Watering A Cactus: How Often Should You Water?

Cacti, renowned for their ability to flourish in harsh desert climates, provide myriad benefits to their surroundings and beyond. Their special features, like water-conserving succulent stems and reduced leaf surfaces, are essential for surviving in water-scarce environments. These hardy plants serve as homes and shelter for a diverse array of creatures, bolstering biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. Furthermore, they play a crucial role in preventing soil erosion, particularly in regions susceptible to wind and water erosion. Cacti also boast medicinal properties, utilized in traditional healing practices for various ailments. Their minimal upkeep needs make them favored choices for ornamental landscaping, adding beauty to landscapes with little resource demand. Altogether, cacti stand as invaluable contributors to their habitats, illustrating nature's remarkable capacity to adapt and thrive in even the toughest conditions.

How Much Water Does Your Cactus Plant Need?

Cacti are known for being able to survive in desert climates, but does that mean that they don’t need any water? Well, it depends. Many people don’t realize that there are multiple factors that play into how much and how regularly your cactus will need water. 

Size and outside temperature of the plant are two of the biggest determiners of how often your cactus will need water. While cacti are known to thrive in desert climates, the increasing temperatures across the American Southwest over the last decade are making it very difficult for cacti to thrive, even in their natural environment. 

While typically cacti only need water every few weeks, extreme heatwaves can cause stress on cacti (especially large cacti) as the water which comprises these cacti is compressed. This is why we are seeing large saguaros collapse in Arizona. By watering the cacti on your property, especially in the evenings when it won’t immediately dry up, you can help stave off the stress from the heat. Additionally, spraying down large saguaros can help cool them off which will help prevent collapse. 

So how much should you water and how often? The biggest tip we can give you is to pay attention to your soil. When the top 6 inches are completely dry, you can give your cactus a good watering, focusing on the ground. When you notice the heat coming off your cactus, you can give it a quick mist on the body of the plant to help cool it off.

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