Dog Tail Cactus
Kiersten Rankel
Kiersten lives in New Orleans, LA and graduated with her masters degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Tulane University in 2019.
She has conducted or assisted on research studies covering trees such as the bald cypress, swamp maple, and water tupelo, as well as important marsh grasses including Juncus, Spartina, and Phragmites.
Kiersten is a certified Louisiana Master Naturalist and regularly volunteers with local community gardens and nonprofits to help restore critical ecosystems along the Gulf Coast.
4.5 out of 5 (8 experiences)
Survivor
Fast grower
About Dog Tail Cactus
Dog Tail Cactus is a popular houseplant 🌿 that needs regular watering to thrive.
Plant parents describe this plant as being a survivor and a fast grower with a whopping 448 being grown with Greg around the world. Check out the reviews below for more details!🌟
Taxonomy
Deamia testudo
Deamia
Cactaceae
Caryophyllales
Also known as
Deamia testudo and Strophocactus testudo
How to care for Dog Tail Cactus
How often to water your Dog Tail Cactus
every 9
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
Finding light for Dog Tail Cactus in your home
a window
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 🏡.
How to fertilize Dog Tail Cactus
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.
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Hi! Does anyone in California want #plantmail of a dog tail cactus cutting? I am getting rid of my cactus plants, but would love to pay it forward with some cuttings if anyone wants to claim. The plant is much bigger than this old photo I have of it in my Oasis. #saturdayswaps
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Hi Planters I am trying to identify this type of plant that I have. I thought it was a Selenicereus chontalensis but I don't know exactly what it is. Maybe a Selenicereus testudo? I don't know please help, first time having 🌵
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Can she been saved? As good as I might seem with plants, I do mess up sometimes. A lot. I'm embarrassed to say that I hung my girl Kirara outside to soak up some sun on the east side of my house, and I thought she was doing well. Well, today I. found her like this. Now that I think of it, it's sunny there for longer than I thought. What a stupid mistake. Can she be saved? 🤦🏾♀️🥺 #plantsmakepeoplehappy #dogtailcactus #succulentsquad #succulentlove
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my cactus needs to be repotted but Im unable to get it w/out pulling on branches and its delicate. Could I give this guy a haircut or would that damage it #DogTailCactus
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I just noticed my dog tail cactus has so many baby growths. It's a very interesting plant! #freshleaffriday
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Cactus species identification help needed! Does anyone know what this plant is? I was given it as a gift with no label. It's very cute and is growing quickly 💗. I thought maybe mousetail cactus but they have rounded stems, these are like a 3 pointed star in cross section. #cactusclique
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what this is? 🫶🏼 Can anyone tell me what this is?? Is this in fact a dog tail?
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I think this is a dog tail cactus? Any good tips? #DogTailCactus
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Identify? 🤔 Can anyone help identify these two different cactus? #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #NewGrowth #GregGang
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A small piece of my dog tail cactus broke off 😕. How do u propagate? Thank you 😊
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
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
03/31/2021
Seems to be a slow growing plant. Kind of fussy as well. Overall a good plant though. Looks really cool!
Survivor
02/19/2021
Goes crazy in sauce
Fast grower
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Greg’s plant care information is derived from first-principles biology and physics and supported by peer-reviewed research, academic institutions, and industry experts. We are committed to providing the highest-quality plant care information available, so if you have any concerns about our content, feel free to reach out to our support.
- Plants for a Future. “Plant Database.” pfaf.org. N.p., n.d. Web.
- Encyclopedia of Life. “Encyclopedia of Life.” eol.org. N.p., n.d. Web.