Watering a cactus?

[Valentine35]

Yes or no?

I have no idea about plants 😅😂

It all depends on what it is and where you keep it. Indoors? A photo would help enormously to ID it.
I have grown cacti and succulents for over 40 years, in two large greenhouses, so could help, if I know what it is, and where you keep it.

All cacti need water it just depends on how much and how often.

I just dunk the pots in a jug of water until there aren't any air bubbles, take them out to drain, put back into the ceramic holders and then promptly forget about them for the next few weeks.

They appear to be happy with this.

I agree with Nan - for sensible advice, a picture, or a good description, is needed. There is a wide variety of cacti, as well as a few things that get called cacti but aren’t.

For the time being, safest not to water. You will need to water in the summer. Personally I would not consider Mooncup’s approach, and definitely not at this time of year.

Good points. I probably should have qualified that with discussing the ambient temperature indoors (warm), the air humidity (low), the potting medium (extremely free draining and bone dry when I get around to checking it) and the light levels (high). They're definitely happy with it, as are the orchids, Dracaena trifasciata and other plant life in the place.

Cacti and orchid’s couldn’t be further away in their natural habitats, sun, little shade vs. nooks in trees. Interesting that you can use the same watering regime for both, though I suppose both are used to occasional showers and to not getting their water needs met from the soil, so in that sense they’re similar. And of course you’ll be growing them in very different soils.

It's pretty much what I do with everything. I know some are obvious in signalling for help - the avocado waves when it wants another 2-3 mugs of water chucked over it, for example - but the difference for the larger/leafy plants is that they get the occasional mini break in the upstairs bathroom with a short shower instead of the plunge treatment and then get left to their devices again.

Stuff jut grows.

Water once a week (if indoors in the heat). In cold conservatory/greenhouse you don't need to water very much at all over the winter. They like to be dry (desert plants!) so free drainage and grit. Don't let them sit in the wet.

Don’t water if the soil is still damp from last time. They really don’t like being cold and wet, so if you’re trying to reduce fuel bills, every week will be too often. (I can’t claim @NanTheWiser’s level of knowledge, but I started growing cacti over 60 years ago)

I'm with @NeverDropYourMooncup

I know different plant families have different needs, but I also don't have time to mollycoddle each plant with the exact soil, feed, and light it wants for ideal growing.

With cacti, I let them go dry for a while, give em a dunk, and move them outside for fresh air in the middle of summer.

I let mine dry out completely, so that the soil is crumbly on the top, then drench them under the tap and leave them on the draining board until they are no longer dripping from the holes in the bottom. Repeat whenever you notice they're very dry.

Sounds like @NeverDropYourMooncup and I are on the same page - works for me, but obviously we don't know what plant you have!