Despite its prickly personality, this tree-like cactus makes a beautiful addition to any landscape or garden.
If youre feeling brave, small teddy bear cacti can even begrown indoors as houseplants.
Heres everything it’s crucial that you know about how to grow and care for teddy bear cactus.
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Warning
Always wear thickgardening glovesor work gloves before handling a teddy bear cactus.
Light
Teddy bear cacti requirefull sun.
Choose a location with several hours of direct sunlight to keep your teddy bear cactus happy.
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If you are growing this cactus indoors, a south-facing window is best.
Opt for sandy mixes or soils explicitlydesigned for growing cactiand succulents.
Avoid planting these cacti in locations with heavy clay soils or areas prone to excessive moisture.
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Water
These cacti are highly drought-tolerant and prefer that the soil dries thoroughly between waterings.
When grown outside, this means that they will not need any additional watering between regular rainfalls.
When grown indoors, always err on the side of underwatering rather than overwatering.
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When it is time to water, use the soak-and-dry method to give your plant a good drink.
Temperature and Humidity
The teddy bear cactus prefers warm, dry conditions.
Too much humidity can be just as damaging to this plant as overwatering.
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It is hardy inUSDA zones9 to 11.
Applying a slow-release fertilizer is a great option when growing teddy bear cacti outdoors.
Indoors, liquid fertilizers can be used during watering.
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Be sure to choose a low-nitrogen fertilizer (5-10-10 blend) to support this plants unique needs.
Propagating Teddy Bear Cactus
The teddy bear cactus is known for how easily it propagates.
However, if youd like to control the process and manually propagate your plant, heres how.
Since handling these cacti can be tricky, repotting them must be done carefully.
Wear thick gardening or work gloves to protect your hands while repotting a teddy bear cactus.
That said, keep an eye out formealybugs, who love congregating in this branched cactus’s creases.
Root rotis another common problem to watch out for.
Mushy stems or roots and waterlogged soil can identify it.
Problems with this plant usually occur due to improper watering or sun exposure.
Mushy stems
Mushy stems are most often a result of overwatering and root rot.
Remember that teddy bear cacti are desert plants that require several hours of sunlight daily to grow properly.
However, these cacti do not actually jump or throw their stems.
Teddy bear cholla fruit and flower buds are ediblewith a few important things to note.
First, they need to be harvested carefully to avoid the needle-sharp spines.
