Plant care guide
Cactus Care Guide: Grow Healthy Cactus and Succulents Indoors
Cactus are easy once you get the watering right. These guides cover desert cactus, Christmas cactus and Peruvian apple cactus, from soil and light to squishy stems and strange spots.
Most cactus problems start with too much water, so read the watering guides first.
- 148free guides
- 9topics
- Nov 2026last updated
New to cactus care? Start here
Read these first. They cover the basics that solve most problems.
- How Often Should I Water My Cactus? A Season-by-Season Schedule for Indoor GrowersWater deeply, then let it dry out.
- How Much Sunlight Does a Cactus Need? Hours, Windows and Warning SignsHours of sun and the best window.
- Can You Mix Cactus Soil with Potting Soil?The fast-draining mix cactus need.
- How Often to Water a Christmas Cactus (By Season and Pot)Christmas cactus wants more water than desert types.
- How to Make Christmas Cactus Bloom: 7 Steps for Buds Every YearGet buds every holiday season.
- A Step-by-Step Guide for Growing Cactus From Cuttings (and Getting Them to Root)Grow new cactus from a cutting.
Christmas cactus24
The jungle cactus that blooms in winter: watering, blooms, leaf colors and fixes.
- Are Christmas Cactus Bad for Allergies? What to Know Before You Buy
- Can A Christmas Cactus Be Outside?
- Can A Christmas Cactus Take Morning Sun?
- Can Christmas Cactus be Rooted in Water?
- Can Christmas Cactus Get Mealybugs?
- Christmas Cactus Dropping Leaves? 8 Causes and the Fix for Each
- How Often to Water a Christmas Cactus (By Season and Pot)
- How to Grow a Bigger Christmas Cactus: 8 Steps to a Fuller, Fuller Plant
- How to Make Christmas Cactus Bloom: 7 Steps for Buds Every Year
- How to Trim a Christmas Cactus: 7 Steps for a Fuller, Bloom-Ready Plant
- Overwatered Christmas Cactus Care: 7 Warning Signs and How to Save It
- What Soil Does a Christmas Cactus Need? The Best Mix and How to Make It
- What to Do With Christmas Cactus After Flowering: 8 Steps for Next Year’s Blooms
- When to Fertilize Christmas Cactus: A Season-by-Season Feeding Schedule
- When to Transplant Christmas Cactus? Best Timing, Signs and Steps
- Why Are Christmas Cactus Leaves Turning Red? 7 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why Are My Christmas Cactus Leaves Soft? 7 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why Are My Christmas Cactus Leaves Turning Pink? 7 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why Are the Leaves on My Christmas Cactus Limp? 8 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why Do Christmas Cactus Leaves Turn Purple? 7 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why Does My Christmas Cactus Look Wrinkled? 7 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why Is My Christmas Cactus Not Blooming? 8 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why Is My Christmas Cactus Turning Purple? 7 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why Is My Christmas Cactus Wilting? 8 Causes and the Fix for Each
Peruvian apple cactus11
Grow, root and rescue a Peruvian apple cactus.
- Apple Cactus Looking Sick? How to Get My Apple Cactus Healthy Again in 8 Fixes
- Are Peruvian Apple Cactus Poisonous?
- How Fast Does a Peruvian Apple Cactus Grow Indoors and Out?
- How Often Should I Water a Peruvian Apple Cactus? A Season-by-Season Schedule
- How to Care for Peruvian Apple Cactus: 8 Essentials for Healthy Indoor Growth
- How to Grow Peruvian Apple Cactus from Cutting: 7 Steps That Root Fast
- Is the Peruvian Apple Cactus Self-Pollinating? Why Fruit Fails and How to Fix It
- Peruvian Apple Cactus Not Rooting? 7 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Peruvian Apple Cactus Yellowing? 8 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why Is My Peruvian Apple Cactus Turning Black? 7 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Will a Peruvian Apple Cactus Grow in Zone 8? What Works and What Fails
Care basics for every type27
How much to water, how much light, which soil and when to feed.
- Are Banana Peels Good for Cactus?
- Are Cactus and Succulents the Same? How to Tell Them Apart and Care for Each
- Are Coffee Grounds Good for Cactus Plants?
- Are Eggshells Good for Cactus?
- Can Cactus Grow in Virginia? Hardy Types, Planting Tips and Indoor Care
- Can Cactus Live in Low Light? [Useful Tips]
- Can Cactus Plants Survive Freezing Temperatures?
- Can I Keep Eve’s Needle Cactus Outside?
- Can I Spray My Cactus with Water?
- Can I Use Cactus Fertilizer for Other Plants? Which Ones Thrive and How to Mix It
- Can I Use Cactus Soil for Succulents?
- Can You Drink Water Straight From a Cactus? The Real Answer and the Safe Alternatives
- Can You Grow Cactus Without Soil? 5 Soil-Free Setups That Work
- Can You Grow Cactus Without Sunlight?
- Can You Mix Cactus Soil with Potting Soil?
- Can You Use Fish Fertilizer on Cactus Plants? Yes, With 6 Simple Rules
- Eve’s Needle Cactus Watering
- How Do Cactus Store Water? 7 Built-In Tricks Explained
- How Long Can a Cactus Go Without Water? 5 Myths Indoors
- How Much Sun Do Cactus Need?
- How Much Sunlight Does a Cactus Need? Hours, Windows and Warning Signs
- How Often Should I Water My Cactus? A Season-by-Season Schedule for Indoor Growers
- How to Care for a Moon Cactus: 8 Essentials for a Healthy, Long-Lived Graft
- How to Get Water from a Cactus? What Works, What Fails, and the Safe Method
- How to Grow and Care for Eve’s Needle Cactus Indoors: Light, Water, Soil and Fixes
- Low Light Indoor Hanging Plants: 12 Picks for Dim Rooms and How to Keep Them Trailing
- What Colors Are Cactus? 9 Natural Shades and What Each One Means
Propagation, repotting and pruning13
Make new plants, move to a bigger pot, prune and shape.
- A Step-by-Step Guide for Growing Cactus From Cuttings (and Getting Them to Root)
- Can a Cactus Regrow If It Breaks?
- Can Cactus Be Cut and Replanted?
- How Do Cactus Reproduce? Seeds, Pups, Cuttings and More
- How Far Apart Is It Best to Plant a Cactus? Spacing Rules for Pots, Bowls and Beds
- How to Care for a Spring Cactus: Light, Water and the Cool Rest That Brings Blooms
- How to Germinate Cactus Seeds Indoors: 8 Steps From Sowing to Sturdy Seedling
- How to Get Cactus to Bloom?
- How to Grow a Cactus From Seed Indoors: 8 Steps From Sowing to First Repot
- How to Propagate Bunny Ear Cactus: 7 Steps From Pad to New Plant
- How to Propagate Eve’s Needle Cactus: 3 Methods That Work Indoors
- How to Remove Cactus From Yard: A Safe, Step-by-Step Method That Prevents Regrowth
- How to Trim a Cactus Without Killing It: 7 Steps for Clean, Safe Cuts
Leaf problems and fixes42
Yellow, brown, curling or drooping leaves: what each sign means and the fix.
- Brown Spots on Cactus? 8 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Bunny Ear Cactus Drooping? 7 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Bunny Ear Cactus Growing Long and Skinny
- Cactus Turning Purple? 7 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Can a Cactus Get Too Dry?
- Can an Overwatered Cactus Be Saved? Signs, Rescue Steps and Recovery
- Can Cactus Cause Swelling? 6 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Can Cactus Kill Other Plants? 8 Real Risks and the Fix for Each
- Dying Cactus? How to Save a Dying Cactus From 7 Common Problems
- Dying Zebra Cactus? 8 Causes and How to Save It
- Eve’s Needle Cactus Black Spots
- Eve’s Needle Cactus Drooping [What to Do]
- Eve’s Needle Cactus Turning Yellow? 8 Causes and the Fix for Each
- How Do I Know if My Moon Cactus Is Dying? [8 Symptoms]
- How Do You Save a Dying Pencil Cactus?
- Is My Cactus Dead? How to Tell If a Cactus Is Dead and 6 Ways to Save It
- My Cactus Is Turning Yellow At The Bottom? [What to Do Now]
- Needle Cactus Turning White
- What to Do If My Cactus Is Squishy: 7 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why Are My Cactus Getting Top Heavy? 7 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why Are the Flowers on My Cactus Dying? 8 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why Cactus Leaves Fall Off: 8 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why do Cactus Have Spines Instead of Leaves?
- Why Does a Cactus Have Thorns? 6 Jobs Spines Do and How to Care for Them Indoors
- Why Does My Cactus Have Black Spots? 8 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why Does My Cactus Have White Fuzz? 6 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why Does My Cactus Have White Spots? 7 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why Is My Cactus Drooping? 8 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why Is My Cactus Dying? 8 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why is My Cactus Falling Over? [What to Do]
- Why Is My Cactus Growing Sideways? 7 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why Is My Cactus Losing Needles? 8 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why Is My Cactus Shriveling Up? 7 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why Is My Cactus Soft And Wrinkly? [Causes & Solutions]
- Why Is My Cactus Turning Brown and Soft? 7 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why Is My Cactus Turning Light Green? 8 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why is My Cactus Turning Red? [How to Fix]
- Why Is My Cactus Turning White? 8 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why Is My Cactus Wrinkled? 7 Causes and the Fix for Each
- Why Is My Pencil Cactus Turning Yellow? [What to Do]
- Why is My Potted Eve’s Needle Cactus Shriveling? [Causes & What to Do]
- Will a Yellow Cactus Turn Green Again?
Pests and how to get rid of them6
Spot the bug, then get rid of it without hurting the plant.
- 8 Ways to Get Rid of Cactus Bugs and Bring Your Succulent Back to Life
- Are Ants Bad for Cactus?
- Can Cactus Get Mealybugs? How to Spot, Treat and Prevent Them
- Can You Spray Cactus with Neem Oil? How to Do It Safely, Step by Step
- Can You Take Cactus on an Airplane? 7 Rules for Flying It Safely
- How to Get Rid of Spider Mites on a Cactus: 7 Steps That Work
Mold, fungus and disease3
Root rot, mold and fungus, and how to stop them spreading.
Pets and people: safety6
What happens if a cat, dog or child chews it, and what to do.
Varieties, comparisons and facts16
Types, look-alikes, growth rates and side-by-side comparisons.
- Are Cactus Bad for Feng Shui?
- Are Cactus Good for Air Quality? What They Can and Can’t Do Indoors
- Are Cactus Good Houseplants?
- Are Clay Pots Good for Cactus? Terracotta vs Plastic Pots
- Cactus Pear Ripe or Not? 6 Signs and How to Check Each
- Can You Make Money Selling Cactus? A Realistic Guide to Earnings, Stock, and Sales
- Does Dragon Fruit Come From a Cactus?
- How Are Cactus Good for the Environment?
- How Deep Do Cactus Roots Grow? Depth, Spread and Pot Size
- How Does a Cactus Survive in the Desert?
- How Fast Does a Cactus Grow?
- How Long Do Moon Cactus Live?
- How to Kill a Cactus?
- How to Remove Bunny Ear Cactus Spines?
- What Animal Eats Cactus in the Deserts?
- What Is an Eve’s Needle Cactus’ Growth Rate? How Fast It Grows Indoors
More plant guides
Houseplant care basics Problems and pests Best indoor plants Pet-safe houseplants Indoor palms Fiddle leaf fig Philodendron Dieffenbachia Snake plant English ivy Dracaena (dragon tree) Elephant ear Prayer plant and calathea Polka dot plant Calla lily
Want everything, newest first? Browse all articles, or see every plant guide on one page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I water a cactus?
Water desert cactus deeply, then let the soil dry out completely before you water again. That’s often every week or two in summer and as little as once a month in winter, depending on light and pot size.
Is Christmas cactus care different from other cactus?
Yes. Christmas cactus is a jungle cactus from Brazil’s rainforests, not the desert. It likes more water than desert cactus, bright indirect light rather than harsh sun, and long, cool nights in fall to set flower buds.
Why is my cactus turning soft or mushy?
A soft, mushy cactus usually has rot from overwatering or poor drainage. Cut away the rotten tissue, let the cut dry, and repot in dry cactus mix in a pot with a drainage hole.
Is Christmas cactus safe for cats and dogs?
Yes. The ASPCA lists Christmas cactus as non-toxic to cats and dogs, though eating a lot of it can still cause a mild upset stomach.