How is my cactus able to store water and why does it do it?

Much like a sponge. The fleshy stem has evolved to expand as it takes in water and shrink as it loses it. Succulent tissue helps with storing, but water retention with these plants is an entire symphony. Plants are covered with tiny pores called s... read more

Typically that is done during sunlight hours, but since water escapes trough them, cacti open the stomata during night when the desert is cooler to minimise water loss. Additionally their waxy skin is better at keeping moisture inside. The spikes act as protection from animals which would like to snack on the cactus for it’s vital water. read more

When do it’s time to water your cactus, do so until the soil is saturated and water is slowly dripping out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. This is the sign that the soil is thoroughly soaked and adding any additional water would be pointless – it would simply just run through more quickly. read more

water from the ground up: put the potted plant in a small dish, then water the dish - this allows the cactus to absorb water at a comfortable rate. stay aware of the weather, and increase/decrease water accordingly: direct sun in the summer will cause soil to dry more quickly, low winter sun creates low evaporation rates. read more