How to Care for a Curiosity Cactus

Select a location for your Curiosity Cactus that will allow plenty of room for the cactus to grow. The cacti can grow up to 10 feet tall and nearly 5 feet wide.

Select a location for your cactus that gets plenty of sunlight. Curiosity Cacti prefer full sun but can grow well in light shade.

Ensure that your cactus has proper drainage. Curiosity Cacti grow well in pots; place several inches of gravel in the bottom of the pot before planting and make sure that the pot has drainage holes in the bottom. If planting the cactus in the ground, plant it in soil with good drainage and, if possible, on a slight hill.

Water your cactus regularly. During hot months, the cactus will need to be watered twice a week. During mild months, water your cactus one or two times per month. During the peak of winter, you can skip watering.

Protect your cactus during the coldest winter months by covering the new growth on the tips of the stalks with Styrofoam cups. Cover the entire plant with a light, frost-shielding cloth.

Avoid pruning your curiosity cactus. Although cuttings are a convenient way to propagate the cactus, cutting the plant leaves behind a dry, brown scar that will never heal.

Use pesticides or insecticides only if absolutely necessary. The most common pests to curiosity cacti are scale or mealy bugs and can usually be handled effectively using insecticidal soaps.

Fertilize your cactus only if absolutely necessary (if your soil is extremely sandy and lacking in nutrition). If you do fertilize the cactus, use organic fertilizers such as fish emulsion.