It is okay if your succulent remains in the small plastic pot. In a small pot, the evaporation rate is high, and the pot can hold little water. Its thick stems reach height before its weight causes it to bend. Plant in a well-draining soil with a tall planter. "Old Man Cactus" a well-known potted cactus. It is cylindrical and tall, with modified spines at the top that resemble hair. These spines are long and look like the hair of an elderly man. The "hairs", or long white spines, of Old Man Cactus provide shade from the sun and keep the plant cool.