Cactus - please help me identify it

[Astronaut1298]

Hi all

I was given a Cactus and have never had one before. Could you please help me identify it?

I have read up and found that they only need to be watered once a week or sometimes once every 2 weeks?

Thanks in advance :)

That is indeed a cactus

There are probably three young seedlings of a cactus in the Cereus family in the pot. These seem to be quite common in supermarkets and garden centres now. My knowledge of Cereioids isn’t too good as I don’t grow them (I have hundreds of others!).
Watering is very dependent on where you keep it - assume it’s indoors? If so, on your sunniest windowsill. Cacti should be allowed to dry completely before watering again, so there is no hard and fast rule, but obviously more in summer when the weather is hot, very little in winter.
Don’t allow water to remain in the outer pot - always take it out to water, allow to drain before replacing it.

Ah! I think I’ve found it - Pilosocereus gounellei. This group of cacti grow tall to several metres in habitat, and unlikely to flower indoors.

@NanTheWiser thank you for your reply!! I will definitely move it to a windowsill with proper sunlight and thanks for the tip regarding not leaving the water in the pot 😀

Remember cacti are designed to store water to keep them ticking over in drought. If you’re ever unsure about watering, go for less rather than more.

@MereDintofPandiculation thank you! I will keep that in mind

Hi I’m not sure but definitely don’t water every week only about every two weeks , best to always use a moisture meter stick to be sure you can buy them cheap on Amazon also make sure to repot the cactus into terracotta pot asap and I recommend using an app such as plant parent to see the recommendation for water amounts for each type of cactus but definitely don’t flood it ! :)

If they’re in full sun in the summer, perfectly ok to water generously, but don’t leave them standing in water, and don’t water again till dry - I usually water once a week in summer, in a greenhouse. But cut right back once you get to September. I don’t water at all Sep -May in a greenhouse, on a windowsill in a warm room I might give a dribble every 3 weeks or so. They won’t be growing much in the low light levels. Plastic pot is fine.