How Fast Do Cactus Grow? If you have a cactus, you are interested in how fast it will grow and how big it will grow over time. It is good to know this so that you can plan where to put it and decide which plant to grow next to. How fast do cacti grow, how long do they grow in a year or even a few years when they grow?
Most cacti grow slowly and reach a height of 1-3 cm in one year, in 6-12 months the size of a big marble, depending on the species. There are a few notable exceptions that can reach 15 centimetres or more, but most of them grow 1 / 3 cm taller than these in years.
Echinocacti, such as the golden cactus, grow on average 1-2 cm per year, with some species 1.2 cm per year.
The Saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) grows 2 – 15 cm per year and can reach a height of 40 m (40 ft.). In this article we have given some tips that can speed up growth, but breeding full-size cacti will actually be a waiting game for most species.
Why Do Cacti Grow So Slowly?
To understand why cacti grow slowly, there are two main factors that need to be considered. Firstly, they are the most common plant species in the world and also one of the oldest plant species that exists.
As a result, their energy is focused on survival, not rapid growth, and they have survived many droughts and extreme heat. When survival was the priority, cacti died from lack of oxygen and water before they had the opportunity to reproduce. Read more about the amazing way cacti have adapted to survive and read more about their amazing way to survive.
It is important to note that not all cacti live in dry climates, but there is a subgroup called jungle cacti that have adapted to a drier climate than the cactus we commonly associate with “desert cacti.”
The second factor is the leaves, or rather their absence, and this can vary in size, shape and thickness. Most plants with flowers have leaves and some are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, from small to large, as well as in various sizes and shapes.
Leaves contain chemicals that convert sunlight into energy that the plant can use, and most plants grow up to 1,000 times faster than plants without leaves such as trees and shrubs.
Cacti have no leaves or branches, but areoles and thorns, which play a role in the energy production of the plant. Leaves are a sign that a plant loses too much water too quickly, and cacti tend to delay their growth due to lack of water and energy loss from their leaves.
How Fast Do Cactus Grow?
This milestone requires that the cactus is placed in an environment that is not too cold or too warm, receives the right amount of sunlight and is watered and otherwise cared for if necessary. Let’s start by discussing the different stages of plant growth, from seedlings to mature plants to adult cacti.
…In A Month?
Like many plants, cacti begin their life as flowers or seeds, and it can take several weeks to months before the seedling germinates. If you are lucky, you can find a cactus spine that will start to grow within a month. However, not all cacti have spines, so you should not expect much, if not any growth, in the first few days.
Some species are looking for a seedling to emerge from the dirt, and in many cases it can take two to three months to reach this growth level. If you see nothing growing within a month, wait until the seedlings have thorns and there is a sting on them.
For some cacti this is crucial, so make sure they are ventilated better and water them as soon as the soil becomes dry. During the growth phase it is important to remove the plaques that are present on the cacti during the day.
These two points will be discussed later in this article, as well as other aspects of the growth phase of cacti, such as the number of plants and the amount of water.
…In Six Months?
After six months your cactus is no bigger than a slightly larger marble, but if you continue to care for it, it will grow.
An unusually slow growth rate may seem to make you nervous, but there is no need to panic. Slow growth is typical of many plants, especially those with high root counts, such as cacti and shrubs.
…In A Year?
It is not uncommon for a cactus to still produce marble at 12 months, and even more so at 18 months, according to a recent study.
When you reach this milestone, move the cactus into a separate pot, no matter how long it takes, and pull into larger containers so that the growth can continue.
…In 30 Years?
Cactus growth may change over the years depending on the species, but the Saguaro cacti, which originate from the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, can grow quite tall.
A Saguaro can grow up to 1.80 meters in size during its life and produce its own flowers due to the long growth process. I joke when I say that growing a cactus is like waiting, but it will usually happen in 30-35 years.
What Can Impede Growth Even More?
Although cacti are generally slow, there are some things that can be done to make them grow even slower. Here is a list of problem areas that need to be considered and corrected, as well as some tips and tricks.
Never leave It In A Too Small Container
When a cactus reaches the size of a large marble, it needs a new home, but the good news is that it only needs nutrients to survive and grow for a small-time, generally months to a year.
Remember that cacti need to be moved more than once to allow them to continue to grow, so that they can be relocated home several times. If your container is too small, you can limit its growth potential so that it does not die, but only for a short time.
Over stressing The Cactus
Just as people go through a grueling process when moving, so do cacti. They need time to recover, to recover from direct sunlight for a few days and then, when they arrive in a new container, a little time in the shade.
Let the cactus roots attach to their new home and then place them in a shade pot in the sun for a gradually longer time.
Overwatering
If the cacti are not watered, the water is excreted much faster than is required by the natural desert environment. If not cast, they can spread water in the form of sand, sandstone, gravel, clay or even sand.
Depending on the age and type, it can take up to a month for the cactus to be watered again, and even longer for it to grow.
We have a useful article on how to water cacti if you want to know more, but it can be difficult to say whether to water your cactus, which is the first. The pouring can hinder growth, even if it does not directly kill the cactus. If it gets too much water, it can be symptomless for a few days or even weeks or even months.
In some cases the cactus grows and grows larger, in other cases it shrinks back to its original size after a few weeks or even months.
It gives you the impression that you do everything right, but very quickly everything goes wrong and you have to give up.
The roots of the cactus cannot absorb too much water, otherwise they die and it will not survive. A few roots may not be a big deal, but otherwise it’s a sign that she might be doing well. One might notice a scene in which the cactus slowly dies, and when it begins to die, one knows that it will die.
Gentle touch can also be a sign of good health, as well as an indication of a good growth rate of the cactus.
Unfortunately, there is no way to turn the whole plant around, so it will die here, and unfortunately it does. The more experience you have with growing cacti, the more you realize that they grow fast and large, which is often a bad sign.
Keeping Your Cactus Covered For Too Long
It is generally best to cover cactus seedlings for germination and early growth, but you can also keep them warm to improve their chances of successful germination. Increase the moisture and keep the seedling warm during the first days of its life, which improves its chances of successful germination.
If the cover is not removed in time, it can damage the cactus, especially if it has only just started to grow. Lack of ventilation can inhibit growth and possibly even kill the cactus.
How To Speed Up Cactus Growth
If you have avoided the above pitfalls and your cactus is still not growing fast enough to meet your needs, you have speed on your side. In a way, the process of the plant, but also you and the plants around you, can cause many problems.
Our suggestions:
Always make sure your cactus has a container that is more spacious than it needs and keep the growth process going slowly but surely. This gives you more than enough room to grow, but you also need to move it less frequently to reduce stress.
Use a well-drained pot mixture of 1 / 2 cup water and 2 cups soil (planted potting soil is ideal, but use what you want).
This reduces the amount of water needed, which can cause considerable damage to the plant and slow its growth.
As you will remember, too much moisture is a cactus root killer, so read this article about choosing the perfect soil for your cacti. A sunny environment is ideal for the growth of cACTI, but not too hot or too cold, just right for the plant.
Find a bright spot and place your cactus there, it will turn around within a week after the whole plant gets some sunlight.
Space cacti thrive at temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, so keep the right temperature for your cactus to survive. It is good for cacti outdoors, but beware of excessive heat and direct sunlight if you keep them in a south-facing window.
At 65 degrees, the threshold rises to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and then to 90 degrees in summer, with a maximum temperature of 100 degrees for winter.
Use succulent fertiliser for cacti in spring and summer, but liquid, low-nitrogen products should be liquid or low-nitrogen.
