When most people think about how much water cacti need, they probably envision a hot, dry, arid landscape where water is scarce. Although this is true for many species, it is not true for all species. Growing cacti as houseplants takes them out of their natural environment and into an environment where you are responsible for their well-being.
How much water do cacti need? Most cacti should be watered as soon as the growing medium has dried, no matter how long that takes. It is necessary to water the cactus well, until the water comes out of the bottom of the pot. This gives the roots ample access to water for a short period of time, mimicking their natural environment.
Are all cacti native to desert environments?
What would an American western be without panoramic views of dry, dusty deserts where cacti rule? However, while this is the environment most people think all cacti thrive in, there are two distinct groups of cacti: arid cacti and jungle cacti. Although both species are members of the cactus family, Cactaceae, they differ in appearance, growth habits, and care requirements, including water.
What are arid cacti?
Arid types of cacti are those that thrive in desert climates and are relatively easy to distinguish from jungle varieties. Unlike jungle species, most arid species are covered in their characteristic spiny spines, and although many produce showy flowers, they are grown primarily for their uniqueness in shapes, textures and colors.
Some of the most common types of arid cacti are:
- Golden Barrel Cactus (Echinocactus grusonii): This is an excellent cactus for novice growers. As the name suggests, the cactus is barrel-shaped, upright, green and covered with a mass of dense golden-yellow spines, and the flowers are golden.
- prickly pear (Opuntia species): This is another easy-to-grow type, forming low-growing clumps and most developing large, flat, green oval pads and producing attractive flowers. Prickly pears develop pear-shaped fruits that are both colorful and edible. Wear gloves when handling them as they are covered in a mass of tiny hairs.
- Cactus column (Uruguayan cereus): Your search is over if you are looking for a cactus that will become a tall growing houseplant, reaching 3 to 6 feet tall indoors. They are bluish-green in color, smooth and covered with brownish spines. Its white flowers open at night, with petals dotted with different colors.
How to water arid cacti?
Watering dried cacti properly is the most important step to ensuring they are healthy and happy. During the growing season from March to September, the cactus produces the most growth and therefore needs more frequent watering than during the winter when it is dormant.
Allow the soil to dry out between water applications, during the growing season, and water until it begins to flow from the lower drainage holes. In winter, allow the soil to dry out much longer between water applications by watering every few weeks. If your cactus starts to wilt, it needs water.
Expert tip: Do not let the cactus sit in standing water or it will rot. If the base of your cactus starts to get soft and mushy, it’s overwatered.
What kind of soil do desert cacti need?
No matter how much you water your arid cacti, if the soil is too heavy and holds too much moisture, you will have problems and even risk rotting your cactus. Although the cactus grows best in rich soil, the soil should be well-drained and not have a tendency to get too soggy. Thus, the use of standard potting soil will eventually become too cumbersome for growing cacti.
You can plant your dried cactus in cactus potting soil, found at your local garden center, or make your own potting mix. Making your own cactus soil is as simple as mixing equal parts of peat-based soil and coarse sand or gravel.
Don’t worry if your cactus is pot-tied the way they really like it and if it needs to be re-potted, do it during the growing season in April and simply transfer it to a slightly larger container than you want. currently have. Using too large a container will keep the soil too wet and lead to rotting. Do not water transplanted cacti until a few days to a week after transplanting.
Can I fertilize dry cacti when I water?
Use a low-nitrogen water-soluble liquid fertilizer, such as 5-10-5, applied monthly and added to your watering schedule. Use during active summer growing season and discontinue in September.
You can also use an annual application of a time-release mixture sprayed on the ground in the spring.
What are Jungle Cacti?
Welcome to the jungle and a very different preferred environment for these cacti compared to their arid cousins. The species of the jungle are popular during the temporada navideña como cactus de regalo, ya menudo encontrará Pascua, Acción de Gracias, también conocida como cactus de Navidad, y cactus de Navidad en su florería o center de jardinería local a medida que se acercan estas Holidays.
Jungle cacti differ in appearance from arid species in that they have flattened leaf-like stems, lack thorns or thorns, and are grown primarily for their elaborate display of showy flowers that bloom around specific holidays. .
In addition and another difference with dry cacti, they are of the jungle type epiphytes and grow in their native environment in the upper crowns of trees. They also prefer more shady conditions than arid cacti.
Some of the more common jungle cacti are:
- orchid cactus (epiphyllum spp.): This cactus grows well in hanging baskets and produces long, fleshy webbing-like stems up to 3 feet long. They produce showy funnel-shaped and often fragrant flowers in a range of different colors that can reach up to 15cm in diameter. Flowers open in the afternoon and are produced on 2 year old plants that have attached roots.
- Easter Cacti (hypsalidopsis spp.): Easter cactus produces green, flat, succulent stems that grow into a sturdy plant. They produce pretty star-shaped flowers in a variety of colors, and the flowers open at dusk. Cacti begin to bloom in early spring, and flowering lasts for several months.
- Thanksgiving and Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera truncata & Schlumberger x witches): Both cacti bloom from November to December and produce star-shaped flowers in a variety of colors. Plants must be at least 1 year old to flower. Thanksgiving cactus stems are green with jagged edges. While Christmas cactus stems are smaller and the edges are soft.
What are the water and humidity requirements of jungle cacti?
In their natural environment, a tropical rainforest, conditions are humid, so rainforest cacti need a humid environment to grow optimally. Although they do best with 50% humidity, they will tolerate a little less, as long as you meet their other needs. It’s easy to create humidity by misting the cacti with water several times a week.
Unlike arid cacti, the soil of jungle species should never completely dry out, especially if they are actively growing in spring and summer. Touch the soil with your finger and if it starts to dry out, apply water until it sinks to the bottom of the container.
During the winter, when the cacti are dormant, reduce watering to once a week.
Expert tip: Although jungle cacti need more water than their arid cousins, never let them sit in soggy conditions or they will rot.
What kind of soil do jungle cacti need?
Jungle cacti prefer richer soil than arid types, although it should still drain well and not tend to stay soggy. They will do well in rich, well-drained potting soil. Don’t use potting soil, which is too heavy and holds too much water.
You can also make your own mix using equal parts of a peat-based mix, potting soil and coarse sand. The most important thing to remember is to make sure the soil mix drains well to prevent it from rotting due to overly wet conditions.
Is it different from transplanting a jungle cactus to a dry cactus?
Follow the same procedures as transplanting a sterile cactus: wait until it outgrows its current container and transplant into a slightly larger pot, being careful not to break the fleshy stems, and wait a few days to a week, then transplant in water. . The basic difference is that jungle species like slightly richer soil.
Can I apply fertilizer to jungle cacti while watering?
Fertilizing is as simple as adding a balanced water-soluble liquid fertilizer to your watering schedule once a month. Stop fertilizing Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus in September, and you can fertilize Easter cactus year-round and stop while it’s blooming.