How Often Should You Water Your Indoor Cactus?

If you bought a cactus expecting to put it on cruise control, you might want to think again. Cacti can retain more water than the usual houseplant, but you should be watering every 10 to 14 days. 

Justin Hancock, a horticulturist for Costa Farms, says the 10 to 14-day rule is a very basic guideline that can help you determine the best watering schedule for your cactus.

Below, he shares other H2O-related know-how to keep your cactus in top shape.

How Often Should You Water Your Indoor Cactus?

While every 10 to 14 days is a good rule of thumb, Hancock encourages you to water when your cactus needs it. Knowing when depends on a range of conditions, including light, temperature, pot size, and the makeup of the potting mix.

• Go with a soil mix specifically made for cacti and succulents, Hancock suggests.
• The larger the container, the more potting mix you’ll need, and more potting mix means more moisture retention. Repot cacti into larger pots to keep watering as easy as possible.
• Hancock warns that if too much moisture is held along a cactus’ roots for an extended time, the plant can suffocate.
• To avoid both over- and under-watering, it’s imperative to check on your cactus just as you would any other plant to ensure you’re well aware of when your plant needs some hydration.

Signs Your Cactus Needs Water

1. Wrinkled appearance
2. Duller color, particularly for darker-green cacti varieties
3. The potting mix feels very dry to the touch
4. If it’s a small plant you can pick up, it will seem much lighter in weight than normal

Signs Your Cactus is Overwatered

1. Soft, discolored spots
2. May start to turn brownish or yellowish
3. Potting mix that consistently feels moist or wet

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How to Adjust Watering Cacti for Different Seasons

How your plant’s watering needs will change based on the season hinges on both temperature and light, says Hancock.

If your cactus uses artificial light, you might not have any changes to your irrigation schedule. For plants that are impacted by the shorter days of autumn and winter, it may mean less watering as less light will mean less growing energy.

“Temperature can also play a role—the warmer the conditions, the more water your cactus may use,” he says. Be aware of how quickly your cacti’s soil is drying out and reduce or increase your watering accordingly.

3 Additional Tips for Watering Cacti

• Use a toothpick to determine if your cactus needs watering: Insert a toothpick in the container’s drainage hole. If it comes out without any potting mix sticking to it, the plant needs water.
• Water your cactus using the soak method: place the potted cactus in a dish of water for about 30 minutes. This will allow the potting mix to absorb water without becoming overly saturated.
• When in doubt, wait it out: Cacti generally hold up better to being too dry than too wet, so erring on the side of underwatering is safer, Hancock says.