Generally, succulents’ are easier to care for. Cacti are more challenging. Here are some tips from expert team to make you aware of its care and to allow it grow bigger and beautiful.

1. Give them as much sunlight as they need: Cacti are desert plants so they definitely need sun! However, depending on where you place them, the topical sun can sometimes be too much. Make sure your plants aren’t burning.

2. The medium is important: The medium is the soil mix used for your plants. The basic mix is 50 % pumice, 50% soil. This is tweaked depending on other factors like the type of plant (example: for succulents, there should be more soil than pumice; cacti, on the other hand, need more pumice than soil).
For cacti, specifically, you have good medium if water it today and the next day the soil is almost dry.

3. Checkpoint: Usually, you can water your cactus once a week duirng summers, and succulents 3x a week. When in doubt, conduct the stick test! Similar to the stick test in baking, you can poke a stick through your medium to check if there is still moisture. If dirt sticks to the stick, it’s still wet at the bottom, even if the top seems dry.

4. Be observant: Observe how your plants are. How they grow will generally tell you what they need!
If the plant is growing out longer as if trying to reach more sunlight, it is probably etiolating (naks, legit plant term!) and that means it needs more sun. If your plant softens up or you may be watering too much or there may be fungal rot.

5. Pot your plants properly: Always, always have drainage holes on your pot otherwise water may pool at the bottom and the roots of your plant will rot. Clay pots are the best pots to use because they are more porous. Since beauty of cactus is best felt with ceramic, marble or classy sandstone pot, get a proper hole at its base.

6. Beware of pests: You may choose to use fungicide to treat your plants if you do find pests but an organic option would be a solution composed of 1 spoonful of dishwashing soap, vinegar, and water that you can spray your plants.

7. When in doubt, ask: If you feel your plant is not healthy, feel free to contact team @ Fresh Petals. We will be happy to be useful for you.