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Dog Tail Cactus

Reviewed by: Kiersten Rankel | Last Updated: 09/08/2022

4.3 out of 5 (9 experiences)

Survivor

Fast grower

Also known as

Deamia testudo and Strophocactus testudo

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Deamia testudo

Genus

Deamia

Family

Cactaceae

Order

Caryophyllales

How to care for Dog Tail Cactus

💦 Water

How often to water your Dog Tail Cactus

Dog Tail Cactus needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 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
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Dog Tail Cactus in your home

Dog Tail Cactus may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Dog Tail Cactus in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Dog Tail Cactus

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Dog Tail 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 Dog Tail Cactus after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #DogTailCactus

Care Summary for Dog Tail Cactus

Dog Tail Cactus

Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 3ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

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

What other plant parents say

Survivor 5

Fast grower 3

Easy to propagate 2

Browns easily 1

Pest magnet 1

@@aur0ra

21 Plants

1,921 XP

07/27/2021

not sure on this one, the growth is all sideways and even when i turn it away from the sun it doesn’t bend back up

Dog Tail Cactus plant photo by @aur0ra named Hettie on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Tadison

25 Plants

894 XP

Lancaster, PA

05/16/2021

This this will not die. I am horrible at keep plants alive, and so far he has been THRIVING for almost 2 years. Honestly watered probably less than 20 times in 2 years.

Survivor