Cacti thrive in regions of the world where water is a rare and valuable commodity. As a survival strategy, plants have acquired the ability to store every drop in their leaves, shoots or trunks. In order to water succulents correctly, a change in thinking is required. This guide highlights all the details.
How often should you water cacti?
Cacti need regular watering with soft water during the growth and flowering period from March to September. Small cacti should be watered every 5-8 days and large cacti about every 4 weeks. From September/October the water supply should be reduced.
Watering correctly in every season – This is how your cacti like it
When cacti leave their winter quarters at the beginning of March, the watering can is used for the first time after dry wintering. Parallel to the growth and flowering period, water the succulents until September according to the following premises:
- In the first week of March, spray the plants with soft water
- Watering thoroughly a week later
- Water small cactus species again after a break of 5 to 8 days
- For large cacti, water at four-week intervals
- Pour out the coaster promptly to avoid waterlogging
- Switch off the water supply gradually from September/October
This watering plan is for guidance only. The local conditions at the location, such as solar radiation, temperature or humidity influence the degree of evaporation. Before watering, please check whether the substrate is actually almost dry.
Only soft water goes into the watering can
Hard water is taboo for cactus care. Please only use collected rainwater or decalcified tap water for watering. If you enjoy the privilege of having water with a hardness below 14° dH flow from your pipe, no quality improvements are necessary.
Tip
To prepare hard tap water for cactus care, you can save yourself the trouble of using chemical descaling agents. With peat (€12.00 at Amazon), even the most lime-rich water becomes soft. For this purpose, hang a cotton bag with 1 liter of peat in a filled watering can for 2 to 3 days.
