
- Mayhap once a month. Perchance.
- Never. A cactus absorbs wet from the air.
Practice cacti need fertilizer?
- Aye
- No
Is it true that all cactus need full dominicus?
- No. Every type of cactus is different.
- Yes. All cacti need total sun all the time.

Answer Key

A little water in one case a week is more than similar information technology.
Aye
No. Every type of cactus is different.

I was happy to discover that while a cactus' h2o schedule might be a little more demanding than I had originally idea, it'due south still a whole lot easier than worrying about well-nigh other types of plants.

I'one thousand happy to report that my cactus is doing great, although I may still forget every once in a while!

If you've recently purchased a cactus, don't exist intimidated—if I tin proceed my cactus growing, I promise that you can, likewise.

Cactus Owners Poll

This content is accurate and true to the best of the writer's knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized communication from a qualified professional person.

Lillianne on June 01, 2020:

Thanks for the data, my mum always over-showered the cacti with h2o.

take any of yous guys heard of the mimbulus mimbletonia?

From harry potter (office 5). And so far we managed to get 3 types that are like to it. Good luck on your gardening gamble every one :)*

Ayam cemani on Feb 20, 2020:

I take no idea what species my cactus is??

Ya on November 10, 2018:

What do yous use to water your cactus?

Me on June 29, 2018:

Why not check the answers on the quiz before you post it? Just a thought.

lbvh'wkl;Cnb on June 03, 2018:

Answers to quiz are wrong

butts on April 19, 2018:

how much do you water it

Mr. Harrell on April 03, 2018:

Like every week subsequently Sunday or before and how much water do they need

Zonz on October 27, 2017:

how long practice cacti live for ?

kayla montauk on September 10, 2017:

that's like the all-time like affair like ever similar I'd like never like be like abel to practise like that (so similar awesome)