r/cacti

Have quite a few Aloe and Cacti outdoors (all in pots) but it does get quite cold here in the fall and winter. Do I bring them inside for winter or just keep them dry outside? I love them and want them to survive. I do have extra Barrinas I could set them up with inside but until my house is more in order I have very limited plant space these days (collection is about 200 lol) but I’m in love with my new desert babies. Any advice welcome ☺️

In the last year or so I have gotten into potting cactus. I have an array of plants that I THINK are doing well, but could use some confirmation that I’m doing it right.

First off, I live in San Diego, CA where it is currently 103 degrees. Awful, but this is what we pay for I guess. I am born and raised in SD and it’s never been this hot at the beginning of October. It’s crazy.

Here are the plants that I think I have:

• Newly potted Prickly Pear (hence being in the shade)
• Golden Torch
• Another prickly pear and Peruvian Apple Cactus in the same pot
• Golden Barrel Cactus
• Another golden torch
• San Pedro
• Some prickly pear pad cuttings
• Madagascar Palm
• Fairy Castle

I have been relying upon my own internet research and AI (reluctantly) to get answers etc. But I want to move away from that. So the questions I have:

1. Do I in fact have all those plants?
2. They all sit in anywhere between 6 to 10 hours of sun a day. Is that a good amount for each one?
3. During the summer, I water them lightly, while watering other plants we have, every few days. Is that a good amount? What should it look like come fall/winter?
4. I fertilized them all last at the beginning of summer. Should I do it again before they go dormant? How about the freshly potted prickly pear, which I haven’t fertilized at all?
5. Any other tips/tricks/advice/etc?

I appreciate any and all help!

Got all these from Costa Farms at Walmart

I'm a beginner with everything plants and was given these cacti about 1-1.5yrs ago. They don't look very healthy and I'm not sure how to make their condition better.

I've kept them at my windowsill their whole life but recently learned the elongated and slanted shape (for reference, the 2 smaller cacti were tiny balls when they were bought) is due to lack of light, so I've recently been putting them outside for the day/most of the day. For their watering, I basically ignore them for a couple months and then give them a huge water, and repeat.

But now I'm wondering if they need re-potting, and/or to be in a larger pot. Do 5 cacti need a specific size pot to be together? My green thumb grandma suggested layering rocks and newspaper under the soil for drainage, that's why they're in a glass pot with no holes at the bottom. I'm open to any criticism, I'm very new to cactus care and would really appreciate any advice.