As a cactus, light is my food. It is the energy source that powers my entire growth process through photosynthesis. If I am not growing, the most likely reason is that I am starving for light. You may think my spot on the bookshelf looks nice, but if it's far from a bright window, I am struggling. I will start to etiolate—this means I will stretch out, becoming thin and pale, reaching desperately for any light source. This weak, spindly growth is a sign of distress, not health. To truly thrive and produce new, compact, healthy segments, I need several hours of direct sunlight every day, preferably from a south or west-facing window. Without it, I simply do not have the fuel to grow.
My relationship with water is complicated. While I am drought-tolerant, my growth is entirely dependent on a careful balance. If you never water me, I will go into survival mode, using my internal reserves and ceasing all growth to conserve energy. Conversely, if you water me too often, the real danger sets in: root rot. Soggy, poorly-draining soil suffocates my roots, preventing them from absorbing nutrients and water. They literally drown and decay. Without healthy roots, I cannot support any new growth above the soil. Furthermore, if I am planted in rich, moisture-retentive potting soil instead of a gritty, fast-draining cactus mix, I am sitting in a swamp. My roots need to breathe, and they need a cycle of thorough watering followed by a period of complete dryness.
You must understand my natural cycle. I do not grow continuously all year round. During the winter months, when the days are shorter and the light is weaker, I enter a period of dormancy. This is a rest phase. My metabolic processes slow down significantly, and I will not produce any new growth. This is a normal and necessary part of my life cycle. Attempting to force growth during this time by fertilizing or increasing watering will only cause harm, potentially leading to rot. My active growing season is typically during the warmer, brighter months of spring and summer. Please be patient with me during my rest; I am not broken, I am simply sleeping.
My roots need space to expand. If I have been in the same pot for many years, I may have become pot-bound. This means my roots have completely filled the container, circling around and forming a tight mass. When there is no more room for my roots to explore, my above-ground growth will also halt. A container that is too large can also be problematic, as the excess soil holds too much moisture, leading back to the root rot problem. I need a pot that is just slightly larger than my root ball, with adequate drainage holes, to feel comfortable enough to put energy into new growth.
While I am not a heavy feeder, the soil I am in eventually becomes depleted of nutrients. If I have been in the same soil for a long time, there may be nothing left for me to absorb to support new cell formation. However, feeding me at the wrong time (like during dormancy) or with the wrong fertilizer (like a general-purpose one high in nitrogen) can burn my roots and cause abnormal, weak growth. I require a specific, diluted fertilizer formulated for cacti and succulents, applied only at the beginning of my active growing season. This gives me the gentle boost I need without causing harm.
