The Old Man Cactus, scientifically known asCephalocereus Senilis, is named for its distinctive white, hair-like covering that brings to mind your sweet Nana or Pop Pop. This is a slow-growing cactus that thrives in bright light and requires minimal watering, making it an excellent low-maintenance choice for plant lovers.
Each plant is unique; size and shape fluctuate by season so all measurements are shown as a range
Medium plants measure 5" to 8" tall from the soil line to the top of the foliage
Arrives in a nursery grow pot nestled in your planter choice
Care Guide
Old Man CactusCentral Mexico
Plant Care
Thrives in bright direct light, but can tolerate bright indirect light.
Water every 2-3 weeks in direct light, allowing soil to dry out between waterings. Expect to water more often in brighter light and less often in lower light.
This is a pet friendly plant but the spines can be harmful.
The Old Man Cactus gets its name from the white hairs that cover its stem, resembling an elderly man.
Sad Plant Signs
Wrinkled, dry potting mix:
Thirsty plant, underwatered
Blanched center:
Needs more sunlight
Yellowing and mushy leaves, wet potting mix:
Root rot, overwatered
Elongation, stunted growth:
Not enough light
Our Guarantee
Your plants will arrive in happy, healthy condition—guaranteed. If not, we replace them for free.
We offer free standard shipping on all orders $79+. Orders under $79 ship for a flat $15 fee. View our full shipping policy.
Sending a Gift?
First, lucky them! Second, in the cart, before checkout, you’ll find an option to add a gift note. You can rest assured that all orders are shipped without pricing information and include directions on how to access our digital Care Library for plant care instructions.
You can also let your gift recipient know something is on the way from yours truly by filling out this form – also linked in your order confirmation email. (Don’t worry, we won’t spoil what the surprise is or send them any marketing emails.)
From plant-specific care, to repotting tips and tricks, to pest identification—we’re here to help. Chat directly via video with a knowledgeable houseplant expert from The Sill team. We’ll kick off your appointment with a quick environmental assessment of your space, then dive into your care questions and concerns. Appointment windows are available Monday through Friday between the hours of 9am and 5pm, and are subject to our houseplant expert’s availability.
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https://www.thesill.com/products/peruvian-old-lady-cactus7360842399849Old Man Cactus59.00files/old-man-cactus.jpgfiles/old-man-cactus.jpgUSDOutOfStockIndoor Plant279279403113Back To School Plants282136805481Cacti & Succulents271587934313Cactus Plants270449344617Congratulations Gifts132294541417Eligible For Promo261212143721Eligible for Reward271531147369Father’s Day270449639529Housewarming Gifts150253240425Indoor Plants277245034601Indoor Plants ONLY272093970537Premium Giftables271290007657Rare Plants
The Old Man Cactus, scientifically known asCephalocereus Senilis, is named for its distinctive white, hair-like covering that brings to mind your sweet Nana or Pop Pop. This is a slow-growing cactus that thrives in bright light and requires minimal watering, making it an excellent low-maintenance choice for plant lovers.
Each plant is unique; size and shape fluctuate by season so all measurements are shown as a range
Medium plants measure 5" to 8" tall from the soil line to the top of the foliage
Arrives in a nursery grow pot nestled in your planter choice
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