How to Grow Night Blooming Pipe Cactus

Transplant the pipe cactus to a new pot that has bottom drainage holes if the decorative nursery pot contains no holes. Lack of drainage results in soggy soil, which the plant can't tolerate. Use a pot the same size or one size larger than the old one. Place a drip tray beneath the pot.

Set the cactus in a window that receives full sunlight. If a full-sun location isn't available, choose an area that receives full morning sun and light afternoon shade.

Water the plant when the top 1 inch of soil no longer sticks to your finger when you insert it into the soil, but before the soil feels completely dry. Water until the excess drips from the bottom drainage hole and empty the excess water from the drip tray after watering.

Fertilize the pipe cactus monthly during the spring and summer with a balanced soluble fertilizer. Apply the fertilizer at half the rate recommended on the label for your pot size. Stop fertilizer applications during the winter when the cactus enters a period of slow growth.

Repot the cactus every two years. Lift the plant from the pot and rinse the old soil from the root system. Fill a new pot that is one size larger than the old one with a potting mixture containing 1 part sand, 1 part pine bark and 2 parts peat moss. Plant the cactus at the same depth at which it was growing previously.