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Watering 101
Watering 101 for Cacti and Succulents
The key here can be best articulated with one word:
"Balance".
The more sunlight a plant gets, the higher the demand for moisture and food.
Less sunlight, less moisture and food.
Most cacti live in arid conditions where rainfall is sporadic and ground moisture is almost non-existent. When it does rain, most of the moisture runs off very quickly without soaking the soil. So, these plants have evolved to grab what moisture they can very rapidly. Since the soil stays moist only for a short period of time, their root systems are not accustomed to being wet for extended periods.
This is why it is important to provide adequate drainage for cacti and succulents. We recommend using small stones or gravel in the bottom of your pots to help provide this drainage.
Also realize that the base of the plant is even less equipped to deal with excess moisture. This is why we recommend a stone mulch covering the potting mix as a top dressing. It not only helps keep needed soil in the pot, it also allows moisture to drain rapidly away from the base of the plant thereby reducing chances of fungal infection.
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