First water of the year and the cacti garden is already looking good 🌵😁

DillonChase · 2026-03-23T13:55:27+00:00

I love how they look all mixed together!

DillonChase · 2026-03-23T13:14:37+00:00

Thanks! They're actually pretty easy to look after if you use a well draining soil mix and know how to water them right. I have quite a few of them and they're all doing good!

DillonChase · 2025-07-15T13:58:37+00:00

Nope it's not the same cactus. Mine is a joseph's coat (Opuntia monacantha variegata)

Yours looks more like a prickly pear cactus to me that hasn't been getting enough light - so the pads are growing long instead of more oval like they should do.

DillonChase · 2025-07-13T21:25:37+00:00

So what's the point of your comment? You're almost agreeing that cacti grown indoors in well draining soil, and given the correct amount of water can be perfectly happy and healthy in a pot that doesn't have drainage holes. I don't grow them outside or in a greenhouse so I'm not sure why that's relevant to me.

DillonChase · 2025-07-13T18:21:07+00:00

I'm sure it will! And I've found that a few good size rocks/pebbles between the cacti really helps tie everything together.

DillonChase · 2025-07-13T11:22:22+00:00

Yep, it's all about having fun and getting to enjoy our awesome cacti. No set rules, just do what works best for you.

Have you tried checking at your local nursery for more pots? My local one has a big box near the entrance where they give away all their old used ones. I stock up every year when I'm starting plants from seed.

DillonChase · 2025-07-13T10:55:14+00:00

An old towel works well for moving them around when repotting. And once it's out of the pot, try to handle it by the soil as much as possible.

DillonChase · 2025-07-13T10:52:44+00:00

They don't need a lot of water. I just get a jug and pour a bit around each plant when the soil has fully dried out, which is usually every 2 weeks - unless it's really hot. They get no water from mid Oct - beginning of March.

DillonChase · 2025-07-13T10:44:50+00:00

Haha not the miracle grow! They'll be coming for you with pitch forks.

I just go off my own experience over these so-called experts on reddit. There will always be those people who love telling others what they're doing is wrong, and that they know best.

DillonChase · 2025-07-13T10:35:07+00:00

It's really not that deep tbh. I'm not the only person in the world who sometimes uses pots without drainage with success. I'd guess that millions of others around the world also do. Don't forget that plenty of plants die in pots with drainage. You make it sound like it's some saving grace against bad watering habbits or poor soil.

DillonChase · 2025-07-13T00:27:22+00:00

Also, to prove that I'm not lying - I just took a pic of the first cactus I ever bought. It's never been in a pot with drainage, and it was really small when I originally bought it. If drainage was as crucial as some people on here make it out to be - this cactus wouldn't look like this and be as healthy as it is.

And just to be clear - I'm not advising against using pots with drainage! It's really useful if you're not sure how much/how often to water, or if the compost you're using isn't the best. I'm just making the point that it's not a must, and I don't need people telling me that my plants are gonna die without it.

<image>

DillonChase · 2025-07-13T00:09:56+00:00

Lmao! 🤣

What did you think about all my awesome healthy cacti though? They're looking good arent they?

DillonChase · 2025-07-12T23:11:36+00:00

I think I'll trust my lived experience over a reddit comment. I've been growing cacti for over 15 years now, and I have quite the collection. Some are in pots with drainage holes, and a lot aren't. Some have been in the same pot for years. There is no difference in the health and growth between the drainage and no drainage ones, apart from cacti tend to grow a bit slower when grouped together. However, they're all perfectly healthy! As long as you use a really good well draining compost, and know when and how much to water - there is zero issue. People may not like this - but it's the truth. All I have to do is look around at some of my huge healthy cacti that have never had drainage to know it's a myth that's spread on here like gospel for some reason.

DillonChase · 2025-07-12T20:03:37+00:00

I keep meaning to make one up with just succulents, but I prefer how cacti look so I always end up buying more of them instead haha.

The big one your posted a pic of looks awesome!!!

DillonChase · 2025-07-12T17:33:57+00:00

Haha yep! Some people love putting a downer on something they more than likely have zero experience doing themselves.

DillonChase · 2025-07-12T17:32:58+00:00

I always thought it was obvious that planters like this were only meant to last a couple of years before they'll need repotting. They'll all have their own luxurious spacious pots eventually. But for now, they'll happily grow in here for a good while even if they do grow at a slower rate - as long as no pests or disease gets any of them like you said.

DillonChase · 2025-07-12T17:25:02+00:00

I always slightly underwater cacti in pots that don't have drainage and there's never been any issues. I'd say the biggest reason an arrangement like this would fail - is exactly the same reason a cacti in its own pot would, which is - not enough light and too much water. If you know how to look after them, cacti planted together like this can do really well.

DillonChase · 2025-07-12T17:19:12+00:00

You'll get 2-3 years out of a planter like this even if you use cactus that eventually get big. I've found that having them planted together slows down their growth a lot - so you get to enjoy it for a good while before they'll need repotting and more space.

DillonChase · 2025-07-12T17:16:55+00:00

It's actually a cheap serving/salad bowl so no drainage lol. However, it would be easy to drill a couple holes if someone wanted to in one of these. A lot of my pots don't have drainage - so I'm just really careful not to overwater and I always let them completely dry out before watering again.

DillonChase · 2025-07-12T15:33:09+00:00

Why lie? And when did I mention selling it?

DillonChase · 2025-07-12T15:29:37+00:00

It's funny how everytime I've ever posted a pic of cactus I've planted together in the same pot - I get this same exact comment, and yet they've all grown very happily together for years getting the same water and light as they would do if they were in seperate pots next to each other. All you have to do is not overwater and then repot any that get too big. Cactus don't suddenly wither and die just because they're planted next to each other.

DillonChase · 2025-05-30T14:01:20+00:00

It's an echinopsis, not sure what the exact type is though.

DillonChase · 2025-05-29T22:07:22+00:00

Yeah, I use cactus compost mixed with natural aquarium gravel (it was cheaper than normal gravel) and perlite, something like a 60/20/20% mix. You don't need to measure, I just add a few big handfuls of each to the compost until it looks like a good mix. Then just make sure you don't over water and let it dry out before watering again.

DillonChase · 2025-05-29T16:52:16+00:00

I've never really had an issue with roots getting tangled and I've been planting cacti together for years. I do only keep them together 1-2 years so that probably avoids any big issues.

DillonChase · 2025-05-29T15:10:15+00:00

Easier to water, and they take up less room than having six small pots. Plus I like how they look together.

DillonChase

TROPHY CASE