Method Description, Instructions and Tips for Success

General Description

Potato cactus is a secondary ingredient used in both Herblore and Summoning, which can be found only at ground spawns deep in the Kalphite Lair. This location is both inconvenient and dangerous, and there are few spawns; as a result, few people gather potato cactus, making it quite valuable and a good moneymaker for those willing to collect it.

There are technically 8 potato cactus spawns in the dungeon, but 5 of these are in the lair of the Kalphite Queen, an extremely dangerous monster. That leaves just 3, which are themselves in a multicombat area with aggressive, poisonous level 85 kalphite soldiers. Thus, despite this being a "running" activity, you must wear combat gear designed to give you defence against their attacks. You also need food and antipoison potions. Even with these, bear in mind that lower-level players are in considerable danger in the Kalphite Lair, so they should be very cautious before trying this activity!

Respawn times for potato cactus depend on how full the world is. Since there are few very full worlds, I did my tests on one about half full, and the numbers here reflect this; if you can find a full or nearly full world where someone isn't already collecting the cactus, you can exceed the numbers shown here.

Use the highest-level beast of burden you can summon, to let you take more cactus per trip.

Note that at higher levels, I use regular antipoison potions taken as needed rather than super antipoisons, to save money. If you prefer, use super antipoisons, which last 6 minutes per dose instead of 1 minute for regular antis.

Specific Method Details

First, get onto a world that is as full as possible (for faster respawns). Equip full standard melee items, and also take out of the bank a dramen or lunar staff, a rope, ring of slaying, pack yak pouch, 4-dose regular antipoison, and about 5 salmon or other cheap food. You shouldn't need super defence doses at this level.

Use the ring to get to Rellekka, then access the fairy ring just to your west. Teleport to code "B I Q", which drops you in the Kharidian desert near the lair. Run northwest, use a rope on the entrance and go inside.

Run through the tunnels, heading south towards the main room where there are three potato cactus spawns; you shouldn't need to restore run energy. Go into the room and pick up each of the three potato cactus spawns, starting with the northernmost one.

There is usually a player fighting the kalphite soldiers, often with a cannon, which will keep some of them away from you, but there's also a safespot near the northernmost spawn point where you can hide. Watch for the cactus to respawn and then again pick up all three. Continue picking up the cactus, loading 30 into your yak over time, and going until it and your inventory are full. Eat or drop the food as needed and use antipoison doses when necessary.

When done, teleport to Edgeville, bank the cactus and repeat.