How much sunlight does my Monk's Hood Cactus need?

Monk's Hood 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 🏡.

How much humidity does Monk's Hood Cactus like?

Monk's Hood 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.

What type of soil should I use for my Monk's Hood Cactus?

Monk's Hood 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!

Should I fertilize my Monk's Hood Cactus?

Monk's Hood 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!

Which region is Monk's Hood Cactus native to?

Monk's Hood Cactus is native to North America .

Does Monk's Hood Cactus produce flowers?

Monk's Hood Cactus produces flowers in the wild, but does not flower when kept as houseplants.

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Monk's Hood Cactus

Q: How often should I water my Monk's Hood Cactus?

Monk's Hood 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.

4.7 out of 5 (9 experiences)

Survivor

Fast grower

Also known as

Bishop's Cap, Star Plant and 'Star Cactus' - 'Bishop's Cap'

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Astrophytum ornatum

Genus

Astrophytum

Family

Cactaceae

Order

Caryophyllales

How to care for Monk's Hood Cactus

Water

How often to water your Monk's Hood Cactus

Monk's Hood 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.

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

Light

Check the growing potential in your area

A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.

Select a city to check sunlight intensity

Finding light for Monk's Hood Cactus in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Monk's Hood Cactus: 1ft from a window

Monk's Hood Cactus love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Monk's Hood Cactus does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Monk's Hood Cactus in your home 🏡.

Nutrients

How to fertilize Monk's Hood Cactus

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

FAQs

Water Needs

Sunlight Needs

Toxicity

Humidity

Soil

Fertilizer

Native Region

Flowers

Care Summary for Monk's Hood Cactus

Monk's Hood 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.

What other plant parents say

Survivor 8

Fast grower 1

@Hannah

5 Plants

206 XP

Auckland

08/05/2021

I love cacti like this one because they never die. Has been brown at the bottom for probably a year now and not sure why but it’s still fine

Survivor

Monk's Hood Cactus plant photo by Hannah named Gobi on Greg, the plant care app.

@@juno

5 Plants

99 XP

08/03/2021

this mf hasn’t grown at ALL but at least it isn’t dead 👍

Survivor

Monk's Hood Cactus plant photo by @juno named Ebony Dementia Darkness Raven Way on Greg, the plant care app.

@@nostalg.iia

68 Plants

969 XP

06/19/2021

This is a great resilient plant, it looks very cool and it does well on a windowsill.

Survivor

Monk's Hood Cactus plant photo by @nostalg.iia named Architect on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Emilbee

17 Plants

1,344 XP

North Vancouver, British Columbia

05/28/2021

Watch out for spider mites. But once I treated Spike, no pests seem to have come back (yet)!! He is soo cute but careful of his sharp thorns! 🌵

Survivor

Monk's Hood Cactus plant photo by @Emilbee named Spike on Greg, the plant care app.

@Jazzmin

6 Plants

127 XP

05/16/2021

Painful spikey spikes

Survivor

Monk's Hood Cactus plant photo by Jazzmin named Sid on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Cjsplanties

23 Plants

841 XP

05/15/2021

They don’t grow very quickly but they also do not provide much care. Just place them in a window and forget them for awhile, come back to ‘slightly’ bigger cactus!

Survivor