Try for Free
tab list
PictureThis
English
arrow
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Svenska
Polskie
ภาษาไทย
Bahasa Melayu
Bahasa Indonesia
PictureThis
Search
Search Plants
Try for Free
Global
English
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Svenska
Polskie
ภาษาไทย
Bahasa Melayu
Bahasa Indonesia
This page looks better in the app
picturethis icon
Instantly identify plants with a snap
Snap a photo for instant plant ID, gaining quick insights on disease prevention, treatment, toxicity, care, uses, and symbolism, etc.
Download the App for Free picturethis icon
Continue Reading
cover

How to Grow and Care for Old man cactus

Old man cactus, also known as White Persian cat cactus, Old man of Mexico

Old man cactus requires minimal maintenance, thriving in environments that provide bright light with some direct sun exposure. Special care should be given to watering; old man cactus prefers dry conditions, necessitating sparse watering only when the soil has completely dried out. Over-watering can lead to root rot, making this the most critical aspect to monitor for successful cultivation.

Icon water title

Watering schedule: Every 3 weeks

Icon water title

Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

In This Article

Planting and Growing Old man cactus

ToughnessHigh
Care LevelLow
Care DifficultyEasy
LifespanPerennial
Watering ScheduleEvery 3 weeks
Sunlight RequirementsFull sun
Soil TypeSucculent & Cactus Soil
Soil pH6-7
Planting TimeSpring, Early summer, Late summer, Fall
Hardiness Zones
9-12
Icon code

Scan QR code to download

Common Pests & Diseases

Common issues for Old man cactus based on 10 million real cases

Plant disease auto-diagnose & prevention
AI-powered plant doctor helps you diagnose plant problems in seconds.
Download the App for Free

More General Info About Old man cactus

Quickly Identify Old man cactus

Instantly identify plants with a snap
Snap a photo for instant plant ID, gaining quick insights on disease prevention, treatment, toxicity, care, uses, and symbolism, etc.
Download the App for Free
A unique columnar cactus, old man cactus boasts a distinctive presence with its dense, frosty-white hairy spines radiating around each stem, giving a soft, aged appearance. These spines are prominent on young plants but may partially shed with age. Usually forming tall clusters, it can reach impressive heights of 16 to 50 feet (5 to 15 meters). Hidden beneath the silvery hair are longer, sharper yellow spines. While mature plants might eventually bloom with nocturnal flowers, this spectacle happens rarely, potentially taking decades.
Old man cactus identify imageOld man cactus identify imageOld man cactus identify imageOld man cactus identify imageOld man cactus identify image
Learn More About Identifying Old man cactus

FAQs About Old man cactus

More Info on Old man cactus Growth and Care

Cultivate a Thriving Garden with PictureThis Guidance
Keep your plants happy and healthy with our guide to watering, lighting, feeding and more!
Download the App for Free
image

Plants with Same Care Needs

close
close
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
product icon
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
product icon
Nearly 5 years of research
product icon
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
ad
ad
Botanist in your pocket
qrcode
PictureThis Ios DownloadPictureThis Android Download
Scan the QR code with your phone camera to download the app