When and how to water your cacti and succulents 🌵

We'll go over the benefits of each method to water sensitive cacti and succulents, and I’ll show you which I prefer and why 🤓 How to water cacti and succulents can be quite daunting at first, so please feel free to comment any questions you may have.
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[@RobCherwink]

Hi Manuel. I'm hoping that you will restock your large sized soils soon!

[@RareCactus]

@@RobCherwink hi Rob! It’s been restocked. Thank you 🙏🏽 www.eastcoastcamanchaca.com/shop/p/northamericancactussoil

[@droogsurgeon1440]

Damn I don’t know why you don’t have more subscribers! Your videos are always amazing.

[@RareCactus]

Thank you! Little by little 🤩🌵

[@lindaarcher6698]

Best explanation for us beginners! I have watched many utubers,you have been the best.Thanks,will be a happy follower!

[@solarwinds-]

Thanks for the video, many schools of thought here. There are very good arguments for both. I've heard, water in the morning only to give the plant a chance to dry out... and water at night when the stigmas are open (not sure I got the word right. The little pores.). I love your educational style.

[@RareCactus]

Well said! Thanks so much and thanks for watching. I think the word you’re looking for is “stomata” 🤓

[@neonice]

I use a substrate made with lava rock, pumice and zeolite. I only water from the top and the substrate does fully soak up the water, you can even hear it. A drop instantly disperses and moistens a wider area. I've noticed faster root growth as well.

[@RareCactus]

Nice! When you say faster root growth, you mean faster than what?

[@jaybee8888]

I learned so much from this video. Thank you!

[@RareCactus]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching ❤️

[@risenfromyoutubesashesagai6302]

Wow!! Look at that Pachypodium in the background!! What a beauty!

[@RareCactus]

Thank you! One of my first ever succulents and of course it had to have “spines” 😂

[@Black_Jack_AOS]

Did anyone see the Ladybug at 00:10:15?

[@RareCactus]

Doing good work! Haha

[@Katherine-ob9fl]

Great video, thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience 💕

[@StanWatt.]

New to your channel here. I wish here in NE Scotland had a Floridian climate! lol

[@RareCactus]

I guess it could be worse hahaha welcome to the channel!

[@lungshienjendragoninmortal537]

Cuentas con alguna tienda

[@RareCactus]

@@lungshienjendragoninmortal537 hola, si! En mi pagina www.eastcoastcamanchaca.com

[@newmanmansell760]

Great topic😊🙏I water on rainy days. The cam photosynthesis works better and the cacti absorb much more water and growth is much better👌And I too withhold watering in the two hottest months because almost all the cacti stop any growth. I haven't experienced any problems watering my cacti when the weather is rainy and overcast, even for the next week of overcast they grow and produce better roots and the growing medium dries out over a few days to a week. 👌I always had rot issues watering before very hot days.Thanks for the great video😌🙏I enjoyed watching👏🌵🌟

[@RareCactus]

Thanks for watching! I never water during or before rain as the added environmental humidity can easily cause rot 🤓

[@FrankieFraleyNana]

How long do you keep them in the water when you bottom water? How often do you bottom water your outdoor cacti?

[@droogsurgeon1440]

Dang I learned a lot, so many people say so many different things so I’m in constant fear of losing a cactus. I’ve mainly just sprayed very little water every day or two, like a drizzle. Then once every maybe two weeks I give them a good watering. But what you said about the outside plants makes sense, I need to stick to more of a routine and not water the skin, which I have been doing. The weather in GA has been more mild than usual so I haven’t had any issues but when the sun and heat hits it will be brutal and so I’m glad to know more of what to do during those times. Man like I said you should have more subscribers than you do, if you keep it up. Then I think you will. Glad I found this channel. I’m new, so I’m trying to soak up as much knowledge as possible right now. Peace brother! Ty

[@RareCactus]

Thanks a lot for the kind words my friend. If you could share our videos with your friends, I’d greatly appreciate it as that’s the fastest way to reach people 🌵 Moistening the soil very frequently is not a good idea because it provides the right conditions for mold and fungus to grow, which kill cacti. If your plants are outside and have lots of ventilation and sun, they may be more forgiving but overall it’s better if you keep the crowns dry 😉

[@droogsurgeon1440]

@@RareCactus I have a very small greenhouse I’m working on getting up. Until then a lot are inside with me, with grow lights. I’m afraid to put too many outside because it’s so humid and rainy in GA. I share videos with my friends, but I’ve become the weird friend with a cactus fetish. I’m waiting on a hip replacement so I can’t get around well. But, it’s cool you take the time to reply. I will definitely take your advice and I’m thinking a t-shirt as well. 👍🏻 ❤️

[@RareCactus]

@@droogsurgeon1440 thanks so much! The humidity does kick my ass as well here in south Florida 😅

[@maanerotte]

Thank You for another great video! I grow indoors, cause I live in Denmark, and I don’t have a garden. So I do not dare to dunk my plants in the same water, of fear of spreading pests and diseases. But I do let my cacti soak from their saucers for a few hours. I am not sure that CAM plants do not uptake water through the roots during the day. As I understand it, it is only the stomata and thus the gas exchange, that shut down, during the day. With kind regards Thomas

[@RareCactus]

Thanks for watching Thomas!

[@brucering1190]

Great video and thanks for your input and insights!

[@boxcutter0]

pleasant presentation of some useful info

[@RareCactus]

@@boxcutter0 thank you!! 🙏🏽

[@oh5148]

Nice vid what plant is that at 5:28 ?

[@RareCactus]

Thank you! That’s Mammillaria bocasana Fred 🤓

[@PaulFishwick]

I’ve read that when you do water, some sources say to soak completely. You are providing a sip of water at the top rather than soaking the soil. A

[@RareCactus]

Did you watch the entire video? 😅

[@PaulFishwick]

@@RareCactus I did. I did not see you drench the cacti, which other recommend. I am interpreting soak as drench.

[@PaulFishwick]

I mean drench/soak the soil…not the csctus

[@RareCactus]

@@PaulFishwick I don’t think you watched the whole video 🙂

[@PaulFishwick]

@@RareCactus I must have missed that part

[@thiennguyen9747]

actually you forgot to mention "climate acclimation"- which is MAJOR important that is why you have many issue growing cacti indoor! you have to address that issue first to follow it with water and sunlight simply put, cacti can adapt to living condition and it will take time to adapt buying a plant and understanding the different of their growing habitat vs your house is IMPORTANT this is why outdoor grow is "easier" because the plant doesnt have to drastically change and adapt to the environment, so if you buy a plant, and ESPECIALLY it is shipped from different country, you need to "explain" to that plant that it is now living in a different condition- for example grown in greenhouse thailand and ship to your indoor house" explaning that to the plant through light and water and soil mix. you need to give it somewhat constant sunlight hour, the more the better. just water it very sparely, but every water you have to soak it- i learn it that you can water 3 times to make sure the soil completely wet. and make sure 2 things good airflow, and humidity is DRY!!! i personally water every 5 days because i know that my environment can quickly dry the soil. i have growlight to make cacti "work" extra, fans and air-conditioning- this keep my room around 50% humidity. but all that steps, you have to FIRSTLY treat the plant when you buy one, you have to trim roots- this is for the new root to grow and understand new soil- this will help it "reprogram" how to grow. you have to use fungicide to make sure the plant is "clean", because from garden to shipping in a box for days to your house, it has high chance of getting wet, no air circulation, no sun, and possibly combine with high temp outside that will make the container also hot. all sort of bad stuffs for a cacti to endure before it reaches your house. and sometimes, you done all the things right, and 1 cactus look "off", its best to remove it from soil, and check the root for any infection or bug of abnormality. i have found 1 ariocarpus of mine, acting weird after putting it in new soil, and it turn out their was a shrap shard of pumice that stabbed the corner of its root, so if i did not check and remove the rock, it would have been BAD- so the lesson is that, your inorganic mix may have sharp object, especially cheaper prices brands. so you have to be mindful when mixing your soil. it gets down a rabit hole when it comes to growing just a cactus haha but at the end of the day, you do all this just to get a healthy looking cactus and it is very rewarding. you learn many things beside how to grow a plant, you can learn about the culture it comes from, how nature works and how amazing nature is, etc... but you do need to have guidance to make that path easier.

[@RareCactus]

Thanks for watching!

[@happyhappycatus]

Hi. I have a very important question. A large mammilaria had not just root rot, but insects crawling. Why not use a systematic insecticide on cacti (we’re not eating them 😅)?

[@RareCactus]

Good question! I think you absolutely should use systemic pesticides on cacti 🌵 Just never eat the fruit.

[@javierberzero9266]

Que hermoso, amigo escucharte, hablar en castellano , un privilegio escucharte, un fuerte , abrazo, desde Buenos Aires!!!

[@RareCactus]

Hola amigo gracias! Que bueno que te gusto el canal en español ❤

[@Narut7777]

Thank you for video! I agree both kinds are ok depending on the roots system activity, in the North we also should take in account the sunny weather or rainy/fog days...

[@RareCactus]

Exactly! It all depends on your environment :) Thanks for watching!

[@cactusjoe]

Thanks, nice summary and video, like your channel, have subscribed! I run a young, small channel on cacti and other succulents myself, feel free to check it out one of these days! Best wishes and happy growing!!

[@RareCactus]

Thanks so much! I’ll check it out. Thanks for watching and subscribing 👍

[@cactusjoe]

@@RareCactus many thanks for that! Having watched a number of your videos now, I think we both have relatively similar growing philosophies!! I like how you stressed the fact that when it comes to "best" method of watering, it is an AND rather than an OR - I 100% agree and follow the same appoach! Have a great weekend!

[@RareCactus]

@@cactusjoe totally agree! Thanks for watching!!

[@JoseGarcia-oc7dj]

Thanks for all the great info I am also in Florida and most cactus people I've seen on YT live in the desert so this is very helpful. Question: what is the hose you use for watering? I am using a regular hose and just being gentle with the water pressure, but would like to water more precisely. If anyone can chime in too, I 'd appreciate it :)

[@tomokitty2153]

I use a squeeze bottle for watering hanging plants. I'm not sure what he's using, but mine looks similar to his.

[@RareCactus]

Home Depot sprayer 🤓

[@umikalthumabdulmajid5406]

Hi Manuel. Since I live in Msia, where the weather is mostly hot and wet, with short periods of no rain, I've no choice but to let d big or unweildy cati to grow in d open spaces. Surprisingly, they grow very well. So I suspect u need to 'train' them to acclimatise to d local weather. 😊

[@RareCactus]

Oh yes, many species can thrive with tons of rain. Like most trichocereus for example. But a Copiapoa would never survive. 😅

[@jamal5714]

Good idea but I have too many plants for that bottom watering lol

[@cactuseando1]

Actually the more plants you have, the more this makes sense. Many cactus nurseries place all their pots inside a shallow “pool” about 2 inches deep that they fill when it’s time to water. That way, you fill the shallow pool and all plants absorb moisture at once 🤓 Then the sun helps evaporate any extra moisture.

[@badressam473]

What is the type of dried cactus in minute 8:50

[@RareCactus]

Horizontalonius

[@javierberzero9266]

ME ENCANTO FRIENS, SALUDOS DESDE ARGENTINA.....

[@RareCactus]

Saludos amigo muchas gracias por verlo! Ya viene el canal en español 🤓

[@leis.6701]

Thank you. This is the best explanation for cacti & succulent watering. I live in the Philippines, best source of these plants are in Benguet where the weather suits then well. That's why when they're taken to the lowlands( where I am), some don't make it or grow well. It's really a learning process and the best sign is the health of your plants to know if you're taking care of them the right way.

[@RareCactus]

You’re welcome! I’m glad it was helpful. It’s crazy how the weather can change with elevation!

[@RareCactus]

Thank you!

[@georgeschannel6168]

Nice video, very informative and presented in a clear, logical easily digestible way.

[@RareCactus]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks so much for joining us 🌵

[@Northerncacti2021]

Awesome stuff

[@RareCactus]

Thanks my friend!

[@lvjungle2840]

Very help full

[@RareCactus]

Thanks for watching! We’re releasing a habitat exploration video tonight 🤓 Stay tuned.

[@justintechnic1995]

Appreciate the video, thanks

[@RareCactus]

Thanks for watching!

[@TrenT83]

бро) спасибо за видео)

[@RareCactus]

You’re very welcome!

[@TrenT83]

@@RareCactus 💓🌵🏵

[@robertfraire5200]

🔥

[@heatherstephens9295]

Fabulous collection 👍👍

[@RareCactus]

Thank you so much 😊

[@rock0345]

thanks bro

[@RareCactus]

You’re welcome! 🌵

[@claudekim7876]

hey question, do u grow your euphorbias too in that really well drained mix u use for arios and copias? also when u top water do u let it drain out the bottom? also does the soil need to dry 100% >? ive noticed in pots similar sized to yours, unless your running full inorganic mix it wont dry fast enough. even in the summer when my greenhouse regularly hits 35c and has alot of airflow.

[@RareCactus]

Hey there! The amount of water coming from the top depends on the situation, but for the most part I will use less water, if top watering. If your soil is not drying out quick enough, your formula may be off. I do use mostly inorganic soil for all my plants and use my South American mix (Available on my website) for Euphorbias, while I use North American on Ariocarpus. Thanks for watching!

[@claudekim7876]

@@RareCactus its 90% pumice, some black earth and 10% large rocks. Im not sure

[@RareCactus]

@@claudekim7876 that’s odd, that should be drying quickly 🤔

[@claudekim7876]

@@RareCactus weirdly alot of my plants r wrinkled even if i water haha. Im not sure. Tho i think its fine. Its just very slightly moist (alot of them do indeed fully dry out).

[@RareCactus]

@@claudekim7876 the fact that they’re wrinkly may be caused by many factors. They could not be up taking moisture yet, or maybe the soil mix isn’t 100% correct. I use a combination of minerals and have never tried just pumice 🤓