Nature has shaped the plant community in the most wonderful and creative ways. From the bushy trees outside to the huge variety of innovative indoor elegance, their immaculate greenery remains unparalleled. However, it can be challenging for many to keep a healthy green thumb; that is when the spiky splendor of the cacti indoor plants comes into play. Cactus plants are succulents that are easy to care for and love!
The best part about installing them as houseplants is that they do not require too much attention. You can easily grow in dry air or average temperatures, unlike other tropical indoor plants. These plant species need only a few hours of sunlight on a daily basis to maintain health. They perform even better during winters due to less requirement of light and water. You will find them in various sizes and shapes; some even bloom colorful flowers, complimenting your home aesthetic as well. In this blog, we will reveal 10 easy-to-maintain cacti for your indoor plant journey.
Best Easy-to-Maintain Cactus to Boost Your Home Aesthetic
Confused about which cacti variety to pick on your next indoor plant shopping? Here is a list of the best cacti you can consider:
1. Polka dot Cactus
More like on the cute side, the polka dot cactus is also referred to as bunny ear cactus or angel’s wings cactus, owing to its shape and structure. They have yellow colored dots over their body and belong to the prickly pear family. It does not grow sharp spines but rather clusters of hairs that are evenly spaced on their leaves, making them pet-friendly. Keep them pruned to maintain their small size and shape, and watch them survive for years in your house!
Care tips: They prefer full sun and well-drained sand. Reduce the feeding during winter.
2. Saguaro Cactus
Here’s the one you would have seen in art pieces or magazines! The magnificent Saguaro cacti can be said to represent the entire cacti family, as this is the first plant one imagines in desert areas. They can live up to two centuries, and it takes nearly 40 years for the flowers to bloom. Since saguaro cacti are known for their slow growth, you do not have to worry about watering and treating them right. Just keep them in a small pot and allow them to establish a strong root.
Care tips: Saguaro cacti love warm and bright light conditions. Find developing fantastic white blooms in the right conditions.
3. Star Cactus
Star cacti are an impressive sight to hold! When you view them from a bird’s eye perspective, they would appear like a star or a sand dollar. Thus earning its name as Star Cactus and Sand Dollar Cactus. They enjoy an overdose of sunlight for about 8-10 hours, you can leave them on the window stilt that experiences high exposure to sun rays. Additionally, they are non-toxic to pets and children, making them a reasonable indoor plant.
Care tips: Transcend between light shade to full sun with light watering. Keep the soil well-drained.
4. Rat Tail Cactus
Call it a rat tail or monkey tail; it appears like both. Plus, a great choice if you want to flex a little about your indoor plant. Hang them in baskets as the stems gush down by growing a few feet long. They look even prettier in spring or summer, blooming some reddish flowers.
Care tip: It needs organic soil mix, bright sun, and regular watering. Reduce watering during winters. They can be toxic to dogs and cats.
5. Old Lady Cactus
Packed with both enthralling beauty and reproachful features. Don’t you get a hint of their personality from the name itself? The old lady cactus forms spheres of white hair and spines that grow up to ten inches tall. It is characterized by pink blooms around, which blooms above the web of the hairy base.
Care tips: Prefers even bright light with watering needs every alternate week.
6. African Milk Tree
The striking African Milk Tree cactus wouldn’t look for attention to maintain its beauty. This cactus can grow up to 8 feet tall and is also referred to as a cathedral plant. However, they have slow growth, so you needn’t stress. African milk trees boast small green leaves that grow between ridged stems and thorns. These indoor plants can live for decades in your house.
Care tips: Water them twice a month with good drainage soil and keep them in partial shade or full sun.
7. Christmas Cactus
Want some colorful, healthy blooms out of cacti on a Christmas morning? Grow the Christmas Cactus plant at the right time and they will bloom right in the chilly months on Christmas. These plants are nearly toothless and feature soft, rounded spines, and come in varieties of pink, red, white, and orange.
Care tips: Filtered light with moderate water and highly low maintenance.
8. Bishop’s Cap
Decorate your porch or windowsill with the elegant sphere-shaped Bishop’s Cap cactus indoor plant. Their strong spine can develop quite a height, making it a large indoor cactus.
Care tips: Craves significantly hot and sunny conditions with infrequent water needs.
Credit: Britannica
9. Barrel Cactus
The fierce attributes of the Barrel Cactus can very much extract their spiky appearance. It is also a globe cactus that is covered in long and rigid spines around an edible pulp below. This tough cactus can live up for decades, growing to an average height of 3 feet when placed indoors.
Care tips: Require consistent exposure to sunlight with scant irrigation. A loose and sandy potting mix would be great for them.
10. Easter Cactus
Easter Cactus is a tropical plant that can be found in various color varieties around Easter in spring. The blooming cactus cultivates an impressive star-shaped flower that can grow up to two inches.
Care tips: Need well-draining soil and partial sunlight. Let the water get fully soaked.
Before you begin to implement the comprehensive guide about easy-to-maintain Cacti indoor plants, there is one thing to be aware of. It is important to note that even though all cacti are considered succulents, all succulents may not be cacti. Due to their pretty low-maintenance attributes, they make excellent houseplants. However, if you have pets and small kids at home, ensure you choose the non-toxic cacti variety. So, goodluck having a well-informed cactus indoor journey now!
Also Read:
The Tales of Non-Flowering Plants