Ming Thing Care Guide
Family: Cactaceae
Genus: Cereuse
Botanical Name: Cereus forbesii monstrose
Difficulty: Great for beginners
Light
Good news for those of you who love cacti but don’t have the proper lighting conditions for them! Ming Thing cacti can tolerate lower lighting that most. They actually prefer spotty sunlight (partial shade) to bright direct light. If they’re going to be in any direct sunlight, limit it to 2-3hours a day.
Water
Let the soil dry completely before watering. Like most cacti, they can be over watered easily. Check to make sure the top half of soil is dry. They love to be soaked and then left to dry out completely between each watering. Water them every 2-4 weeks during the growing months and once a month (or less) during the winter months.
Climate
They enjoy a good hot environment, so keep them in a fairly warm area with higher temperatures (think 70°-80°F). If you can’t stand for your house to be that warm, they will tolerate slightly cooler temperatures! They do not care for humidity at all.
Soil
Like with all other succulents, grow your Ming Thing in a sandy cactus potting mix that is well draining and well aerated. They love an extra snack every now and then, so feed them with fertilizer once a month during the spring and summer.
Pests and Diseases
Scale like to hide in the many crevices of this plant, so be sure to check for them often. They will lay eggs inside these crevices and can become difficult to get rid of.
Tips
Give your funky looking friend a happy space by placing it under a canopy where it can receive dappled sunlight.
Keep them on a table or shelf across a window that receives bright light to get the right amount of exposure without overdoing it.
If your house is a little humid, open a window or keep a fan on to direct the hot air away from your Ming Thing.
Signs your Ming Thing is unhappy
Black roots: waterlogged, rotted roots
Turning a little brown: too much water
Looks unhealthy in general: outgrowing its home or its home is too big
How to Propagate
Using a clean, sharp knife, cut a section from the main part of the plant and lay it out for several days before planting it into soil. You want to allow callouses to form before planting to decrease the chances of rot.
Fun Facts
Propagate these guys easily buy cutting a branch and repotting it.
Like it’s similarly wrinkled up friend, the Monstrose apple cactus, this guy is a super slow grower.
They can produce purple funnel-shaped flowers when grown outside in the right conditions outside!
The name “Monstrose” describes the way random growth appears on a cactus. There is not structure or reason to how these guys grow!
Before you move your plant outside, be sure to check the hardiness zone to save yourself some grief and the loss of a beloved plant.
The hardiness zones for Ming Thing cacti are: 9b-11b
If you live in Tennessee, here’s a hardiness map to help you decide if your plant can survive outside!
