How to Care for a Tiger Claw Cactus

Place a 1-inch layer of small gravel into the bottom of the terracotta pot. Add the cactus mix potting soil to the pot until there is a 2-inch gap between the top of the soil and the top of the pot.

Wrap newspaper around the tiger cactus to protect your hands from its spines. Add the tiger cactus to the potting soil, dig a hole in the center of the soil surface that is just deep enough for the cactus roots, then place the plant into the soil and fill up the hole.

Add a layer of small gravel to the top of the soil. This encourages drainage. Cactus plants have shallow root systems; if they are over-watered, they can develop root fungus or their stems with begin to rot and they will die.

Place the cactus out of direct sunlight. Do not water your tiger cactus for one week. The roots need this time to recuperate from being damaged during potting -- something that cannot be avoided.

Water the tiger cactus lightly, just enough to cover the gravel. Let the soil dry out between watering, and use lukewarm water. Place the tiger cactus in a window that gets full sun during the day, such as a window that is facing the south, east or west.

Keep the cactus at room temperature, or 72 degrees Fahrenheit. It can tolerate a temperature range of 50 degrees to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and a medium air humidity.

Monitor your tiger cactus. If you see small white bugs on the surface of the plant, dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol, then wipe the insects off with the swab. The alcohol should kill them.

"Feed" the cactus with one application of fertilizer in April, and one application of fertilizer in July.