Cacti: here's how best to take care of these wonderful plants

Cacti are very popular succulents and are kept by many in their homes as house plants. There are literally hundreds of cacti species and most of them have thorny, "plump" leaves (aka spines). Despite being very robust and resilient, cacti do need some care and attention to thrive.

Let's find out what this caring involves:

Sunlight

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Cacti prefer high temperatures, are not suited to humid environments and need exposure to sunlight. Sunlight encourages cacti to grow, but there is a caveat: it is best not to expose them to direct sunlight for prolonged periods, as this could burn the spines.

So, the key is to ensure your cacti get a moderate amount of exposure to sunlight. The best spot for cacti is where there is partial exposure to direct sunlight (but which stll remains bright). During autumn and winter, cacti need more sunlight. If grown inside, always place them next to the sunniest window.

Soil and water

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Cacti need well-draining soil. They obviously need to be watered (see below), but they must not be "drownd".

How much and how often should cacti be watered? Cacti need very little water: in summer, watering them once a week or every 10 days is fine; in winter, water less frequently than this. Cacti do not like humid and/or constantly wet soil (which will cause their roots to rot).

In short, water your cacti frugally and moderately.

Pruning and fertilizing

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As mentioned, cacti are very resilient plants and they don't need to be pruned. They usually do not lose their spines prematurely or suffer from "yellowing". That said, you should check your cacti for any rot or signs that show they are being attacked by parasites.

Should you fertilize cacti? Yes, but not excessively. There are various fertilizers you can buy for cacti, but your plants can probably get by without these. If you really want, you can fertilize your cacti once a month during their growing periods and not during autumn or winter (their dormant times).

Following the above guidelines, your cacti will stay healthy and thrive!