Although cacti are plants that are characterised by not needing much water to survive, it is evident that the total absence of water would kill them. We must be careful when watering our cacti, because excess water can be fatal

There is never an exact answer when it comes to knowing the frequency of watering the cacti, it depends not only on the type of cactus, but also on the substrate and the climate.

Like all succulent plants, cacti have the ability to store water inside. This means that the larger the cactus, the more water it is able to retain, and therefore the longer it is able to resist without irrigation.

Not all materials retain moisture in the same way. A plastic pot or container, especially if it is partially or completely transparent, lets in the sun's rays and retains much less moisture. The mud, on the other hand, is porous and favours perspiration, but does not let the sun pass through, so watering will be necessary less frequently.

Obviously, the local climate is one of the most influential factors. The intensity of the sun's rays, the environmental humidity and the temperature are decisive when it comes to seeing how much moisture the cactus loses. In hot climates you will need to water your cactus more often, while climates with high humidity will need to be watered less frequently.

In conclusion, we can say that you should water a cactus only when the substrate has dried beyond the surface layer, since the roots do not tolerate being always wet, and in case of high humidity they will rot.

For those less used to these types of plants, knowing when to water a cactus may not be easy, and it is easy to make the mistake of watering it too much or too little. If you do not know if your cactus is dry, notice if it seems to lose volume due to lack of stored water and wrinkles, or if you see your cactus yellow or brown.

One way to check for yourself is to put your finger in the substrate or soil of the cactus, with a couple of centimeters to check the humidity level: if something wet comes out, it does not lack water, but if it comes out dry it needs water and your cactus is drying up.

If the lack of water is still not very serious, it will be enough to water, paying attention to the speed with which the soil absorbs the water. Do not wet the substrate too much or you will cause rotting of its roots.

If your plant begins to wrinkle, losing volume as if it were deflated, it is an unequivocal symptom of lack of watering in cactus, so you will have to water it a little more.