Is the cactus poisonous? Water it this way for healthy growth

If you are a beginner at growing plants, or a lazy plant owner, the cactus is surely the most suitable choice. Whether in the cold of winter or the heat of summer, the cactus grows very well. Besides being easy to care for, a potted cactus can also help purify the air. So is the cactus poisonous? How should you water it so it grows well?

1. Is the cactus poisonous?

1. Is the cactus poisonous?

The cactus has spines on its surface and looks cool; it really does look like a poisonous plant, but the cactus is not poisonous. Not only that, the cactus also has certain medicinal and edible value. As early as the "Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica," there are records of the cactus being used as medicine, with certain effects on acute dysentery, stomach problems, asthma and so on. The fruit pulp of the cactus tastes sweet and sour and is juicy; it can be eaten directly. We generally see on adventure programs that many explorers, when they have no food, often pick cactus fruit or cut it open directly to drink its juice. Nowadays there are also methods of processing the fresh fruit into alcoholic beverages or canned goods, with a very unusual taste. All of this is enough to prove that the cactus is not poisonous, so everyone can rest assured keeping it as a potted plant at home.

2. Can a cactus be placed in the bedroom?

A cactus can be kept in the bedroom; it not only decorates the bedroom environment and relieves eye strain, but also absorbs harmful gases from the air and releases more oxygen. However, it is worth noting that a potted cactus placed in the bedroom should not be too large, and should not be placed somewhere children can reach it, since it is spiny; if you accidentally touch it, it is still very painful.

However, the cactus is a light-loving plant. For the cactus to grow better, it is recommended to place it on a windowsill or balcony where there is plenty of light.

2. How should you water a cactus so it grows well?

1. In spring and autumn, just water thoroughly

In spring and autumn the air humidity is normal and the temperature is not very high either. When watering, you can determine the amount of water based on how moist the potting soil is. Do not make the watering intervals too short, otherwise too much water will accumulate and cause root rot; if a cactus with root rot is not dealt with in time, it will rot away. So in spring and autumn, watering once every two weeks is enough, with the specifics depending on the cactus's growth conditions.

2. In summer, watering frequency can be appropriately increased

The cactus is drought-tolerant, but in summer the air humidity is low and water evaporates quickly, so appropriately increase the watering frequency according to the cactus's growth conditions; this also helps the cactus produce beautiful flowers. If it is kept outdoors for a long time, it can be appropriately moved indoors at noon. To increase air humidity, you can also appropriately spray a little water around the potted cactus to cool it down.

3. In winter, water less or not at all

In winter the temperature drops noticeably and the humidity is relatively high, so in winter you can reduce the watering frequency or not water at all, keeping the potting soil moist but on the dry side. If you want the cactus to overwinter safely, you must pay attention to this detail of watering.

From this article we can learn that the cactus is not poisonous and can also be kept in the bedroom. Normally, watering should be quantified and its frequency determined according to the moisture of the potting soil and the season.