Cacti have particular irrigation schedules that are season-dependent.
Q: Is my saguaro dying or dead? It is about 4 feet tall and eight years old. Professional landscapers transplanted it two years ago from its original spot facing in the same direction and only about 10 feet away. There are no drips around it and only receives water when it rains. I sure would appreciate your help to determine if I should replace it.
A:Β Your saguaro looks like it needs some water.Β The recommended irrigation schedule for cacti is once every 10 to 14 days in the summer and every 21 to 28 days during the spring and fall to a depth of 12 to 18 inches. Once nighttime temperatures go below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, you can shut off the irrigation. Most cacti will survive without supplemental winter irrigation. Another recommendation, albeit too late in this case, would be to provide some shade cloth for newly transplanted cacti. Transplanting is a stressful thing for any plant and shelter from the sun is one way to reduce that stress. Sunburned cacti turn yellow and in extreme cases too much sunburn can kill cacti. Your plant looks like it will survive if you can provide the irrigation although time will tell.
