Plant Profile
Dessert Cactus
Dessert cacti are native to dry areas of North, Central, and South America, including the Sonoran, Mojave, and Chihuahuan deserts. These hardy plants have adapted to life in hot, dry environments, with some species even able to survive extreme temperatures.
Top Tips
✔ Dessert cacti love bright, direct sunlight and prefer infrequent, deep watering.
✔ They prefer low to moderate humidity.
✔ Propagate from stem cuttings or offsets, and only repot in the spring.
Plant Care
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Dessert cacti love bright, direct sunlight, and can handle being in full sun for most of the day. They'll also do well under bright artificial light.
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Most dessert cacti are drought-tolerant and prefer infrequent, deep watering, especially during the growing season. Allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again, and be cautious of overwatering as this can cause root rot. During the dormant winter months, give your cactus a rest from watering, and resume only when new growth appears in spring.
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Dessert cacti prefer low to moderate humidity, so there's no need to mist them. However, you can use a humidity tray to provide some extra moisture around the plant.
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Dessert cacti don't require a lot of nutrients to thrive. Feed your cactus a balanced, water-soluble fertiliser at half strength every two months during the growing season.
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Dessert cacti prefer warm temperatures ranging from 60-90°F (15-32°C). They can handle cooler temperatures but not below 40°F (4°C).
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Dessert cacti are easy to propagate from stem cuttings. Wait until the cutting has calloused over before placing it in a well-draining soil mix. You can also propagate from offsets, or pups, which grow around the base of the parent plant.
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Dessert cacti don't need to be repotted often and prefer to be slightly root-bound. Repot in the spring using a well-draining soil mix and a pot with good drainage.
Quick plant check up
Wrinkled or Shrivelled Stem
This indicates that your cactus is not receiving enough water. To fix this issue, you should increase the frequency of watering during the growing season. Make sure the soil is dry before watering and only water deeply until the excess water drains out of the bottom of the pot.
Soft Stem and Black Spots
A soft stem with black spots indicates that your cactus is suffering from overwatering, which can lead to root rot and fungal infections. You should remove the cactus from the soil, trim away any black or mushy roots, and allow the remaining roots to dry out. Repot the cactus in a fresh, well-draining soil mix and only water sparingly until new growth appears.
Yellow, Brown, or Black Spots on the Leaves
This could be a disease or pest infestation. Pests like mealybugs, scale insects, and spider mites can cause discolouration on the leaves, while diseases like root rot and fungus can cause spots. To fix this issue, you should first inspect the plant for any signs of pests or diseases. If pests are present, you can remove them with a solution of water and soap or neem oil. If the issue is a disease, you should remove any infected parts of the plant and repot in fresh soil. Make sure to avoid overwatering and improve the overall growing conditions for your cactus.
