Here are some tips to keep your cacti and succulents happy, healthy, and growing strong!
1. Watering
Be sure not to overwater your cacti and succulents. They are desert plants, so they are used to hot temperatures and little water. Wait for them to dry out almost completely before watering, and when you do water them, water thoroughly and let the water run out of the drainage holes in the bottom. They are drought tolerant, so don't worry if you forget about them for a little while. They may start to look a little scraggly, and their leaves may get a bit soft and wrinkly, but they will recover!
2. Soil
Cactus soil is specially formulated to allow water to moisten the soil and drain freely because these plants don’t like to stay wet. Don’t use a regular potting soil. Cacti and succulents are more likely to die from overwatering than underwatering. If you have a cactus or succulent already planted in a regular potting mix, just be VERY careful not to overwater. They may only need to be watered once a month. You can always simply re-pot it in the correct soil.
3. Light
They need a ton of light! They are native to the desert, so they need at least a half day of sunlight. A south facing window is the best spot for these sun-lovers!
4. Food
They need nutrients to grow and produce blooms. Make sure to give them fertilizer that is formulated for cacti and succulents. Be sure to read all labels and instructions, as too much fertilizer can do more harm than good!
5. Containers
Make sure they have drainage holes! This is one of the biggest factors that will help you not overwater. If your container doesn't have holes, it is nearly impossible to tell when you have given it enough, and then any excess water just sits in the bottom of your container, often leading to the roots rotting due to the excessive moisture. There are a ton of cute container ideas on Pinterest and Instagram, so have fun and experiment!