In order to properly care for your cactus, you must make sure that you are properly watering them. This is a skill that you will only learn through practice. Over time, you will eventually learn about the water requirements, how to tell if you are overwatering your cacti plants, and how to prevent having an overwatered cactus.
Typically, cacti are low-maintenance plants, as long as they have adequate light/heat and some care, they’ll do well. In fact, even ignoring a cactus will not keep it from thriving. The easiest way to kill a cactus is by overwatering it.
Overwatering your cactus plants will do more damage than under watering and is the most common cause of root rot in cacti.
Can you save an overwatered cactus? If there’s already extensive damage, probably not – but if you catch the problem early, there may be some things you can do to help your plant turn around. The biggest thing is to accurately assess the damage and initiate the process of saving it right away.
In this article, we will explain all you need to know about overwatering your cactus plants:
- Dangers of overwatering
- Signs/symptoms of overwatering
- How to save an overwatered plant
Table of Contents
What Happens When I Overwater My Cactus?
When starting out with cacti, the most common issue that gardeners deal with is overwatering. This can cause a variety of issues with the plant, including root rot and killing the plant. Below, we will discuss some of the dangers of overwatering your cacti.
Loss of Color
Most healthy cacti plants have varying shades of green, ranging from light lime hues to deep, vivid ones. However, if it has been overwatered, the coloring will be pale and dull.
This discoloration will start slowly, so you may not even really notice a significant change in the original color to the current one.
Over time, the green will turn to yellow through a process known as chlorosis due to overwatering. In fact, this is the loss of the green pigment and can result in poor flowering and stunted growth of the plant.
Keep in mind that if there’s too much water in the soil, the plant can’t absorb nutrients, which means that it stops flourishing.
Soggy and Droopy Plant
Overwatering can also lead to soggy/droopy plants. This is because there’s too much moisture in it. So, when you touch your plant, if you notice that the stem feels soft/mushy, you should definitely be concerned.
The reason that it feels soft and mushy is that the stem cells are filled with water molecules which are beginning to bulge outwards. When pressure builds, the plant’s cells begin to swell and eventually will rupture. As a result, this bursting distorts the internal transportation structure of the plant, which means that it can’t transport water and nutrients to the rest of the plant.
Over time, various parts of the plant will begin to droop and fall off. In the case of larger species, the whole plant may fall over because it can’t support its own weight.
Root Rot and Cactus Death
If a cactus is continually exposed to excess moisture, it’s likely to begin the decomposition process. Waterlogged soil prevents air from getting to the roots, which ultimately leads to root rot.
In most cases, the rot will begin to attack the plant from the tips of the roots before spreading to the base. Due to the fact that it starts under the surface, root rot is sometimes difficult to detect until it’s too late.
As the rot worsens, the plant will become stunted, and pieces of the stem may fall off when touched. The plant will start turning black and if you don’t do anything about it, the cactus will die.
How Do I Know I’m Overwatering?
Unfortunately, the symptoms of overwatering can be a bit misleading, so it’s difficult to know if you are giving your plant too much water. At the beginning, it will seem healthy and happy. Your cactus will seem to be flourishing and you may even notice new growth.
However, the story may be much different under the surface. As we mentioned, the roots will begin to rot when they are waterlogged. This is unfortunate because while the plant is actually suffering, it seems to be thriving.
Still, if you pay attention to your plant, it’s possible to catch the signs of overwatering early on. If you notice any of the following, you’ll want to slow down on your watering:
- Wilting: plant is looking droopy and sad.
- Edema: plant forms blisters/bumps that leave permanent scars on the surface.
- Squishy stems/spines
- Yellowing: as mentioned, the color starts to turn from green to yellow. This change will most likely be gradual, so you may not notice it right away. However, it’s much easier to save the plant if you catch it early instead of waiting until the whole plant is yellow.
- Leaf drop: for some cacti, like the Christmas Cactus, leaves drop easily even when the plant is healthy- but if you notice leaves dropping, it might indicate that you are overwatering.
How Can I Save An Overwatered Cactus?
For the most part, cacti are low maintenance, forgiving plants. One exception to this rule is overwatering. So, what can you do to save your plants once you realize that you’re over watering them?
Repot in New, Dry Soil
If you’re sure that you’ve been overwatering, one of the best solutions is to remove it from that pot and repot it with dry potting soil. After putting it in new soil, allow it to dry for a few days before lightly watering it.
While you are repotting your plant, check the roots for signs of root rot. If you notice anything, use a sharp, clean knife to cut away those sections. You don’t want to repot a plant that has damaged tissue.
If you leave behind any rot, regardless of how small it is, you can be sure that it will spread to the rest of the plant, and you may not be able to save it.
Remove Dying Leaves and Stems
If leaves and sections of the stem are beginning to fall off, it’s a good indicator that you’re overwatering your plants. At this time, remove the dying leaves and stems. Importantly, if there’s a section of the stem that is rotted but leaves and spines are still undamaged, cut that section off – even if it means cutting away a few healthy leaves with it.
In order to save your cactus plant, you’ve got to get rid of the infected parts because any rot that is left behind will be spread to other areas of the plant.
Learn to Water Properly
After removing dead/dying leaves and stems and repotting your plant, be sure that you stop over watering it. The best way to prevent further issues is to get rid of the cause of those issues. Plus, proper watering will give your plant the best chance of survival. The best way to keep from overwatering your cactus is to only water when the soil is completely dry.
While you would water most plants immediately upon repotting, you do not want to do this with an overwatered cactus. You’ll want to wait for at least 1 week and then lightly water it. After that, make sure that you only water when at least the top 2” of the potting soil is totally dry.
You should never water your cacti from the top and don’t leave it sitting in water. You should always keep in mind that it’s better for your cacti to be dry than to be too wet. The truth is, underwatering is not nearly as critical and it will rarely be the cause of the demise of your plants. A good rule of thumb for indoor cacti is to water every ten days.
How Do I Prevent Overwatering?
The best way to ensure that your cactus grows without issues is to determine the water requirements and try to avoid overwatering it. If you are a beginner, this might not be the easiest task. However, there is a general rule that will come in handy.
Typically, you need to allow your potting soil to dry out completely before watering again, which means you should test the moisture level before watering. This can be done by sticking your finger in the soil to feel the moisture before you water.
If your finger feels wet when you dip it in the soil, wait a few more days before watering.
Another thing to keep in mind is that cacti don’t need as much water during the winter as they do during the summer. In fact, you may only need to water once a month during winter, and some cacti can survive all winter without water.
Regardless of the time of year, it is critical to make sure your soil is well draining, and never allow plants to sit in standing water.
Conclusion
As we stated throughout our article, proper watering is a skill that is learned through practice. If you are a beginner in the cacti world, you are likely to overwater. Over time though, you will get to know your plants and their water requirements. So don’t feel bad if you don’t get it right away, it is a learning process after all.
For a more in depth look at watering your cactus, check out our Ultimate Guide on Watering Your Cactus Plants here!