What Cactus Needs to Survive

As long as you provide it with sufficient light, air, water, drainage, and nutrients, your cactus will not only survive but also thrive.

What do cactus have to survive?

Like all living things, cacti need water to survive. Given the areas where they live, though, water is often scarce. … For example, the prickly spines of cacti are actually highly-modified leaves. Spines protect cacti from animals that eat plants and also help to reduce water loss by restricting air flow near the cactus.

How do you make a cactus survive?

The only rule is: Make sure the soil is dry between waterings. This will stop the roots and lower edges of the plant from becoming waterlogged or rotting. During winter months you can cut back on the water, as cacti become dormant during this time with less sun and cooler night temperatures.