How to Take Care of Cactus Plants

Plant enthusiasts often like to grow cactus in their gardens and lawns. These desert succulents have ability to survive in hard climate conditions and they also require less attention as compared to other plants. Still some skills and techniques are required to grow healthy cactus plants in your garden. In this article we are going to discuss how to take care of cactus plants and how much light, water and fertilizer is required by these plants.

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1. Light:

Most of the cactus plants like bright light but this is not true for all kinds. The intensity of the light that a plant will thrive in depends on the species. If your plant is exposed to too much sun light and it started turning into yellowish or orangish, it means that plant is under too much stress and you should take an appropriate action. If your plant is receiving too little light its growth will be stopped. So it is necessary to grow your cactus where it will be in normal light. If your cactus is in pot then it will be easy for you to relocate it. Take it out of pot when it is grown enough stronger and healthier. 

2. Water:

 Remember that cactus in pots require more care in watering than in the ground. Most of the cactus plants have growth periods from spring to fall. While growing, cacti and succulents should be watered at least once a week. In winter seasons, increase the interval between watering and let the soil dry out completely before watering again. Indoor cactus plants should be watered as little as once a month depending on the dryness of the house.
Quick Tip: Take a wooden pencil and place it down through the soil to the bottom of the pot, when removed, if damp soil is on it don't water.

3. Fertilizer: 

Most species of  cactus like several small feeding, better than one large feeding. During the growing season, a balanced fertilizer, which has been diluted to 1/4 strength, can be added to the water for each watering.

Quick Tip: Balanced fertilizer has approximately equal proportions of Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium and is diluted to 1/4 strength.