How to Grow Teddy Bear Cactus as a Houseplant This Fall

The teddy bear cactus (Cylindropuntia bigelovii), also known as the teddy bear cholla, is a large cactus native to Mexico and the southwestern United States. Don’t let its adorable name and seemingly fuzzy exterior fool you: this cactus is known for its propensity to attach itself to the skin and clothes of passing humans and animals. Its long barbed stems can be tricky (and painful) to remove, so giving these cacti lots of space is generally a good idea.

Despite its prickly personality, this tree-like cactus makes a beautiful addition to any landscape or garden. It grows yellow flowers in the spring and summer, and its long, dense spines give it a glowing appearance when the sun sets behind it. If you’re feeling brave, small teddy bear cacti can even be grown indoors as houseplants.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to grow and care for teddy bear cactus.

Warning

Always wear thick gardening gloves or work gloves before handling a teddy bear cactus. Wearing long sleeves and pants is also a good idea for added protection if you are working with a large plant.

Common Name	Teddy bear cactus, teddy bear cholla, jumping cholla
Botanical Name	Cylindropuntia bigelovii (previously Opuntia bigelovii)
Family	Cactaceae
Plant Type	Cactus, tree, shrub
Mature Size	7 ft. tall, 5 ft. wide.
Sun Exposure	Full
Soil Type	Sandy, well-drained
Soil pH	Acidic, neutral
Bloom Time	Spring, summer
Flower Color	Yellow, green
Hardiness Zones	9-11, USDA
Native Area	North America

Teddy Bear Cactus Care

Here are the basic requirements for growing teddy bear cactus:

• Plant in a location that receives several hours of direct sunlight.
• Grow in sandy, well-draining soils.
• Allow the soil to dry thoroughly between waterings. If grown outdoors, no supplemental watering is required. Indoors, the soak-and-dry method is best.

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Light

Teddy bear cacti require full sun. Choose a location with several hours of direct sunlight to keep your teddy bear cactus happy. If you are growing this cactus indoors, a south-facing window is best.

Soil

Like most cacti, the teddy bear cactus is sensitive to overwatering, so well-drained soils are necessary to keep water away from the roots. Opt for sandy mixes or soils explicitly designed for growing cacti and succulents. Avoid planting these cacti in locations with heavy clay soils or areas prone to excessive moisture.

Water

These cacti are highly drought-tolerant and prefer that the soil dries thoroughly between waterings. When grown outside, this means that they will not need any additional watering between regular rainfalls.

When grown indoors, always err on the side of underwatering rather than overwatering. These cacti can survive for months without watering, so going a few weeks at a time is no big deal for them. When it is time to water, use the “soak-and-dry” method to give your plant a good drink.

Temperature and Humidity

The teddy bear cactus prefers warm, dry conditions. Too much humidity can be just as damaging to this plant as overwatering. It is hardy in USDA zones 9 to 11. In other regions, it must be brought indoors during the cold fall and winter months or grown indoors year-round.

Fertilizer

These cacti aren’t considered heavy feeders but can still benefit from some added nutrients during the growing season. Applying a slow-release fertilizer is a great option when growing teddy bear cacti outdoors. Indoors, liquid fertilizers can be used during watering. Be sure to choose a low-nitrogen fertilizer (5-10-10 blend) to support this plant’s unique needs.

Propagating Teddy Bear Cactus

The teddy bear cactus is known for how easily it propagates. Its spiny branches readily detach and root wherever they land, which is how it earned the nickname “jumping cholla.”

Very little, if any, intervention is required to encourage a happy teddy bear cactus to propagate and grow new plants around it. However, if you’d like to control the process and manually propagate your plant, here’s how.

1. Wear a thick pair of gardening gloves or work gloves, and use a sharp, clean knife to take a cutting from a healthy part of the plant.
2. Allow the cut end to callous over for 12 to 24 hours.
3. Prepare a pot with sandy, well-draining potting soil, plant the cutting in the soil, and cut the side down.
4. Place the potted cutting in a warm location that receives direct light (one to two hours is okay). Do not water.
5. Once the cutting has started developing roots, you can begin watering it and acclimating it to full sun conditions. Use the soak-and-dry method for watering and gradually move the plant into increasingly brighter locations.

Potting and Repotting Teddy Bear Cactus

If you grow a teddy bear cactus in a pot, it must be repotted once it outgrows the container—usually once every few years. Since handling these cacti can be tricky, repotting them must be done carefully. Wear thick gardening or work gloves to protect your hands while repotting a teddy bear cactus.

Here is how to repot a teddy bear cactus:

1. If you are repotting the plant indoors, lay a tarp or repotting mat on the floor.
2. Lay the cactus on its side and remove the pot while the plant is lying down. If the pot is difficult to remove, try gently wiggling it away from the roots or using a small spade to loosen the roots from the edge of the pot.
3. Brush away as much old soil as possible and loosen the root ball if compacted.
4. Choose a new pot two to four inches wider than the previous one. If you are working with a large plant, remember that a heavy pot may be needed to balance it and keep it upright. Terracotta planters and ceramic pots are popular choices.
5. Fill the bottom of the new pot with well-draining potting soil and lift the cactus into the new pot. Get someone to help if needed.
6. Fill the rest of the pot with fresh soil, patting down firmly around the roots.
7. Water the freshly repotted teddy bear cactus thoroughly, allowing the excess water to drain from the pot.
8. Return the plant to its original location.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Teddy bear cholla are virtually pest and disease-free. That said, keep an eye out for mealybugs, who love congregating in this branched cactus's creases.

Root rot is another common problem to watch out for. Mushy stems or roots and waterlogged soil can identify it.

Common Problems With Teddy Bear Cactus

Teddy bear cacti are hardy plants that are relatively problem-free once established. Problems with this plant usually occur due to improper watering or sun exposure.

Mushy stems

Mushy stems are most often a result of overwatering and root rot. Unfortunately, once the stems of your teddy bear cactus start to go mushy, it’s usually too late to save the root system. Your best chance for saving the plant is to cut off the mushy parts of the stem and propagate the rest of the plant in fresh soil.

Thin stems

On the other hand, thin or leggy-looking stems are usually an indication that your plant is not receiving enough light. Remember that teddy bear cacti are desert plants that require several hours of sunlight daily to grow properly.

Elongated or leggy stems won’t correct themselves when moved to a brighter spot, but new growth won’t be leggy. If you don’t like the look of the leggy growth, trimming off these stems before moving the plant to a brighter location is best.

From: thespruce