Plant Care Caterpillar Cactus

Caterpillar Cactus

Taxonomy

Echinopsis spachiana f. cristata
Echinopsis
Cactaceae
Caryophyllales

How to care for Caterpillar Cactus

💦 Water

How often to water your Caterpillar Cactus

Water needs for Caterpillar Cactus
0.5 cups
every 12

Caterpillar 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 Caterpillar Cactus

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Caterpillar Cactus in your home

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

Caterpillar Cactus love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Caterpillar Cactus does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Caterpillar Cactus

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

Browse #CaterpillarCactus
💡 FAQs
💦 Water Needs

Caterpillar 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.

Caterpillar Cactus Water Frequency →

Caterpillar Cactus Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Caterpillar Cactus 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 🏡.

Caterpillar Cactus Light Requirements →

Caterpillar Cactus Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Caterpillar 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.

Is Caterpillar Cactus Edible? →

Caterpillar Cactus Toxicity to Cats →

Caterpillar Cactus Toxicity to Dogs →

Caterpillar Cactus Toxicity to Humans →


💨 Humidity

Caterpillar 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.

Caterpillar Cactus Humidity Needs →


🪴 Soil

Caterpillar 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 Caterpillar Cactus →

Best Pots for Caterpillar Cactus →

When and How to Successfully Repot Caterpillar Cactus →

What Are Healthy Caterpillar Cactus Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

Caterpillar 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 Caterpillar Cactus →


❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Caterpillar Cactus to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.


🌎 Native Region

Caterpillar Cactus is native to South America.


🌦️ Growing Outdoors
🧐 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 Caterpillar 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 Caterpillar Cactus

Caterpillar Cactus

Caterpillar Cactus


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 12 days

Placement

< 1ft 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.

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