Best Indoor Cactus Varieties
There are hundreds of different cactus species available in any garden center, whether it is a desert cacti, forest cacti, or tropical cacti you can find a cactus that is low maintenance and can grow well indoors. Almost all types of cacti have unique characteristics that will bring interest and uniqueness to your home. Here’s a list of cacti that grows well indoor:
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Barrel Cactus
The barrel cactus is a popular potted cactus to grow indoors and belongs to tropical cacti. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. This cactus resembles a round ball with spiky, pointy leaves coming out from all sides. They can be multi-colored. When they get older, the body becomes woodier, and the central “stem” can be cut out and potted on its own.
Barrel cactus tolerates various levels of natural light, from full sun to complete dark, for short periods. and it shouldn’t be overwatering to grow well indoors. This is another advantage of growing this type of cacti indoors.
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Christmas Cactus
The Christmas cactus is probably the easiest cactus to care for indoors. Christmas cacti come in a wide variety of shapes and colors. They have large, showy flowers that last for weeks at a time.
Christmas cactus should be watered every few days often but not kept constantly submerged in excess water. This plant will require low light.
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Opuntia Cactus
These desert cacti are very similar to prickly pear, and they can grow in almost any condition. They come in various beautiful colors and shapes.
Opuntia cactus will grow well indoors with direct sun, especially during the summer months when it is actively growing. During the winter, you will need to cut back on watering.
Opuntia is extremely tolerant of poor soils and high humidity, so you don’t need to fuss over them too much.
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Lepidium Bolivianum
The cacti are one of the pineapple family and belong to forest cacti. They’re native to South America, but they also grow well indoors in temperate climates.
Lepidium Bolivianum has beautiful leaves that are similar to pinecones. The leaves can grow up to 15 cm in size and are dotted with small spines.
This type of cacti does well when planted in a shallow pot filled with cactus soil. It needs moderate watering and are easy-care plants. It is best not to water the leaves.
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Mammillaria Cactus
This cactus is a healthy desert cacti and can grow up to 10 cm tall. They have a fleshy body with small spines that look like whiskers on top of their tubercles. Mammillaria also has flowers that range from pale yellow to red, depending on the species.
Mammillaria cacti only need to be watered every two weeks during the summer and once a month in winter. They can survive without any light, but they will grow faster in a sunny location.
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Strawberry Cactus
These cacti hail from tropical climates are the most colorful of all cactuses. They look like red strawberries with green leaves and spines.
Strawberry cactuses grow well at room temperature and need plenty of sunlight. They don’t like cold temperatures and should ideally be kept indoors all year round unless you live in a tropical climate.
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Epiphyllum Cactus
These cacti are one of the easiest to grow indoors and belong to tropical forest cacti. Epiphyllum has beautiful flowers, which are typically white, cream, or pink. They grow in clusters on the ends of their stems and are called “skip-jack” because they tend to appear out of nowhere every spring.
Epiphyllum cactus can tolerate low levels of water, but they will also need plenty of direct sunlight. Overwatering is the most common cause of death with this cactus, so make sure they dry out between waterings. Most varieties of epiphyllum will flower in early summer and again in the fall.
These are just some of the cacti that you can grow indoors. They’re relatively easy to care for and come in a variety of shapes and colors. Give your cactus some love, and it will reward you with beautiful flowers.
What Types of Cactus Plants Grow Well Indoors?
In growing cacti and succulents, you need to understand what types of plants grow well indoors. There are many things you should look for in a cactus plant, such as:
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Size
The size of the cactus is important to consider. These plants can grow extremely large, and you want to make sure that they fit well in your home and will not spread all over your floor and creep up on people or pets. You could have a cactus that is perfectly suited for your home in one spot, and when you move it to another location in the same house, it begins to take up too much space.
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Color
The various types of cacti come in a variety of colors. When looking for an indoor cactus plant, you should first decide if you want a bright color or something that is more muted.
Brighter colors in small spaces can make the room look too busy, but they can also give your room a nice pop of color when chosen correctly. You need to consider this carefully when choosing indoor cactus plants.
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Flowers
This is one of the best reasons to grow cactus plants. These plants come in beautiful flowers that emerge from the top of these plants. Determine if you want flowers that are just present for a short time or if you want them to last longer.
Generally, the bigger the cactus plant is, the bigger its flowers tend to be. You can also get certain cacti that produce smaller flowers on a regular basis. If this is crucial to you when choosing indoor cactus plants, you will have to do your research.
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Reproduction
How these plants reproduce can be important, too. You want to be sure that the cactus will not spread seeds everywhere because this could be a problem for pets or small children in your home often.
Cacti come from a variety of environments including deserts, forests, and mountains. Their adaptations to these different climates can help you determine which one is best for your home.
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Plant Type
The different types of cacti require different levels of care and living conditions to survive indoors. Many cacti need less water than others and can grow well under bright light, while others can’t. Some will need more fresh air or a particular type of potting mix to do well.
It’s important to carefully research the type of cactus plant you intend to purchase before bringing it home and putting it in your living space.
Indoor Cactus Care
Many different types of cacti can be grown indoors. While some of these cacti can grow rather large, most can be kept in a relatively small pot and require only low maintenance. You need to understand what type of cactus you have to determine how to take care of them properly.
Proper care of your cactus plant starts with providing it with the right growing conditions, which means choosing the right pot, soil, the right amount of sunlight, and water.
Common Problems with Cactus Plants
Some common problems can occur with most types of cacti if they are not properly cared for, including:
How Do Cactus Spread?
Cactus spread by sending out seeds. Cactus are generally propagated by removing offsets from the main plant or taking cuttings of stems and growing into new plants.
You can also grow a cactus from seed if you have another plant that is already producing seeds. Cut off the flower when it starts to wither and become dry and powdery, then shake out all of the seeds onto something flat like a piece of tile or cardboard.
Leave the seeds in an area that gets plenty of sunlight for a few weeks until they sprout, then plant the seeds in soil with good drainage.
How to Prune a Cactus
It’s usually a good idea to prune a cactus when it is actively growing in the spring and summer. Remove dead, withered leaves, then remove those growing upward or out toward the side of the plant instead of toward the center.
If you have large spines on your cactus, use gloves when pruning so, you don’t accidentally get them stuck in your fingers or hands.
When Should You Repot a Cactus?
Whether it is forest cacti or desert cacti it should be repotted every few years in the spring when their roots become overcrowded. You can reuse your existing pot or get a new one; just make sure it has excellent drainage and doesn’t retain water for long periods.
When you transplant your cactus from its old pot to a new one, never do so during the fall or winter because the plant will not have enough time to recover before it becomes cold outside.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How Large Will a Cactus Grow?
Cacti will usually grow between 8 and 20 inches tall. They like to be planted in large decorative pots with plenty of room around their roots, so make sure you purchase or repurpose an appropriately sized pot before planting your cactus inside it.
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Are Cacti Toxic or Bad for Pets?
Cacti are not toxic, but it’s best to remove any cactus spines on the cactus before letting your pets near it. Spines can become lodged in an animal’s throat or stomach and cause serious damage if they are not removed promptly by a vet. If you have small children, make sure that they don’t try to eat or touch your cactus without your supervision.
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What Kind of Container Do You Need for Cacti?
Cactus need containers that have excellent drainage, but they also need plenty of room for their roots. Ideally, you should use a large planter or pot with drainage holes on the bottom and place it in an area where your cactus can get at least four to six hours of sunlight every day.