Pot

A clay pot with good drainage holes on the bottom makes an excellent choice of pot.

Repotting: When you bought or received your plant, it will most likely need to be repotted. Get a clay pot with good drainage Do not repot for 1 to 2 weeks. Let your plant get accustomed to its new environment. If your cactus is blooming, wait until the end of the season to repot.

Soil

You can find potting soil at your local garden shop specially formulated for cactus. The potting mixture is a combination of orchid bark, pearlite, potting soil, peat moss, coir (the fiber from coconut husk) and pumice.

Watering

Over watering is the biggest problem. Once the root system has rotted due to over watering, there is nothing that can be done to save the cactus. Watering should be done once a week. Stick your finger in the soil and if the top 1/2 inch is dry, your cactus needs watering. Water until it begins to drain from the bottom of the pot holes. Reduce the length of time between watering instead of reducing the amount of water. During the winter months, check and water your cactus more frequently.

Fertilize

Fertilizers contain the nutrients your plants require for healthy growth. Garden shops carry fertilizer specially formulated for cactus, such as Schultz Cactus Liquid Plant Food or Miracle Gro. A 5-10-5 (NPK) compound works best. During the dormant period (November to March), do not fertilize your plant at all.

Light

Cactus love light. Place the cactus in a well-lit area. With an indoor cactus it's unlikely you'll find a spot that has too much light. Great places are a bay window, an atrium or a bright entryway.