Watering Seedlings after the Baggie method

[Neiluj]

Well, it's been since October and some of my seedlings are getting the "mini cactus" look in that they are starting to look like small versions of their adult forms. I read somewhere on this forum that this is usually a good time to start treating them like adults. I know this can differ for many types of cactus, but specifically what should the watering frequency be for Opuntias, Astrophytum, and a Cereus mix? How long can they go with having dry soil? On one hand, I'm really paranoid about either getting root rot and on the other, I don't want these bad boys to dry out.

[Aiko]

They can take weeks without water. Assuming they are not in full summer sun light baking all day.

I leave all my one year old seedlings dry for almost the entire winter. Maybe one or two little splashes of water. But not 'real' watering for months.

[metsolt]

I have a pot of Astrophytum seedlings taken out of the bag in July, after 3 months.

When I first took them out, I put them outside and they had rain quite often but I also watered them every few days. Of course, it was quite hot back then so the soil dried quickly.
Now they're under grow light with my other seedlings in a room with some 25°C. At first I reduced watering to every 7 days and now I do it every 10 days. The soil gets dry and stays dry for a few days. I believe they could take less frequent watering, but I want them to grow faster so I do it this way. Probably will reduce to watering every 14 days in a month or two.

This is just how I do it, but if someone has advice, they're more than welcome.

[7george]

Opuntia seedlings are not rot prone but for others better wait for soil to dry out more-less before watering again.

[Shane]

They can take weeks without water. Assuming they are not in full summer sun light baking all day.

I leave all my one year old seedlings dry for almost the entire winter. Maybe one or two little splashes of water. But not 'real' watering for months.

It's amazing how long cacti seedlings can go without water. I had some seedlings in bags under lights that dried out. I probably didn't check on them for months, but when I did they were shrunken to ground level, but still very much living. Gives some perspective on how cacti seedlings survive in habitat

Interestingly, when I watered them, some of them started growing much faster than before they dried out (Mammillaria and Cochemea if I remember correctly)

[yonnoy]

Hello, I live in a wet city (90%+ humidity), currently I am in Summer. Nowadays I water my 3 months seedlings every 15 days. How often do you recommend me water them in each season? (Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer)

[esp_imaging]

Hello, I live in a wet city (90%+ humidity), currently I am in Summer. Nowadays I water my 3 months seedlings every 15 days. How often do you recommend me water them in each season? (Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer)

When they are dry!
Seriously, no-one-else knows how long it takes for plants to dry out in your conditions.

I sometimes water seedlings in small pots in hot, dry conditions every day.
I sometimes don't water them for weeks in cool conditions, especially if they are in larger pots.