How to Care for

Summer is generally a the growing season for cactus. But sometimes, extreme hot and dry temperatures can stress them causing serious damages that eventually may lead to a plant's death. Here are some tips on how you can keep your cacti comfortable and happy during the hot summer days.
Suggested videos:
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How to Water Cactus - • How To Water #Cactus P...
Time stamps:
0:00 Introduction
2:55 Provide sun protection
4:35 Water sufficiently and efficiently
5:28 Summer Dormancy
7:54 Do no apply fertilizer on hot days
8:16 Ensure proper air circulation
8:43 Pay attention to where you place your plants
9:33 Pest Management
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#cactuscaffeine #cactus #succulents #careforcactus

[@phillipcase3860]

I'm in Tempe, so I will be watching this video SEVERAL times 😁.

[@sarahm676]

Thanks for putting this video out. I'm in the desert of California 10b zone and it is scorching hot. I see a lot of dead succulents on my nightly walks. People that lives in our area really need to be mindful of their plant care. Much Love:) Sarah

[@CactusCaffeine]

Thanks Sarah! Yes, our summer every year seem to be getting hotter and drier. Time to reevaluate our gardens. 🙂

[@mayarada2059]

Again , this pretty good video for me to watch bcoz there's is a time that my Cactus is a bet funny especially during heavy winter time here in UK , so now trying collect more idea of how to take care my Cactus jn a cold Country , again watching and support and hope to see more around.

[@MzEbony_Luvz]

This is just like AZ, the summers are brutal here too. Great tips though, thanks.

[@CactusCaffeine]

Thanks for watching!

[@solarwinds-]

Hey Ana, I feel like I live in Las Vegas these days. Our temps in Texas have been around 107 - 112 the past 2 years and our humidity, while it is not in single digits, it has been very low for us, from 26% to as low as 13%. Wish it was like that all year. I LOVE the dry air. It makes the heat easy to bare. I'll watch for my little green guys going to sleep.

[@billgolightly7203]

Well presented video, Ana. Thanks for taking the time to pull it together. Positive, cool thoughts being sent your way.

[@CactusCaffeine]

Thank you so much. I need those cool thoughts. Haha!

[@desertplantsofavalon]

This is such a FANTASTIC video Ana, we are having a freak heatwave now and it was 115F in the polytunnel yesterday and that was with two big fans and the door wide open it was like an oven lol :-D, I will be filming a video this morning about watering cacti in a very hot heatwave, and I will be giving you a special shout out and will put a link up to your video on Summer Dormancy as it will be an excellent help for the UK and Ireland who are having this unusually very hot heatwave, so sorry you lost some plants due to the heat, thanks so much Ana for sharing this fantastic video on Summer Dormancy, and Hans and I are sending you lots of love and happiness and CAFFEINE and PLANT POWER to Las Vegas for a brilliant Tuesday XXXX

[@CactusCaffeine]

Oh, I saw your video, thank you so much Lyn. You are always so kind. Wow, 115F inside your greenhouse is HOT 🥵! And with fan and all. We call it here the “blow dryer” effect when hot air is blowing. Lol! I hope your plants are all well despite that sudden heat that they experienced.

[@zcoanmcoan1534]

Yes we have extreme temps here in georgia USA. Georgia is the 5th hottest state and mix that with the 15-50% humidity makes it worse. It was over 102 last week. Living in a semi tropical and grassland state the humidity makes it SO MUCH WORSE. Some of my plants got sunburnt as well due to be forgetting to put my shade cloth up in my greenhouse. My greenhouse tempeture can go up to 120+. I also have a lot of problems with rot. I lost about 3 plants due to rot in the past month.

[@CactusCaffeine]

Oh, that is terrible. 102 and humid is super 🥵 hot! I sometimes just look at my plants from the window now. The moment I step outside, I quickly come running back in again. Lol! … Im sorry that you too lost some plants. There is only so much we can do. Hopefully we get some rain to cool down our weather. 🌧

[@zcoanmcoan1534]

@@CactusCaffeine Yess its so hot I barely go out anymore! Also theres a new incomming heatwave soon. Im not sure if the weather will take a cool down any time soon sadly.

[@CactusCaffeine]

@TART 140 BPM Experimental yes, I saw that in the news yesterday. You are setting heat records. Stay hydrated!

[@maureenswallow3054]

Well that was a sad start,no one likes to see someone losing their favourite plants. But sometimes we can learn from a negative result more so than a positive one, Especially when good and bad results are shared with each other. How you Cope with that constantly hot summer temperature is beyond My comprehension, but you do and with some great results. Well done on sharing your skills and experience ,and thanks again For a very important vid,Bill.

[@CactusCaffeine]

Thanks Bill. I cope by staying inside the house all day! 😁 Luckily, houses here in Vegas are built with air conditioning (and heating). It is nearly impossible to survive summer here without air conditioning. I don’t know how the cacti manage to stay alive. It is like living in an oven for 3 months! 😄 Tough and resilient they are! 🌵 ☀️ 🌵

[@OrionStar1]

Thank you for the tips. Love your videos.

[@mtilford7978]

Such an interesting and informative video Ana, thank you! Having recently got through 2 heatwaves here in SE England, (up to 37C), I am full of admiration for you and others growing in much hotter conditions every year. My problem is the wind. Some of my plants are indoors due to it and others (especially tall ones) in the greenhouse with vents and door open. How much wind can cultivated cacti put up with? Also, thank you for information about evening watering. Makes sense! x

[@CactusCaffeine]

We get strong winds here too with wind gusts reaching 50mph. Cactus are pretty tough in wind. But if they are in pots, that’s a different story if the whole pot gets knocked down. 🫣

[@imbindiurini8675]

OK, good video, useful. Even here in northern Italy we have problems of climate, excessive temperatures, often exaggerated humidity and at the same time drought. In short, we all use tricks to preserve our plants. There is always something to learn. 🌵🔆🏜🌞

[@bernadettelinfoot]

Thanks for your wonderful tips. Here in the UK we have hot temperatures at the moment but only for a few days then it goes back to 20s C . A lot of my cacti are out in the garden during summer. Love your videos ❤️🌵

[@CactusCaffeine]

Thank you! Hope you and your plants are well.

[@SilvermoonGarden]

Amazing video ❤️

[@pennysmarsh1865]

Great video as always I love all ur cacti I want a prickly part cactus😊

[@Cactimania]

Nice video, Ana. Great tips and one of them I’ll be doing tomorrow and Tuesday is putting some 90% shade netting over my greenhouse, we could exceed 40c here on those two days 🥵 I don’t know how you manage there with temperatures like that every day, and here we are complaining when we have a couple of hot days 😂 Sorry you lost some plants to the heat ☹️ Thank you for sharing with us as always, have a wonderful day from Edith & myself 🌵☀️🌼🌸🌺🏜☕️

[@CactusCaffeine]

Oh, that is hot for you guys. They were talking about you in the news here. You are under excessive heat warning and setting record high temps. Luckily, houses here in the desert are built with air conditioning units (and heater). So I manage by staying indoors all day and just do all my errands at night. 😉 Good luck to you. I know your plants will be fine.

[@hksolventless9260]

It's funny how many of the same cactus we have, that 3-5$ rack at star nursery really does have some good stuff lol

[@CactusCaffeine]

Oh definitely! Sometimes you will find a gem in Star Nursery. They come with no name and in poor soil but can’t beat that price. 😄

[@yaddahaysmarmalite4059]

20 years ago when I started having cacti, so many of us were under the recommendation to not water at all during winter for fear of root rot. It appears the story is more complicated than we were aware of back then. It seems the main cause of root rot is watering after the roots have been damaged such as by repotting or watering after the roots have died back from lack of watering. or something like that. I'm still trying to figure this out. I'm amazed at how different the care recommendations are these days. Its like I'm new to this all over again and that's ok. I'd rather have better information.

[@CactusCaffeine]

I started out that way too following recommendations to withhold water during winter. But then the advice came from people who lived in non-desert areas. I water my cacti (lightly) even during winter. I eventually learned that cactus care highly depends on one’s environment. We just have to learn what works best for us. ☺️ I wish I will have the same wisdom and experience as you do in caring for cactus. 🌵 👍🏼☕️

[@emmitstewart1921]

My window garden plants are keeping cool, especially at night and are growing well, but I also have a set of shelves where my plants are growing under lights. Lights produce heat, even LEDs, and some of those plants are suffering. long days are also something to consider here in the northern states. In June and July, The sun rises at before six in the morning and doesn't set until nearly ten at night. Daytime temperatures often rise into the nineties. We have been lucky this year so far because, in this one tiny piece of the world, daytime temperatures have mostly been in the eighties and nighttime temperatures have been in the seventies. Next year, however, could be a lot hotter. hopefully, by then, I'll have working air conditioning.

[@morrisparkintheozarks6831]

Now that was an excellent video!!! Very well explained!!! Yes, I think the heat, & I didn't let it dry as well as it should have, killed my little Euphorbia flanaganii. I will be more careful to let the big one dry throughly ( powder) before I water it again!! Wasn't wet, but just a little bit too much for its small roots it had. The big one has a much better root system. A few of my opuntias from the greenhouse have shown a bit of shriveling from the heat, but a bit of water perked them up. The ones out side shows no signs of stress!!! Always tough!!! Burning heat, freezing cold!!! Always great!!! I wish all our plants were this tough!!! I have had temps in the middle of the day reach 120° in the greenhouse even with an exhaust fan on up at the top south west corner getting rid of all the heat rising up top. Excellent points made on the variety of pots used. They do vary greatly on performance as far as keeping moisture. Especially in a climate such as yours and a greenhouse! I keep my Epiphyllum & schlumbergeras hanging under one of our mimosa trees. My variegated agaves also. Burnt my agave ivory curls last summer cause I put it in full sun. Does much better in the shade. Grew out of it this summer. Loved this video!!! Good stuff Ana!!! From Morris Park in the Ozarks, out to Las Vegas, have a wonderful day!!! Peace, Love, Plants!!!!✌💖🌵🌺🌿🌻🪴🌹🏵🌳🌷🌴😃👍

[@headachebaby]

Great tips, thank you. CA is hot in the summer too and I have been a succulent mom for 2 years. It's during summer that I lose my babies the most. The heat just sucks.

[@CactusCaffeine]

Every year I feel it just gets hotter and drier. 😰

[@cactusandfriends_by_vane]

I loved this video Ana! I have almost the same temperature range as you but on the other side of humidity (always over 50%, often over 90%) so I have to avoid watering for a month now ´cause fungus are everywhere. Just a few cacti that I see too dehidrated, are moved to a shadier place and watered a bit when I get a cloudy day or a windy night. I also use a shade but 70% and the tropicals in total shade (we have a lot of reflection from white walls at our small patio). Have a great week🤗💞

[@CactusCaffeine]

Oh, high temperatures and high humidity is so uncomfortable for humans. 😰 Surely we all face different challenges in the garden but we learn to deal with it. 😃

[@cactusandfriends_by_vane]

@@CactusCaffeine Sure! We do everything for our gardens😅🙏💚

[@ceciliaarchibold8187]

Thanks for the ti ps !

[@flowerszoneforever]

Nice video Ana! Greetings from Flowers Zone Albania 🇦🇱

[@CactusCaffeine]

Thank you for watching, once again. Cheers! ☕️

[@jillianleblanc9370]

Thank you for sharing all your plants lovely garden collection lovely cactus

[@CactusCaffeine]

Thank you for watching again and I’m grateful that you find time to make a comment. Hope you are well! 😊

[@urodriguez16]

Great advice 👍 I had to move some stuff under the shade because it was starting to burn.

[@CactusCaffeine]

Hope they will all be good this summer!

[@arisusan5381]

Hallo, i’m from indonesia, and I Love your video 👍🏻👍🏻

[@CactusCaffeine]

Hi and thank you for visiting my channel

[@katherineg9396]

Thanks Ana, many of us are having an extra hot summer in the US and Europe. This video was very helpful to me in Dallas (106F today).

[@CactusCaffeine]

I’m glad you find this video helpful. 106F is hot. 🥵 Hope you are staying cool and hydrated. 🙂🌵

[@dianaarab7569]

Ive been growing cactus since almost 10 years but as much i get more cactus to my collection as learn more , ,i never had an idea that these lovely plants have variations of fases of growing , or some are resistent for direct sun n some of them are not...ext ..thanks for sharing us these useful information Y GRAN SALUDOS DESDE SIRIA 😍😍

[@CactusCaffeine]

Thank you. I am also learning so many new things over the years. Many of them, I learn from experience, both the good and the bad. 😉 Wish you the best. Happy growing. 🌵😊

[@millieclark1085]

Thank you Ana good information.

[@MrBobbyjones1205]

Blessed Sunday Ana! Sorry that Cactus died 😞

[@CactusCaffeine]

Ugh. Every year I lose a Rebutia and an Eriosyce during summer. 😣 I wish I can have an air-conditioned greenhouse. 😄 Thanks, Robert.

[@mikekhum2725]

The struggle is real here in Vegas! I deal with the same issue living here. Thanks for the tips! Great video! Happy growing and keep up the great work 🙂

[@CactusCaffeine]

Oh neighbor. The heat right now is too much! Not to mention my backyard is a concrete jungle. I am praying that we get 🌧 rain this summer. Lake Mead needs it badly!

[@angusnovember4700]

I lost a rebutia the past summer..it's so sad..but lucky for me it's 2 pups are doing very well.

[@CactusCaffeine]

Oh. Sorry you lost a cactus, too. I always lose at least one Rebutia every summer. You’re lucky you got some pups to continue your Rebutia’s life. 🙂

[@cactusjoe]

Very nice and informative video, Ana, and many thanks for sharing! Indeed a lot of cacti unnecesarilly die, especially during the hot summer months - in my experience too, mainly due to severe overwatering - when folks are not aware of some of these simple tips and tricks! Hope you are having a wonderful day, take care, stay cool and happy growing!! 🌵🌵🌵

[@CactusCaffeine]

Thanks Joe. I know heat there can be unbearable sometimes because of your humidity. These past few days that you had a heatwave, I hope you and your plants are fine. 🙂

[@cactusjoe]

@@CactusCaffeine many thanks, Ana, all good here! The heat wave is continuing here, but summers in southern Germany always tend to be relatively hot too, with temps well into 90s. But with lot's of shade netting, wide open greenhouse door & windows and some fans, so far my plants are all doing well, luckily! Best wishes, stay cool and happy growing!! 🌵🌵🌺🌸👍😎😊☀️

[@giantcheesegrater]

I'm in New Zealand. Last summer I put my cacti in terracotta pots out on some old bricks, and most of them became very very small over summer, so I had to move them to a shadier place 😬

[@CactusCaffeine]

Extreme heat cause them to lose roots and shrivel too fast. It is good that you were able to detect the problem and provide shade right away.

[@lisaschaefer155]

Ana, I have been wondering about a comment you made in at least one of your videos about being able to tell that a particular cactus is seed grown. I was wondering what you meant by that, how you can tell and what the differences are between seed grown and offsets? I understand that offsets are clones, while seedlings may be hybrids.

[@CactusCaffeine]

You are correct that seed grown may not be 100% true to its parents traits. The only way to get and clone is by offsets. How to tell if it is seed grown? It is only when it is young that you can usually tell if it is seed-grown. The base close to the roots will be thinner than the top.

[@lisaschaefer155]

@@CactusCaffeine thank you!

[@angelinajimmy745]

😍😍😍👍👍👍👏👏👏

[@annekrishnaabenojar6029]

Me too ate ana, one of my cacti died. (Rebutia krainziana), Maybe because it was raining and all of the sudden it's so hot, and our humidity is 90%. Well, time to buy more because I'm sad 😆😆😆

[@CactusCaffeine]

Oh no. ☹️ I’m sorry that you lost a Rebutia. I always lose at least one Rebutia and one Eriosyce every summer. Just proves that those 2 does not like very hot weather. I hope the rest of your cacti are well.

[@annekrishnaabenojar6029]

@@CactusCaffeine yes ate i was so heartbroken when i saw that it's brown and mushy already 😔 I think I won't buy rebutias anymore because they are so fast to etiolate too! And it's a hassle to bring them inside cuz my broke self can't afford a grow light 😂😂😂

[@ncv1501]

I too live with thorny friends in a very hot area sometimes hitting 110 degrees. I’m watering on the ground cacti every other day. And I have been wondering if the well water might be too salty for them. Thank you for this video and I have been following your channel for awhile now. 🌵🏜

[@CactusCaffeine]

Oh, that is hot! As for the well water, I’m not sure if they are suited for cacti. But I hear that well water can be rich in a mineral that causes the spiny hairs of some cacti to turn a reddish brown color. I think it’s iron? I can’t remember..

[@lupitasandoval7505]

Hi Ana do you know why the columnar cactus gets skinny ? I have them in direct sun

[@CactusCaffeine]

They may be too heat stressed. They lose water faster than what they can absorb. Some of them won’t drink much if it is too hot. Try giving them some shade.

[@lauraparrish9865]

Hi Ana I never knew about adding vinegar. Do you add white or apple cider vinegar?

[@CactusCaffeine]

I use white just because it is cheapest. Any type of vinegar is ok. I even use lemon sometimes if I have left overs. 🙂

[@joannhellenbrand6825]

What is the name of your yellow flowered Opuntia. I have one simular. I think mine is is called Humifusa?

[@CactusCaffeine]

Opuntia engelmannii 🙂

[@SheDoesntCareLOL]

You can't provide shades/covers?

[@CactusCaffeine]

Our backyard does not have any roof. So I put up temporary shade cloths every summer. 😊

[@SheDoesntCareLOL]

@@CactusCaffeine please don't let them die. 🌞

[@giegirll.bolantevlogs6499]

Hello mam Ana

[@giegirll.bolantevlogs6499]

Does not need much water

[@BrunoHasIt]

That sucks! I lost my Rebutia arenacea last week

[@CactusCaffeine]

Oh no! Sorry that happened to you. These Rebutias don’t give a warning when they are stressed. They just all of a sudden melt! 😟

[@user-gh7wt9km1o]

这么多黑腐的啊……

[@drivendraven]

yeah.. i experienced rotting to my astrophytum this summer.. >.

[@CactusCaffeine]

I’m sorry it happened to you as well. 😟 Hope all your other cacti are fine.

[@michellechapman6839]

I think my Parodia is rotting... Ewww

[@CactusCaffeine]

Oh no 😕