The Old Lady cactus has a spherical stem that can reach a height of 3.5 inches (9 cm) and a diameter of around the same. The stem is white-fluffed and has a pale green colour. The plant bears long, up to 4 cm long, white bristly axillae. There are 1-4 centre spines and roughly 30 white radial spines.
The blossoms on the old lady cactus are particularly vivid and colorful. Even though the stems of old lady plants are normally green, some feature red and white spikes. The flowers have a halo-like form and are purplish-red in colour. The old lady cactus typically has blooms that resemble flower crowns.
Care Guide
Water
The drought-tolerant Old Lady Cactus doesn’t need to be watered frequently. When the soil is entirely dry, water it well. To prevent water buildup when watering a pot, water carefully, wait for water to trickle out the bottom, and then pour the extra water from the tray.
Its three main growing seasons are spring, summer and autumn. To keep the soil just a little bit moist, water once or twice every week. Water the soil only enough to prevent it from drying out too much over the winter, usually once a week. Additionally, use distilled or rainwater instead of tap water.
Calcium, magnesium, and other mineral salts are abundant in tap water. Compaction of the soil is often brought on by prolonged use. When watering, avoid sprinkling water on the stem to avoid rotting.
Fertilizer
During the old lady cactus’ growing seasons (spring, summer and fall), fertilize it once a month with liquid fertilizer. Wintertime doesn’t call for fertilizer. When repotting in the spring or autumn, a tiny amount of slow-release fertilizer can be thoroughly incorporated into the soil.
Sunlight
As a heliophilic plant, the old lady cactus need enough sunlight to thrive and blossom. It may be positioned on a balcony or in an open area of a garden. However, in the blazing summer, extended exposure to direct sunlight should be avoided since it needs to be shaded or slightly chilled to prevent damage from high temperatures.
Temperature
The old lady cactus is found in tropical, subtropical, and semi-desert areas that experience little precipitation, intense sunlight, and hot temperatures. 20 to 35 °C is the ideal temperature for growth. Temperatures below 10 °C or above 35 °C cause development to stall and dormancy to start. The surroundings should be well-ventilated and the air humidity shouldn’t be too high. Avoid accumulating water and high humidity.
Pruning
Pruning the old lady cactus doesn’t take much time. Remove dead branches and blooms to allow the plant to focus its resources on nutrient-rich growth.
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