Overwintering guide
How to overwinter rat tail cactus
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — rat tail cactus uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
The mistake that kills rat tail cactus in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and rat tail cactus rots from the base.
More rat tail cactus care
Overwintering rat tail cactus — FAQ
Does rat tail cactus need to come indoors for winter?
Rat Tail Cactus is hardy to roughly USDA zone 10 — winter lows around -1°C. That means it will not survive frost and needs to come inside. Rat Tail Cactus is frost-tender, so overwintering means bringing it inside and letting it rest rather than pushing it to grow. Move it indoors well before the first frost, give it the brightest spot you have (light levels indoors drop sharply in winter), and keep it away from both cold window glass and hot radiators — the swing between the two does more damage than the cold itself.
When should I move rat tail cactus for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water rat tail cactus in winter?
Cut watering right back — rat tail cactus uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
What kills rat tail cactus over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and rat tail cactus rots from the base.