How to Grow a Cactus in Zone 4

Perhaps you were an iguana in a previous life, or maybe you just love the desert and the wide variety of plants that grow in hot, arid environments. Even if you live in a northern clime, certain cacti are more tolerant of cold weather than you might imagine. And others can be grown as houseplants in a warm, dry room with plenty of sunlight. U.S. Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zone 4 encompasses regions with winter temperatures that can drop as low as 30 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, but cacti exist that can survive these extremes.

Unglazed terra cotta pots
Peat moss or coir
Compost
Sand or grit
Broken crockery
Balanced fertilizer
Pruning shears or scissors

Instructions

- 1
  Plant cold-hardy cactus in an unglazed terra cotta pot that has a drainage hole.
- 2
  Combine equal parts compost and coir or peat moss, 1/4 part sharp sand or grit, and 1/4 part small broken pieces of crockery. Fill the terra cotta pot to a level that will allow the plant's roots to rest comfortably, with the base of the plant about ½-inch below the pot's rim.
- 3
  Set the cactus in the pot and fill with additional potting mix. Pat it down gently with your fingers and irrigate until water runs out of the drainage hole. Keep the plant in a sunny location.
- 4
  Water the cactus once a week during summer, but limit it to once a month in winter. Do not allow the roots to become completely dry. Water more often during very hot weather.
- 5
  Fertilize the cactus once a month from May until September. Apply a balanced fertilizer mixed to half strength.
- 6
  Re-pot the cactus every two to three years. After it is removed from its pot, cut off all roots that are rotted or damaged, using pruning shears or scissors. Use a slightly larger pot and fresh potting mix. Do not re-use the old medium.

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