Plant Care Simpson Hedgehog Cactus

Simpson Hedgehog Cactus

4.8 out of 5 (32 experiences)

Simpson Hedgehog Cactus has a Survivor plant personality Survivor
Simpson Hedgehog Cactus has a Blooms easily plant personality Blooms easily

Also known as

Mountain Ball Cactus

Taxonomy

Pediocactus simpsonii
Pediocactus
Cactaceae
Caryophyllales

How to care for Simpson Hedgehog Cactus

💦 Water

How often to water your Simpson Hedgehog Cactus

Water needs for Simpson Hedgehog Cactus
0.5 cups
every 12

Simpson Hedgehog 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 Simpson Hedgehog Cactus

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Simpson Hedgehog Cactus in your home

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

Simpson Hedgehog Cactus love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Simpson Hedgehog Cactus does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Simpson Hedgehog Cactus

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

💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Simpson Hedgehog Cactus is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

Benefits of Growing Simpson Hedgehog Cactus →

Common Simpson Hedgehog Cactus Problems →


💦 Water Needs

Simpson Hedgehog 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.

Simpson Hedgehog Cactus Water Frequency →

Simpson Hedgehog Cactus Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Simpson Hedgehog 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 🏡.

Simpson Hedgehog Cactus Light Requirements →

Simpson Hedgehog Cactus Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Simpson Hedgehog Cactus is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.

Simpson Hedgehog Cactus Toxicity to Cats →

Simpson Hedgehog Cactus Toxicity to Dogs →

Simpson Hedgehog Cactus Toxicity to Humans →


💨 Humidity

Simpson Hedgehog 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.

Simpson Hedgehog Cactus Humidity Needs →


🪴 Soil

Simpson Hedgehog 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 Simpson Hedgehog Cactus →

When and How to Successfully Repot Simpson Hedgehog Cactus →


💩 Fertilizer

Simpson Hedgehog 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 Simpson Hedgehog Cactus →


🌎 Native Region

Simpson Hedgehog Cactus is native to North America.


🌸 Flowers

Yes, you may see your Simpson Hedgehog Cactus bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.

Simpson Hedgehog Cactus Flowers →


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Simpson Hedgehog Cactus grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

How and When to Prune Simpson Hedgehog Cactus →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Simpson Hedgehog Cactus can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 4a-7b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Simpson Hedgehog Cactus Temperature Tolerance →


🌱 Propagation

Simpson Hedgehog Cactus can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

  • Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
  • To get the cutting to root, you can either:
    • Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
    • Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

How to Propagate Simpson Hedgehog Cactus →


🧐 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 Simpson Hedgehog 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 Simpson Hedgehog Cactus

Simpson Hedgehog Cactus

Simpson Hedgehog 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

Simpson Hedgehog Cactus has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 25
Simpson Hedgehog Cactus has a Blooms easily plant personality Blooms easily 6
Simpson Hedgehog Cactus has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower 3
Simpson Hedgehog Cactus has a Easy to propagate plant personality Easy to propagate 2
Simpson Hedgehog Cactus has a Browns easily plant personality Browns easily 1
@Katieb1234 avatar
@@Katieb1234
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 100 XP
globe Brownhills, England
09/08/2021

This cactus grows cute little pink flowers in the spring time!

Blooms easily Blooms easily
@Thotticus avatar
@@Thotticus
leaf-1 4 Plants
xp 370 XP
globe London, OH
09/06/2021

Very prickly, but easy to take care of.

Blooms easily Blooms easily
Survivor Survivor
@millmolls avatar
@@millmolls
leaf-1 6 Plants
xp 262 XP
08/21/2021

easy to take care of and grow from seeds!

Survivor Survivor
@nayalin avatar
@@nayalin
leaf-1 2 Plants
xp 58 XP
globe Fullerton, CA
07/10/2021

super cute!

Survivor Survivor
@sidney_gia75 avatar
@@sidney_gia75
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 102 XP
globe Sioux Falls, SD
07/03/2021

This guy is a beast. If you forget to water a plant, A CACTUS is the answer. But if you’re the person who over waters a plant make sure you have drainage with a cactus or else it will die. Only thing i worry about is pets going to sniff it and pricks their nose. I’m on my toes when my pets are close by to my cactus. But overall not a hard plant to take care of!

Survivor Survivor
@sabrina.cheyenne avatar
@@sabrina.cheyenne
leaf-1 4 Plants
xp 312 XP
globe Sand Springs, OK
06/24/2021

Doesn’t really change

Survivor Survivor
@d4ni3113 avatar
@@d4ni3113
leaf-1 2 Plants
xp 90 XP
06/10/2021

Basically un-killable!

Survivor Survivor
@brooklynroberts avatar
@@brooklynroberts
leaf-1 6 Plants
xp 214 XP
05/22/2021

it is a pretty generic cactus, but it’s ADORABLE!

Survivor Survivor
@hammyjoesmom avatar
@@hammyjoesmom
leaf-1 6 Plants
xp 181 XP
05/15/2021

adorable, almost killed her a few times but she’s thriving

Fast grower Fast grower
Survivor Survivor
Browns easily Browns easily
@lilyyandow avatar
@@lilyyandow
leaf-1 45 Plants
xp 519 XP
globe Bedford, NH
02/16/2021

the other plant in the pot died but this one stayed alive and well and even seems to have grown a bit, also super cute

Survivor Survivor

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