How often do I water my cacti?

[OverwateredCheeseplant]

Just bought myself some cacti. Some are mini and one slightly bigger than my hand. How often should I water them and how much? Can’t find definite answer online and I’m confused.

We have some and theyve lived in the house for years with never a single drop of water.

Most people overwater cacti and succulents to death. I find they thrive on neglect

I only water mine when the compost is really dry and/or they look a bit shrivelled.

We have a large cacti, had it years now. We stop watering about late September and restart early spring . Maybe with small ones you will still need to, just very very sparingly and not very often.

We water ours whenever the soil is pretty dry. It is easy to over water, but through prudent watering mine has grown from about 18inches tall to about 3.5 feet in 2.5 years, and gain a second cactus (knocked off a leaf in an accident) that's grown from one leaf about 5 inches tall to 25 leaves and about 20 inches tall.

Method: water every few days, less in summer. Feed with plant food occasionally. Repot into a compost sand mixture yearly

Less in winter, more in summer*

Only when the soil is really dry or when the cactus feels a bit bendy ( mine are succulents rather than spikey cacti.

Cacti do need watering- one of mine died over the winter because I left them in the summer house and didn't water them- they shrivel up and won't recover if they get too shrivelled.

I water mine about once a fortnight, but don't wet the compost through- trickle a small non of water over them just until it dampens the soil around their base. I've had them for years and they look well.

In general, cacti become dormant between October and March, and need no water during this period. This only applies to cacti grown in greenhouses and kept at low temperatures over winter (5C).
When kept in warm house conditions, they will require a little water every couple of weeks to prevent shrivelling, but shouldn't be encouraged to grow because of lack of light, which would make them etiolated (stretched). So give them a small amount about twice a month.
I have two large greenhouses full of cacti and succulents, collected over 40 years.

@nanthewiser you must be quite an expert! I’d love to see your greenhouses, I’m obsessed with plants in general, particularly cacti.

I've had some for ages, and they still flower every year. No water at all in winter, and probably only 2 fairly good waterings in spring/summer. Put them in the sunniest place you have - they are desert plants so need max sun and min water.

Just for you, @OverwateredCheeseplant a few pics of greenhouses (taken a few years ago) and a nice flowering cactus. There are two greenhouses - one is 16' x 6' and the other is 24' x 8' - all full! The cactus is a Mammillopsis senilis which flowers in April usually - and comes from high mountains in Mexico - it likes a cold winter!

@nanthewiser wow! Thank you for the pics! That little lot must keep you busy. I would adore having greenhouses, but alas our garden is the size of a postage stamp. You’re so lucky! 🌵