How much sunlight does my Thelocactus macdowellii need?

Thelocactus macdowellii 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 Thelocactus macdowellii like?

Thelocactus macdowellii 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 Thelocactus macdowellii?

Thelocactus macdowellii 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 Thelocactus macdowellii?

Thelocactus macdowellii 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 Thelocactus macdowellii native to?

Thelocactus macdowellii is native to Mexico .

Does Thelocactus macdowellii produce flowers?

Thelocactus macdowellii produces flowers in the wild, but does not flower when kept as houseplants.

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Thelocactus macdowellii

Q: How often should I water my Thelocactus macdowellii?

Thelocactus macdowellii 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.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Thelocactus macdowellii

Genus

Thelocactus

Family

Cactaceae

Order

Caryophyllales

How to care for Thelocactus macdowellii

Water

How often to water your Thelocactus macdowellii

Thelocactus macdowellii needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot located in San Diego, California.

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.

San Diego, California

49% Low

Growing Thelocactus macdowellii in San Diego right now

Plant growth potential is currently medium 👌

February 7th, 2023

Sunlight energy as measured by “net radiation” in San Diego is currently medium 👌.

The availability of high quality sunlight in your home impacts ability for plants to thrive and is key in determi…

Sunlight will increase by 33% ☀️

February 8th, 2023

San Diego is trending towards greater sunlight intensity!

The amount of sunlight in San Diego is expected to increase by 33% over the next 2 weeks to an average of 14.1 megajoules of energy per m^2…

Daylight will increase by 0.9 hours 📈

February 4th, 2023

This month, San Diego is getting an average of 9.3 hours of clear sky sunlight per day.

Hours of daylight will increase by 9% over the next two weeks. Your plants will get 10.9 total hours of dayl…

Light needs and placement for plant Thelocactus macdowellii: 1ft from a window

Thelocactus macdowellii love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive during this time of reduced sunlight intensity in San Diego, California ⛅.

Thelocactus macdowellii does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Nutrients

How to fertilize Thelocactus macdowellii

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

When to repot Thelocactus macdowellii

Is this a good time of year to repot? No ⏳

February 5th, 2023

The growing potential in San Diego is low 📉.

Repotting in late fall or winter when the day lengths are shorter can be very stressful for a plant and cause it to go into shock.

It's best to rep…