Pencil Cactus prefers warm, sunny weather. Likes full sun and sunny windows, and can be grown outdoors. It needs to be a well-drained soil because it can easily get root rot from too much moisture. Healthy growth occurs best when using sandy or cactus potting mixes. This drought tolerant plant does not need to be watered very often and the soil can dry out completely between waterings. It should be kept out of frost in cold climate areas as it can be sensitive to frost and will reduce plant development.