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Crested Golden Rat Tail

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Cleistocactus winteri f. cristata

Genus

Cleistocactus

Family

Cactaceae

Order

Caryophyllales

How to care for Crested Golden Rat Tail

💦 Water

How often to water your Crested Golden Rat Tail

Crested Golden Rat Tail 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.

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

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Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Crested Golden Rat Tail in your home

Crested Golden Rat Tail love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Crested Golden Rat Tail does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Crested Golden Rat Tail in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Crested Golden Rat Tail

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Crested Golden Rat Tail: 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 Crested Golden Rat Tail after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Cleistocactus

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Crested Golden Rat Tail 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.

Crested Golden Rat Tail Water Frequency →

Crested Golden Rat Tail Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Crested Golden Rat Tail requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Crested Golden Rat Tail Light Requirements →

Crested Golden Rat Tail Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Crested Golden Rat Tail 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.

Crested Golden Rat Tail Toxicity to Cats →

Crested Golden Rat Tail Toxicity to Dogs →

Crested Golden Rat Tail Toxicity to Humans →

💨 Humidity

Crested Golden Rat Tail enjoys lots of humidity. Provide humidity for your plant by watering regularly and thoroughly, since plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves. They may also benefit from being placed next to a humidifier.

Crested Golden Rat Tail Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Crested Golden Rat Tail 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 Crested Golden Rat Tail →

When and How to Successfully Repot Crested Golden Rat Tail →

💩 Fertilizer

Crested Golden Rat Tail 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 Crested Golden Rat Tail →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Crested Golden Rat Tail can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Crested Golden Rat Tail Temperature Tolerance →

🧐 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.

😖 Common Issues

Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with Crested Golden Rat Tail. 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!