Learn All About Cactus with our Guide
The Cactus has become an extremely popular houseplant choice, mostly for its easy care requirements and little watering needs. There are around 2000 different types of Cacti and their natural habitat is a dry, hot dessert climates, some living up to 200 years old. Unlike many other houseplants, they do not have leaves. Instead they have spines or thorns. They are native to both North and South America.
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Light |
Cacti can survive in both high light and low light areas, however will grow faster with more bright indirect light. They can tolerate some direct sun. They do not mind dry air or drafts. |
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Watering |
Water your Cactus once a month in Spring and Summer and reduce watering in the Winter months to avoid root damage and rot. |
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Humidity |
The Cactus does not mind dry air, therefore it does not require misting at all. |
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Temperature |
It is best to keep your cactus in temperatures between 10-26c which is around what most households are. |
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Fertilizer |
You can feed your Cactus once throughout the growing season (March-September). |
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Toxicity |
Most household Cactus are non-toxic to animals or pets however do cause harm through their spikes. Some do however have toxic sap that can cause mild skin irritation such as the African Milk Cactus. Its best to check the variety of Cactus that you have. |
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Additional Care Information |
It is a better idea to water your Cactus from the bottom as they do not like to have water left sitting on them, this will cause your Cactus to rot. Ensure any excess water is shaken off before placing it back to its original position. |
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Troubleshooting |
If your Cactus was variegated and is turning back to green, this is a sign it is not getting enough light. Simply move your Cactus to a brighter area. If your Cactus looks wrinkled, this is a sign of underwatering. Water the Cactus and keep a more regular watering routine. |
The information above is written by Plantila and should be used as a guide only. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you need any additional advice. If you have purchased a plant at Plantila that's not doing so well please send us a picture via WhatsApp to 028 42 798478 and we will try to help.