I’ve grown cacti since I was a child, but I’ve never seen one die of old age. I can’t say that to date it has kept every cactus I’ve owned thriving and happy, but generally the issue was my less than stellar concern, rather than the limit of my cactus’ lifespan. This got me thinking, how long do cacti live?
There are many types of cacti, over 1,500 in fact. They all seem to be fairly long-lived plants, but there is quite a bit of variation in their lifespan.
The lifespan of cacti generally ranges from 10 to 200 years, depending on the species. Cacti grown outdoors under ideal conditions generally live longer than cacti grown as houseplants. However, with proper care, many indoor cacti can live for decades.
The longest-lived cactus is believed to be the Saguaro cactus, native to the deserts of Arizona and Mexico. This impressive and iconic cactus can reach 60 to 70 feet in height and lives for 150 to 200 years.
There was even one that lived in Arizona until the mid-90s and is said to be around 300 years old. This incredible cactus, which lived in Saguaro National Park, eventually died of a bacterial infection, which older cacti are vulnerable to, especially if weakened by injury.
Such longevity is not a feature of all types of cacti. The Barrel cactus is not as long-lived, with a lifespan of between 50 and 100 years. However, they are known to live up to 130 years old.
In comparison, Nopales (Opuntia) are thought to have a half-life of around 20 to 30 years.
Researchers have conducted population studies on various other cacti to try to determine their lifespan. The recorded lifespans of various cacti are shown below.
- Cephalocereus columnatrajani can live up to 145 years
- Neobuxbaumia macrocephala can live around 200 years
- Even the tiny Escobaria robbinsorum lives an average of 17 years.
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Problems Cacti Face With Aging
Although cacti are fairly long-lived plants, over time they will begin to show their age as any damage or blemish they pick up over time will remain on the plant for life. This can affect the appearance of cacti that are kept as houseplants unless they are very well cared for. Even things like excessive direct sunlight can scorch the cactus, resulting in permanent stains on the surface of the plant.
As highlighted above, there appears to be considerable variation in lifespan between different species of cacti. There are genetic factors at play that will limit the lifespan of species across a wide spectrum. I guess this sounds a lot like the average lifespan of animals based on species, but there is variation between individuals within each species.
As with many living things, it is often difficult to say how long a species could live with perfect care, but it is much easier to assess how long the average animal or plant of that species actually lives.
Another thing to keep in mind is that sometimes part of a cactus will break under its own weight over time. These fallen stems sometimes take root and grow into a new plant. Now, does that count as a continuation of the life of the original plant, or is it a new plant from that time?
Why do cacti live so long?
There are a number of factors that make cacti relatively long-lived plants. For starters, many cacti live in arid deserts, where few animals like to eat cacti.
Life is hard in the generally inhospitable conditions of the deserts. Cacti must do what they can to survive and reproduce. Because conditions conducive to flowering and reproduction are not very common, cacti have evolved slow metabolisms and longevity to ensure they have a chance of producing offspring.
How long do cacti live indoors?
Once out of its natural habitat, it’s up to you to provide the care a cactus needs to survive and thrive. They’re generally not difficult to maintain, but there are a few important things to remember to ensure your cactus thrives for years to come.
The most important factors to consider are light and water requirements, drainage, and soil type. It is best to seek advice specific to the species of cactus you have, as there are significant differences in requirements between cacti. For more general cacti care tips, check out this article.
Cacti adaptations for survival
It is very good to live for a long time, but many cacti live in inhospitable and dry places, where rain does not fall very often. You need to be strong to survive, and cacti have adaptations to help them survive in hot, dry deserts.
- Cacti extend their roots wide and shallow into the ground. This means that when it rains, they can collect water from a large area on the ground and absorb as much water as possible. You never know when it will rain again in the desert, so be prepared.
- Cacti have no real leaves or branches. The leaves and branches are full of water, and the large area would cause large water loss. Although the spines also have a large surface area, they contain almost no water and are made of strong fibers.
- After rain, cacti quickly develop fine hairs on their fibrous roots. This allows the cactus to maximize water uptake during the short time that water is available in the soil. Once the soil dries, the root hairs are no longer needed and will die back until the next rain.
- The main stem of a cactus is thick and fleshy and has a waxy, waterproof coating. This allows the cactus to store large amounts of water in the fleshy stem, without the risk of water loss. Cacti also have the ability to expand or contract their stem when the volume of water in them changes.
- Unlike other plant species, cacti only open the pores (stomata) of their stems at night. Regular plants have pores in their stems and leaves that open to allow water transpiration and the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide. The plants thus lose large amounts of water. Cacti only open them at night when daytime water loss is only a fraction of this.
- Cactus spines also act as a defense mechanism to prevent animals from eating cacti. This probably explains why cacti have so few predators. Who wants to eat something as prickly as a cactus?
Many of the adaptations that cacti must survive are shared by other succulents. If you want to know more about the difference between succulents and cacti, I have more information here.
Does anyone have a cactus houseplant they’ve had for a long time? I would love to hear your experiences or see photos of particularly old cacti. Let me know in the comments or contact me via the contact form. Good cactus growth.