Old Man Cactus
4.7 out of 5 (34 experiences)
Survivor
Fast grower
About Old Man Cactus
Old Man Cactus is a columnar succulent in the cactus family with spines that form fine white hairs that are reminiscent of an old man. It is native to Mexico but becoming more difficult to find in its natural habitat. It's a popular houseplant.
Taxonomy
Cephalocereus senilis
Cephalocereus
Cactaceae
Caryophyllales
How to care for Old Man Cactus
How often to water your Old Man Cactus
every 12
Old Man 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
Finding light for Old Man Cactus in your home
a window
Old Man Cactus love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.
Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Old Man Cactus does not tolerate low-light 🚫.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Old Man Cactus in your home 🏡.
How to fertilize Old Man 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 Old Man Cactus after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
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Broke piece off will it regrow #OldManCactus
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Can anyone tell me what's going on with him? I honestly think he's dying idk what to do. #oldmancactus #cacti #cactusclique
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"Cousin it" is the newest addition to my cactus family ❤️🌵 #OldManCactus
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Can these survive outdoors? #OldManCactus
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"A WIZARD IS NEVER LATE, NOR IS HE EARLY, HE ARRIVES PRECISELY WHEN HE MEANS TO."
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I would like to ask, i'm not sure it is an old man cactus, maybe a monkey tail? #OldManCactus
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Can anyone tell me what’s happening to my old Man Prickly Pear cactus? I’ve had it about 3-4 years. It’s inside in my sunroom. Thank you.
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What is the lime green tuft on my old man cactus? The Internet says blooms are pinkish. I am confused #oldman #cactusclique
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Old Man Cactus This is my first cactus. I am a cat lady but I do love this snow cactus I purchased almost a year ago. Unfortunately I do not know anything about the caring for cactus and I wish him to grow for a long time; happy and healthy. I assumed I was doing all I can to keep him healthy but it seems bright green limbs are falling off. Can anyone tell me if he is doing alright and what I can do to further keep him healthy?? #NewPlantMom
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How to handle? Hey all! My boss wants this dude to go to a new home, and my coworker loves cacti, so I'm gonna repot him to send him on his way. But how do you repot them when they're so untouchable? #OldManCactus
Care Summary for Old Man Cactus
Old Man 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 25
Fast grower 3
Browns easily 1
Easy to propagate 1
02/26/2022
Slow grower, water it once a month or when the soil is fully dry. Some of mine died fast
11/24/2021
Love it so much! It has so much character and like any cactus, pretty low maintenance as long as it gets enough light.
Survivor
09/13/2021
This cactus does not grow fast, but cats love it to groom on, dogs ignore it, and humans can forget it! It will still be that good old man that sits around, never aging.
Survivor
08/23/2021
You can literally pet this plant it’s so soft. Pretty much standard for the care of this plant in relation to other cacti.
Survivor
07/21/2021
Doesn’t grow too fast but has survived for years
Survivor
07/19/2021
It has grown so much and looks so beautiful
Fast grower
07/15/2021
It doesn’t sit very well in its soil and leans to the side. Can’t do too much about it as the needles get stuck in your fingers if you touch it.
Survivor
07/13/2021
It’s furry. Furrrrrrry.
05/16/2021
I know the spikes look small and harmless but those little guys sting like crazy, I knocked mine over once and stupidly tried to catch it. Long story short I was using tweezers for the next hour getting them out of my hand. But it’s really low maintenance and looks cute :)
Survivor
03/31/2021
This guy is super chill, doesn’t need a lot of attendance! Doesn’t need to be watered too often and seems to be growing little by little.
Survivor
02/13/2021
Old man cactus is endangered but it can live up to 200 years, the hair has also been used for fabric.
Survivor
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