Plant Care Balloon Cactus

Balloon Cactus

4.7 out of 5 (9 experiences)

Balloon Cactus has a Survivor plant personality Survivor
Balloon Cactus has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower

Also known as

Ball Cactus, Notocactus magnificus and Parodia magnifica.

Taxonomy

Parodia magnifica
Parodia
Cactaceae
Caryophyllales

How to care for Balloon Cactus

šŸ’¦ Water

How often to water your Balloon Cactus

Water needs for Balloon Cactus
0.5 cups
every 12

Balloon Cactus needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Balloon Cactus

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
ā˜€ļø Light

Finding light for Balloon Cactus in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Balloon Cactus: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Balloon Cactus love being close to bright, sunny windows šŸ˜Ž.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Balloon Cactus does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Balloon Cactus in your home šŸ”.

🪓 Nutrients

How to fertilize Balloon Cactus

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Balloon Cactus: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Balloon Cactus after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #BalloonCactus
šŸ’” FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Balloon Cactus is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

How to Grow Balloon Cactus →

Benefits of Growing Balloon Cactus →

Common Balloon Cactus Problems →

Indoor Care Guide for Balloon Cactus →

Outdoor Care Guide for Balloon Cactus →


šŸ’¦ Water Needs

Balloon Cactus thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Balloon Cactus Water Frequency →

Balloon Cactus Root Rot →


ā˜€ļø Sunlight Needs

Balloon Cactus requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive šŸ’Ŗ. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home šŸ”.

Balloon Cactus Light Requirements →

Balloon Cactus Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 šŸ‘¶ Toxicity

Balloon Cactus is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.


šŸ’Ø Humidity

Balloon Cactus prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.

Balloon Cactus Humidity Needs →


🪓 Soil

Balloon Cactus is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Balloon Cactus →

Best Pots for Balloon Cactus →

When and How to Successfully Repot Balloon Cactus →

What Are Healthy Balloon Cactus Roots →


šŸ’© Fertilizer

Balloon Cactus grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Balloon Cactus →


šŸŒŽ Native Region

Balloon Cactus is native to Northern South America.


🌸 Flowers
ā¬†ļø ā¬‡ļø Growth Pattern

Balloon Cactus is a clumping plant, meaning new growth will emerge from the soil around the parent plant.

Balloon Cactus Lifecycle →

Balloon Cactus Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Balloon Cactus →


šŸŒ¦ļø Growing Outdoors
🌱 Propagation

The seeds of Balloon Cactus can be used to grow new plants! After your plant flowers, any seeds that formed can be collected and germinated in potting soil.

How to Propagate Balloon Cactus →


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


šŸ˜– Common Issues

Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with Balloon Cactus. These plants are very sensitive to wet soil so if you notice your plant becoming squishy or translucent, overwatering is the likely culprit.

Cut your plant just past where the rot ends and allow it to callus over for a few days before replanting it in fresh, dry soil. Download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


Care Summary for Balloon Cactus

Balloon Cactus

Balloon Cactus


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 12 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4ā€ pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Balloon Cactus has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 7
Balloon Cactus has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower 2
Balloon Cactus has a Easy to propagate plant personality Easy to propagate 1
Balloon Cactus has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves 1
@Kidd213 avatar
@@Kidd213
leaf-1 19 Plants
xp 614 XP
08/10/2021

Sick

Fast grower Fast grower
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Survivor Survivor
@isabelle.rose avatar
@@isabelle.rose
leaf-1 45 Plants
xp 2,164 XP
globe Wauwatosa, WI
06/03/2021

it has never changed in size color or shape since I got it which I can’t tell if it’s good or bad

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