Q&A for How to Grow a Cactus

It's best to use a mix of 1/3 horticultural sand, along with 1/3 compost and 1/3 perlite.

Prepare a potting mix the same as the one the plant is currently in. Carefully remove the plant, roots and soil in one scoop, and transfer to a new pot. Pack new soil around the plant, and water.

Get some thick leather gloves to avoid the cactus spines. Choose a larger container (one size up) for the cactus and add fresh cacti soil to the new container. Run a knife around the existing container to loosen the soil, then lift out the cactus, holding either with newspaper or barbecue tongs. Clean and inspect the roots, pruning if necessary, then allow to dry for a few days. Then pot the plant (holding with newspaper or tongs again) in the new soil and pot. Wait a few weeks before watering, to give the transplanted cactus a chance to settle in. More detailed instructions can be found here: How to Report a Cactus .

Give it some more space by repotting it in a larger container , ensuring that you’ve used cacti soil for good drainage. Place the cactus in a bright, sunny spot in the house to get as much sunlight as possible. Keep the cactus in a warm environment. Water it every 1 to 3 weeks, taking care not to waterlog the soil––just moisten it. Reduce watering in the wintertime. To assist growth, use a balanced liquid fertilizer that has a higher nitrogen ratio, adding during watering in the growing season (warmer months). If you take this approach, the cactus should grow faster.

Handling a cactus with a waxy coating needs to be done with care because touching the waxy part can easily leave behind permanent fingerprints. To avoid having this happen, either layer several sheets of newspaper so that you can enclose them over the cactus or use barbecue tongs to hold the plant. Alternatively, grip it only from the base of the cactus (while wearing leather gloves).

Extra care needs to be taken when handling a cactus plant with glochids. Glochids are bunches of tiny barbed spines that can really dig into skin and fabric; not only can you touch these by mistake, they can be jettisoned into the air when the cactus is moved. To deal with repotting this cactus variety , mist the plant first with a spray bottle, to dampen down the glochids. Do not wear gloves, as these will get filled with the barbs, rendering them useless for future use. Instead, use two large foam dish pads that can be disposed of, or metallic tongs, to handle the plant. Shift the plant into its new container, then either wash the tongs or throw away the glochid-filled dish pads.

High drainage soil is simply a term for soil that drains easily and doesn’t retain water. Cacti don’t do well in wet, waterlogged soils; they need soil on the drier side but with a little moisture in it. To make your own well-draining soil, create a mixture of ⅓ compost, ⅓ horticultural sand, and ⅓ perlite. This should result in excellent drainage for your cactus.

The answer to this questions depends on the species of cactus and whether you’re referring to its growth from germination of a seed through to growth after purchasing a healthy specimen from the plant nursery. Also, it depends on whether you’re growing a cactus from seed, cuttings, division or grafting, as each has a different growth pace. In general, expect to wait at least 3 weeks and up to several months for a cactus seed to germinate. Growth from other post-seed stages depends on the species type, the conditions it is growing in and the care the cactus receives. A cactus will grow fastest when it has optimal light, temperature and soil conditions and its growth tends to speed up during the warmer months, its usual growing season.

This may be due to poor formation initially or, more likely, root rot. Root rot can be caused by fungal or bacterial sources. Spores are always present but don't usually become a problem until the plant experiences too much watering or it is in soil that has bad drainage. To remedy this, always plant your cacti in porous soil containing compost, perlite and sand and water carefully. Remove infected portions of the cactus promptly if trying to save a cactus suffering from root rot.

Signs that your cactus is very sick, or perhaps even dying, include: It is wilted or wrinkled; it is discolored (yellow or brown); it is limp; it appears to be rotting or has rotted; its growth is weak or stringy; it has severe insect damage. If you’d like to try to revive your dying cactus, see How to Save Dying Cactus .

No, it's probably just its baby. Cacti don't need a nearby cactus to reproduce; they do it asexually through their roots.

All cacti can be grown inside, although little cacti do especially well indoors.

Take a sharp knife that has soaked in a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water. Cut a piece of the cactus and allow it to completely scab over. Once this is done, plant it and wait for roots to grow!

You might lose a bloom - but it shouldn't harm the plant. The flower might produce seeds if only part of it was damaged. Make sure to put the pot in a stable place.

Cactus needs a high-drainage soil, so use one that has a lot of sand in it. You may find cactus and succulent soil in a gardening store.

Depending on the size of your cactus, you could stick some short dowels or popsicle sticks into the pot, then loosely tie the cactus to the stick with a piece of string. Be careful not to stab a root when inserting the stick into the soil.

Wearing gloves, place your hand around the base of the plant and turn it upside down. Carefully pull the cactus out and transfer it to its new pot. Be careful not to damage the roots.

It depends on the type of cactus, size of the cactus and type of lighting you're using. To determine the answer, talk to a specialist at your local gardening center.

The answer depends on various factors, such as where you live, what type of cactus you have and whether the cactus is inside or outside. If you live in a very dry climate and your cactus is exposed to very hot weather, it may be necessary to water it once a week. If you live in a milder climate that is more humid and does not experience extreme temperatures, water your cactus every three or four weeks. Only water your cactus when the soil is completely dry.

From you local garden nursery, home improvement store, or online.

You should have some sand in your cactus soil, but you should not plant a cactus in pure sand. Instead, create a mixture of 1/4 sand and 3/4 normal potting soil, or buy premixed cactus soil from your local plant nursery/garden store.

If the soil is dry, then you should water it. If it is still moist, then leave it alone to avoid overwatering. You can check by feeling the surface of the soil with the tip of your finger.

No, but if the flower gets naturally pollinated or manually pollinated it will produce either a pod or a fruit that you can harvest when it is ripe and extract the seeds to grow a cactus.

Yes, although they do better outdoors.

It's best to use a mix of 1/3 horticultural sand, along with 1/3 compost and 1/3 perlite.

Golden Barrel Cacti grow well in warm, dry, rocky areas with lots of sun exposure. They have a round shape and are covered with short and prickly golden spines. These spherical, slow-growing desert plants are very popular as they are considered easy to care for. The scientific name of this plant is Echinocactus Grusonii.

Yes if it's a well-drained soil, best on a slope. Certain types of opuntia are quite hardy, though you will need to research the ones that can be grown outside, as everyone's circumstances are different. Shelter from cold winds and excellent drainage are the key factors; a southerly-facing rockery should be OK!

This is normal for some cacti. Check the species of cactus you have and find out whether this is normal. If not, it might be some kind of disease.

Yes, soak a sharp knife in one part bleach to 9 parts water, then cut the cactus and let it scab over. Then plant it and wait for roots to grow.

Yes! You can grow multiple different types of cacti in the same container. Having different kinds of cacti can make your pot more interesting and visually appealing. It's important to make sure the cacti have enough space, however. The last thing you want is for your cacti to start poking holes in each other with their spines.