You’ve got a new cactus, a shelf of pots to choose from, and a vague memory that cacti are supposed to go in clay. My pick: unglazed terracotta with a drainage hole, for most indoor cacti in most US homes. It dries the soil faster than plastic, and that protects against the most common way … Read more >>
Most cactus roots grow only 4 to 10 inches deep, even on large plants, but they spread sideways a long way, often as far out as the plant is tall or farther. A few kinds grow a thick taproot that goes deeper, and the biggest desert cacti rarely root much past 2 to 3 feet … Read more >>
Peruvian apple cactus is the one cactus people buy small and then measure against the ceiling a few years later. It’s tough, it forgives a missed watering, and it shows you every bit of light you give it by how fast it climbs. The short version: outdoors in a warm climate, an established Peruvian apple … Read more >>
Most people have heard that a cactus can go months without water, so you can basically forget about it. That’s true for a big cactus growing in the ground in Arizona. It’s misleading for a 4-inch pot sitting on an apartment windowsill. What actually works: a typical potted cactus indoors can go about 3 to … Read more >>
Water a Christmas cactus when the top inch of soil feels dry, which works out to about every 7 to 14 days in spring and summer and every 2 to 3 weeks from fall through winter. Each time, water until it runs out of the drainage hole, then empty the saucer. That schedule moves around … Read more >>
Your Peruvian apple cactus stands tall and blue-green by the window, and you are holding a watering can, unsure whether today is the day. This is the most common question growers have, and it causes the most damage when guessed wrong. The short version: Water a Peruvian apple cactus only when the soil is completely … Read more >>
You notice a dull, tan patch near the top of your cactus, and when you lean closer to the window light, faint threads of webbing stretch between the spines. The short version: Isolate the cactus, rinse it hard with lukewarm water, then treat every surface with insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, or 70% rubbing alcohol. Repeat … Read more >>
Your Peruvian apple cactus sits by the window looking a little off, maybe pale at the tip, soft near the base, or leaning toward the glass. If you are wondering how to get my apple cactus healthy, start by finding the cause, because most problems come from a few fixable habits. The short version: Most … Read more >>
Your cactus sits on a windowsill or shelf, maybe leaning slightly toward the glass, maybe looking a little paler than when you brought it home. If you are wondering how much sunlight a cactus needs, the answer depends on what kind of cactus it is, which window it faces, and the season. The short version: … Read more >>
You are holding a packet of seeds no bigger than ground pepper and wondering how anything that tiny turns into a spiny, sculptural cactus on your windowsill. Learning how to germinate cactus seeds is mostly about getting moisture, warmth, and light right at the same time, then keeping them steady. The short version: Sow cactus … Read more >>