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Moon Cactus

4.6 out of 5 (163 experiences)

Survivor

Fast grower

Also known as

Chin Cactus, Plaid Cactus and Rose Plaid Cactus

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Gymnocalycium mihanovichii

Genus

Gymnocalycium

Family

Cactaceae

Order

Caryophyllales

What other plant parents say

Survivor 119

Fast grower 23

Easy to propagate 20

Blooms easily 20

Pet friendly 17

Browns easily 7

Pest magnet 3

Large, lush leaves 3

@Cactusmomma

Zurich, ON

05/24/2021

This little guy is actually a sprout off my OG moon cactus. What they don’t tell you about moon cacti is that they’re actually two different cactus species put together. Eventually, because they’re a…

@Silasowo

06/12/2021

This plant is very resilient and even if you forget to water it for a bit, it’s very easy to bring back! On top of that, it’s very beautiful! One thing I recommend is getting succulent/cactus food as…

@Papi

05/28/2021

It’s always gonna depend on the species of the top half, but the scion on mine grows pups like crazy. Has survived some really clumsily harsh repottings. The soil was full of spider mights and webs…

@Lexie.h36

05/15/2021

The moon cactus was my first plant but I find that it grows brown spots, even when being properly taken care of. It doesn’t start to die, it just browns in certain spots. It also doesn’t stand up by …

@Skyejay

Green, OH

07/02/2021

I love this plant because it’s so beautiful and comes in a range of colors. I also love the science behind why it looks the way it does. They’re also easy to regrow once the host dies. They also don’…

@Jferluvscon…

Greensboro, NC

06/06/2021

I bought this little weirdo on the “I’m Almost Dead” rack at my local hardware store and brought him back and he doesn’t do much but he’s not flourishing either. He occasionally jabs me when watering…

@Elephantpla…

06/21/2021

This gal started off rough. Must have overwatered at first because I was sure the mushy stem was a tell tale sign this one wasn’t going to make it. Left it and now the stem is hardened again. DO NOT …

@Casey

La Plata, MD

04/30/2021

Very beginner friendly. Doesn't grow excessively fast and the color is very attractive. Does not require much attention as long as you place it near a window and water it when the soil gets very dry.

@Fuentesx61

Eagle Pass, TX

05/31/2021

I love how you can just leave this alone and just water it at least once every two weeks and it won’t even dry up. Very cute and easy to have around if you’re just getting started with house plants.

@Tori

Carmel, IN

02/17/2021

My moon cactus has gone virtually unchanged in the almost year I’ve had it. Super hardy and always colorful. Imperceptibly slow grower, which can be good or bad depending on what you want out of it!

How to care for Moon Cactus

Water

How often to water your Moon Cactus

Moon 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.