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As the winter weather starts to settle in, you’ll notice that the shorter days and cooler temperatures have a direct impact on your plant care routine. While cactus care is pretty simple, there are a few things to note that will help keep your prickly plant babies happy and thriving this winter.
There are two different kinds of cactus that are popular as houseplants: desert and forest. Desert cacti are typically covered in spines, grow upright, and survive in harsh, dry climates. Forest cacti, on the other hand, grow in subtropical conditions and climb up trees. The most popular forest cacti are the Christmas Cactus and the Thanksgiving cactus, which, thanks to their gorgeous flowers, make excellent plants to care for during the winter! Whether it’s winter or summer, desert cacti care differs from that of a forest cactus.
A desert cactus enters its dormancy period during the winter, which significantly affects its care needs. The main thing to avoid is overwatering your cactus—although that’s a general rule for cacti at any time of the year!
The easiest way to avoid overwatering your cactus is to pot it in a well-draining soil mix, labeled explicitly for cacti and succulents, in a container that has drainage. You may even need to amend the soil further by adding additional sand and perlite.
If you forgot to repot your desert cactus over the summer—don’t worry! These cacti are notoriously slow growers, and in fact, many bloom better when they’re nice and cozy in their pot. Christmas cacti are also slow growers but do prefer to be repotted more regularly.
During the winter, it’s especially easy to overwater your cactus. We recommend marking the days you water on your calendar so you don’t forget.
Allow your desert cactus to go bone dry in between watering. If you overwater, there’s a good chance it will succumb to root rot. If this happens, you may be able to save some cuttings and try rejuvenating them, but overwatering is the number one cause of premature cactus death!
Unlike their desert cousins, forest cacti aren’t dormant during the winter. In particular, the Christmas or Thanksgiving cactus is actively growing and blooming during the winter, which means their care needs are quite different. Water your forest cactus every two to three weeks or when the top two inches of soil are dry. To encourage blooming, fertilize monthly. Christmas cacti bloom from mid- to early winter, and Thanksgiving cacti bloom from late fall to mid-winter. Their tropical colors will make your home feel instantly warmer!
Another key ingredient to successful winter cactus care is making sure they’re getting enough light. During the winter, the days are shorter, which means your plants get less light, so it may be in your best interest to buy a grow light. Ideally, place your cacti in a location where they’ll receive bright, indirect light. You’ll know if your cactus is getting too much light if their sensitive leaves look discolored or bleached. Forest cacti prefer a more humid environment—a bathroom or kitchen with an east-facing window would be perfect!
With careful planning, cactus care is easy and worth it when you’re treated to vivid tropical blooms in the dead of winter! Visit one of our Westwood Gardens locations to shop our winter cactus selection and supplies.
