Annual cycle of cactus

When the warm time arrives budding becomes evident on cactus. The apical zone of the stems gets clear, areolas get thickened and new spines appear on the apex. Then is time for watering to start.
Watering at first must be moderated and, when the growth is noticeable, do it until water spills from the graining holes of the pots.
The first months of the growth period are the best time to root plants and saw seeds.
During the period of growth a brief pause takes place, when the heat of summer comes because of the high night temperatures, and does not have to be confused with pathological causes.
When the first cold days arrive, the it's time to reduce watering, so the plants can enter their dormant period. During this period, that takes place at the cold time, the plants harden their new growths and areolas get invigorated. Plants who gets their dormancy period, tolerate cold much better.
Areolas need certain hours of cold to be able to bloom. Too high temperatures at night during winter could lead to total or partial inhibition of the flowering in the following season.
When warm days arrive, globular cactus like Mammillaria, Gymnocalycium, Notocactus, Rebutia, Hamatocactus show their first flowers.
When cold days arrive Ariocarpus shows their flower. Later when gets a little more cold is time for some epiphytic cactus like Zygocactus and Schlumbergera to bloom.
The flowers of many species of Echinocactus, Astrophytum, Echinocereus and Mammillaria stay in the plant for some days. The flowers are closed at night and they are opened in the morning. In Zygocactus and Schlumbergera they last about one week. The flowers of Rebutia and Lobivia remain several days, whereas the delicate flowers of Echinopsis last between one and two days.
Also numerous cactus with nocturnal flowering like Cereus, Trichocereus and Hylocereus exist.