How To Care For an Indoor Cactus – A Helpful Guide

Identify Your Indoor Cactus 

First off, it’s crucial to know everything about the cactus you are buying or growing. Why? Well, to begin with, every species has different requirements of water, soil, pest control, etc. So before you go ahead with learning how to take care of a cactus indoors, you need to know all the specific details of the plant you have in your home. 

Interestingly, there are over 2,000 known cactus species, and you can get many of these from your local gardening store. You can even grow these plants from the seeds! Either way, you must be sure about the species you own and want to grow indoors.

Soil

Each cactus species has specific living conditions and requirements. And if you happen to get a cactus, you need to provide well-suited soil and the right environment for your plant to thrive. 

Generally, you can choose from two kinds of cacti: tropical rainforest or arid desert cacti. But, of course, the soil potting mix required for both of these to flourish in your garden will differ.

The soil you use for either of the cacti should offer good drainage. Generally,  the tropical cacti usually drain faster than arid cacti, and you should remember to check for higher organic matter in your potting mix for the tropical cacti.

Regardless, you should have an excellent potting soil mix that will promote the growth of your prickly plant. You can either buy the mix or make your own. 

To be sure that your cacti get the necessary nutrients from the soil, you can make the mix by doing the following:

• Start by mixing ground fir bark and peat moss in a particular container. Make sure both the ingredients are equal in proportion. The good news is you can use this mixture for both the tropical and arid cacti.
• Thoroughly combine all ingredients to ensure that the mixture blends evenly.
• Keep in mind to water this mixture properly. Next, let the water soak in properly. Before shifting this mixture into the pot where your cacti will grow, make sure that the mixture has absorbed all the moisture. 
• Avoid adding pesticides or fertilizers to your cacti right after planting them in the pot. These plants have low requirements for nutrients. So a well-mixed potting soil will generally suffice.

Bonus Tip – Usually, the tropical cactus needs more moisture than the arid ones. You can choose to add some builder’s sand to the potting soil mix of the tropical cacti so that it’s well-drained and retains moisture. However,for the arid cactus., vermiculite or pumice works as an excellent substitute instead of sand. 

Water Requirements for Your Indoor Cactus

Naturally, like any other plant, the cactus has its own water requirements. Of course, cacti can last a long time without water, but underwatering them can also cause various problems like discoloration, yellow patches, etc. 

So, before you grow or purchase your cactus, make sure you know the species and the specific water requirements. Most cactus species are not particularly fond of being in the water for a long time. One misstep and overwatering can damage the roots. 

Although these succulents are adapted to store moisture for a long time, there are a few things you should take note of to meet the water requirements of your indoor cacti. 

• If you think the bigger the cactus, the more water it needs, think again! The truth is, small cacti need more attention so that they meet their H2O requirements. As these grow much faster than the larger ones, they need more frequent watering. 
• To avoid overwatering your cactus, you can use a water gauge to help you determine the soil’s moisture. Just remember you should water only when the soil seems dry. You can even use a stick or your finger to check if the soil needs water. 
• Choose a pot that’s not too big for your plant. The larger pots can retain too much moisture, which can damage the cactus. So, it’s preferable that you stick to the small-sized pots for your smaller cacti. 
• You should consider getting a pot that allows easy airflow and drains excessive water. Terra cotta pots are usually preferred most by experienced gardeners for thorough drainage of excess water. 
• Also, most cacti have different water requirements throughout the year. Typically, a cactus’s growing season is during the warmer months, so that’s when it requires plenty of water. But in colder seasons, it needs significantly less water.  

Bonus Tip – Typically, cacti bloom around springtime, so make sure you take some extra care of it during that period.

Climate Conditions

Let’s be honest; this is one of the most important factors you should consider when planning to grow any plant. So, keeping a cactus in unfavorable climatic conditions can lead to various complications.

Exposing this plant to a sufficient amount of light is crucial for its proper growth. Although, you need to be aware of how much sunlight is needed by the species you own. Too little or too much exposure to light can damage this plant. 

Ideally, the arid cactus enjoys its time in the sunlight; you can even keep this under sunlight for 4-5 hours a day without any worries. On the contrary, the tropical cactus prefers partial shade. Although, during their blooming period, it’s recommended to expose them to direct sunlight.

If you have a cactus sitting on your desk, then you must ensure that it’s getting a sufficient sunlight, and you have to keep rotating the plant’s position. Generally, you should keep the cactus in sunlight and change its position every month. This is needed because the rotation balances the growth of this plant. As the cactus grows towards sunlight, it’s best to rotate it 180 degrees every so often.

But let’s face it, you won’t get sunlight throughout the year. Bad rainy weather or your busy schedule can hinder the growth of the cactus if it goes without sunlight for too long. So to prevent this, you can use grow lights. 

Consider these grow lights as your plant’s lifesaver. These miniature artificial lights model the sun and fulfill the needs of your indoor cactus to keep them healthy even without natural light. There are usually three kinds of grow lights: 

• High-pressure sodium(HPS)
• Fluorescent Lights 
• Light-emitting diodes (LED) 

Most cactus enthusiasts go for the LEDs as these lights generate little to no heat. These are great for cacti that don’t receive enough natural light.

Fertilize Your Cactus 

A growing plant, without a doubt, requires some fertilizer to be healthy. The cactus is a hardy plant that can adapt and survive in various environments. As a result, it requires very few additional nutrients. Some cacti thrive in well-drained soil and don’t require any fertilizer.

Still, fertilizer on the cactus can be a great idea, especially during its maturation stage, as they provide the few nutrients needed for its development. Make sure the fertilizer you use is made primarily for cacti. The most suitable time to fertilize the cacti is in warmer months, but it does vary with different species.  

You can find these fertilizers in local gardening stores. But you need to check the ingredients used to in these. Ideally, the fertilizer must have a combination of Nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. These will contribute significantly to the overall development of the cactus. 

You must remember to only fertilize your cactus when necessary. With this, you should use fertilizers only when you notice that your cactus has grown. Avoid using fertilizers if you don’t notice any growth, or if you have recently potted/repotted your plant.

A word of warning: Don’t over-fertilize your cactus; this will ruin the plant and make It prone to various diseases. 

Don’t Forget To Repot

Once your cactus starts outgrowing its initial pot, it’ll need more space to grow in and you’ll have to transfer the plant to a new pot. 

If you want to know when repotting is needed, do it when you notice the roots escaping out of the pot. Check out the following steps, this will help you in repotting your plant easily: 

Step 1

Before starting the process, you need all the tools required to do this. Get a pot that is one size larger than your previous one, and get the potting mix ready for the pot. As a precaution, wear leather gloves and have newspapers by your side while removing and repotting this plant. 

Step 2

Loosen the soil around the cactus with a blunt knife, and then gently remove the cactus from its current pot. Make sure you don’t harm any of its roots. Remove the cactus carefully with leather gloves to avoid getting pricked; each species has different spines all over its stems. It’s best to avoid touching the cactus with bare hands.

Ensure the cactus is placed safely aside; you can use newspapers or wrap it in a cloth while working on repotting it.

Step 3 

After removing the cactus from the pot, brush off any soil stuck on the plant’s roots. Be careful while doing this, as you surely don’t want to damage the roots. With this, look for any signs of dead roots or pests that you should remove to keep your cactus happy for a long time. 

Step 4

We hate to break it to you, but you can’t place the cactus into your new pot right away. You should avoid doing this as it can restrict its growth, increase the chances of infections, and do a lot of damage to your plant. 

So before you transfer it to a brand new pot, make sure you let the roots dry off and heal from any previous damages for at least 2 days. 

Step 5    

Don’t forget to add some small pebbles at the bottom of the new pot before adding the potting mixture; this will help in the drainage process when you water the plant. Make your potting mix by the method mentioned above, or you can just purchase one.

Step 6 

After your roots are dried and recovered, it is now time to move your succulent to another pot that contains the recently added potting mixture. Use a larger pot for this transfer so that the cactus has sufficient space to grow.

Step 7 

Now that you have everything ready for the transfer take the cactus and place it carefully in the middle of the pot that is adequately filled with the potting mix. Don’t use too much force as it can damage the roots. 

Subsequently, secure the plant in the soil by placing extra soil to cover the roots. You can even add compost at this stage, but avoid any fertilizer! 

Step 8 

Lastly, the most critical part of this process is to give the cactus time to adapt to its new environment. You should avoid watering this plant right away. We recommend waiting for at least 10 to 14 days before you water it and get back to your plant care routine. 

Prevention Of Pests And Other Diseases in Indoor Cacti

Even if you follow all the necessary measures to take care of your cactus, your indoor plant can still be vulnerable to various pests and diseases. 

Some diseases or conditions like external rot, discoloration, yellow patches, etc., are easily noticeable. And the primary cause of this is poor watering practice. So to prevent these, the most significant step you can take is to have well-draining soil; this lowers the chances of your cactus developing any water-related issues. 

Apart from this, your cactus could also be attacked by pests and insects, which can cause severe damage. These pests are persistent, so getting rid of them permanently can be challenging. 

Generally, four different types of insects infest these plants: Mealybugs, Scales, spider mites, and fungus gnats. 

Mealybugs and scales are the most prevalent and destructive of all, as they can be hard to diagnose and can kill the cactus if not treated properly.

Keeping Your Plant Healthy

To keep your plant healthy, make sure you take the necessary measures to manage these pests. Some of the ways can include: 

• Nurture your cactus to the fullest. Try to get every element right, from sufficient light to water. Further, remove any dead spines or flowers from the cactus as they can attract pests. 
• Use diluted alcohol in places of infestations. Avoid using it directly on the cactus’s surface, as it can harm the epidermis of the cactus. The diluted alcohol is useful in removing mealybugs. 
• Another way of getting rid of these pests is by using insecticide soap. It can easily wash away the pests from the cactus, but it can also damage the waxy surface of the plant. So it’s always advised to read the instructions before using any product. 
• Apart from these, you can even go ahead and use insecticide. However, you should only use these if the infestation is extremely severe. 

The best way to avoid these pests and insects is to have a watering schedule and stick by it. It will save you a lot of trouble in the long run. With some keen observations, you can save your indoor cactus from all of these diseases. 

Patience is the key 

Sorry to burst your bubble, but yes, when you start taking good care of your indoor cactus, it will take time to see the results. So you have to be consistent and patient with the process to grow a healthy cactus that can thrive for a long time. 

Help your cactus thrive by covering all the parameters like sunlight, water, fertilizers, soil, repotting, and even pest control. Moreover, you don’t need to stress about the whole process. It can be overwhelming at first, but you’ll have a great time taking care of your succulents. Just enjoy the process! 

Summing Up 

Cactus is a beloved plant for all greenery lovers. It’s easy to grow and adds a distinctive look to your garden and decor. You can have these plants anywhere in your space, and it will elevate the look of your home. 

Indoor cacti have a reputation of not thriving for long, mainly because of poor care. But, if you just follow a few basic steps, then your cactus will thrive for years. The most important thing is that you need to have the basic knowledge about the species you own. This will help you determine the plant’s requirements and how you can fulfill them. 

Although, all the species of the Cactaceae family are different. We have compiled a handy guide to help you understand the basics of taking care of an indoor cactus. Here we provide you with the necessary conditions required to keep your cactus happy and a few tips that can guarantee your cactus will grow remarkably and avoid any diseases. 

We hope this blog was insightful for you to know the essentials of taking care of indoor cactus.