Does a Saguaro Cactus Need Water?

Planting

• When planting saguaro, add water to the planting hole, as suggested by the Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society. Dig a hole the same depth as the cactus was planted in its former location or in the container. Make the diameter twice the size of the root system. Place the saguaro inside the hole and add in half of the backfill. Pour water inside of the hole to moisten the soil. Pack the roots and apply the rest of the backfill.

Establishing

• Let the saguaro dry out a little by waiting two weeks before watering. Water once a week during the summer and every three weeks in the winter, as suggested by the Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society. Keep up this watering schedule for the first year so the cactus can establish a strong root system. After the first year, reduce the watering frequency. Saguaros have a large amount of storage for water. If the cactus was hydrated before it was planted, it will have an easier time establishing.

How to Water

• Do not water your saguaro deeply the first season that it has been plants, as recommended by Tucson Saguaro Online. Water your plant by filling a five gallon bucket with water. Create a hole in the bucket that is the diameter of a pencil. Place the bucket 3 to 4 feet away from the cactus. The point is to encourage the root system to spread out to the water. After a few months, move the bucket one foot away from the saguaro each month.

Problems

• One of the biggest threats to your saguaro's survival is over-watering. If your saguaro begins to discolor, limit the amount of water you are giving it. Check the base of the plant for root rot, a fungal disease that occurs when gardeners over-water their plants. The disease spreads from the cactus and causes the plant to rot from the inside out. Cut out diseased sections of the plant with a knife and apply a sulfur powder to help control infections.