Moon cactus lifespan is about one year to three years. However there could be certain Moon cactuses which would live for about five years.
Moreover, there are some moon cactus with short lifespan about a few months.
On the other hand, if we take cactus in general, they will stay alive for about one to twenty decades. When compared to normal cactus, moon cactus life span is very short.
Despite their short life span, anybody would love to have moon cacti due to their uniqueness.
So, from this article we will learn more about Moon cactus life span. Further we will learn the best methods to treat them.
Why is the moon cactus lifespan short?
Moon cactus live short due to the incompatibility of the two plants which were grafted together. You can more about moon cactus grafting in here.
Moon cactus do not require a lot of care, treatment and maintenance just like the other cactus and all succulents in general.
They will thrive well if we supply their basic growing requirements. Having said that, that does not mean that they could live longer.
As aforesaid, moon cactus live short due to their incompatibility with the two plants used for the grafting process.
Moreover, when rootstock outgrows from the pot, top part tend to die soon. That would be the most prominent reason .
Normally, grafted plants live longer. However, rootstock (base part) and scion (top part) combination make it incompatible for the moon cactus to live longer.
The growth rate of these two plants is also in contrast to each other and it makes the root stock of the cactus grow faster than scion. This is what causes the moon cactus to perish soon.
How to treat moon cactus for maximum life
Watering
Moon cactus have a very insignificant requirement when it comes to watering. In fact they do not require frequent watering.
In addition to this, moon cactus would perform well when they are not exposed to an abundance of rainfall too.
Consider that if you live in an area where your cactus will be exposed to frequent rain, then the most ideal thing to do is to place them in a covered porch in case you have located them outdoors.
You could identify whether your moon cactus require water simply by checking their soil and feeling it.
In case you think the dirt is dry and dusty, you need to water them mildly. Avoid watering them too much though.
You need to avoid over watering them unless that would make the potting soil waterlogged and soggy. Further it would attribute the potting soil to run over from the pot edges also.
As such, avoid over watering the moon cactus as that would make the cactus sit in soggy dirt.
Apart from that, you need to avoid watering the older moon cactus entirely during the winter season.
When I say older moon cactus, it would be one year and above aged cactus. Consider that you have young moon cactus, then you need to water them lightly during the winter season.
Lighting
In terms of providing light for moon cactus, it is vital that you provide them bright and indirect sunlight for them to thrive well.
Having said that, grafted cactus on the top could thrive in shade and they are not dependent on direct sunlight.
Moreover, the green stem cactus would require more direct sunlight. As such, you need to make sure that you provide the right amount of sunlight to the moon cactus to perform well.
When you grow them indoors, the best recommended place to locate them would be near a bright and sunny spot at your house.
Ideally by a window which could allow the cactus to gain bright light and direct sunlight for some extent.
Do not expose the moon cactus for too bright and intense sunlight unless it could contribute to burns in the cactus.
Temperature
When it comes to the temperature requirements of the moon cactus, they would prefer to grow in warmer temperatures.
In fact They would love to grow in room temperatures. Do not expose the cactus for too much heat as it could harm the cactus.
Consider that you live in an area where the USDA zone is 10 or 11, then you may grow it as an outdoor plant without any hassle.
You only need to locate them in a bright location which has a partial shade when you have to grow them outdoors.
Further, if you live in temperate climates, you could simply relocate the pots outdoors during summer.
When the temperature decreases during nighttime, you could shift the pots indoors.
On the other hand, if you are growing moon cactus as indoor plants, do not place them near cold drafts such as open-windows air conditioners and even at places where the plant will get direct heat as well.
Moreover, keep in mind that moon cactus cannot thrive in temperatures below 48 degrees Fahrenheit. (9 degrees Celsius).
Humidity
You do not have to supply an excess amount of moisture for the moon cactus to thrive well. They would prefer to be in conditions where they get a moderate level of humidity.
Having said that, they could also thrive well in low levels of humidity as well. I would encourage misting the moon cactus also slightly as it would help to make the cactus stay healthy without making the soil wet.
Soil
When it comes to the right soil mix for the moon cactus, it is important that you provide them with a soil mix which has a good aeration, and which is well draining.
It has to be ideally a sandy soil mix as that would allow the water to move through well.
Moreover, you could consider adding pebbles, small stones as that would create a suitable soil mix for the moon cactus to thrive well. The ph. of the right soil mix for them would be acidic to neutral.
Fertilizer
You may not feed the moon cactus on a frequent basis as long as you are using a right soil mix.
Having said that, it is always best to feed the moon cactus once a month during their growing season as that would stimulate the grafted cactus to thrive well.
As such you could consider using an organic based cactus fertilizer whilst adhering to the labelled instructions.
When you feed, I would suggest you flush the soil as that would help to avoid the minerals build up in the soil.
Unless it would attribute the cactus to have a stunt growth. On the other hand, if you feed them too much that would also cause the cactus to deteriorate and turn yellow.
Moreover, avoid feeding the moon cactus during both winter and in fall.
Conclusion
Despite what you do to take care of the moon cactus, you would come across issues as aforesaid. As such continue to give them their essential basic growing conditions.
Consequently, they will grow well and stay alive for a longer period. Growing moon cactus is fun and it would add so much beauty to your entire landscape.
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