Cactusway Team

Hello! As the founder of Cactusway, I'm passionate about everything cacti. Inspired by their resilience and charm, I created this platform to share my knowledge and love for these unique plants. Through Cactusway, I offer comprehensive guides, latest news, and practical tips to help you care for your own cacti and succulents. I've also curated a range of cactus-themed merchandise to infuse your daily life with a touch of desert charm. Join me in exploring the prickly yet captivating world of cacti!

Is It Easy To Take Care of A Cactus Plant?

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Whether you are a budding houseplant enthusiast or you have been tending them for yours, you must have heard or come across a cactus plant. Cactus may be a unique plant-based on its growth pattern, size and shape, but it is the easiest to care. When looking for that one plant to add some pomp in your space, a cactus should be on top of your list thanks to its low maintenance and ease of care.

So, Is cactus easy to take care of? Caring for a cactus depends on how well you approach factors like potting, drainage, fertilization and lighting. By choosing healthy seedlings, getting the right potting soil that easily drains water, moderate lighting and occasional fertilization with the right balance of NPK fertilizer, then caring for cactus should be easy.

This article will be looking at how easy it can be to care for a cactus by considering the right care tips.  It will delve into the dos, and don’ts when tending to cactus plants. It would then wrap up with factors that will make it super easy to care for cactus plants.

Choosing the right pots and potting soil

While in its natural habitat, cactus plants thrive best under arid conditions. Based on this, it is advisable to try as much as possible and replicate the same conditions when growing cactus at home. After choosing a healthy seedling, ensure that you get an ideal pot. A good pot for cactus should have drainage holes to help drain out excess water.

To grow a healthy cactus, select the right-sized pot and use a well-drained soil mixture, depending on the species of the plant.

Cactus also needs the right soil mix. You want to get a soil mix that does not hold much water nor drain out too fast. Cactus prefers soil with enough sand and rock to replicate their natural habitat. When it comes to soil, you may choose to go with commercial mixes or make your own soil mix at home. The type of soil mix to go for depends on your cactus variety, but as a rule of thumb, a good soil mix should have some bit of peat that helps hold moisture.

Cactus thrives best with a soil mixture that includes potting soil, pumice and coir in the ratio of 5:2:1 respectively. With this mixture, the soil will dry out evenly and give room for the plant to use up its nutrients effectively. However, you may see the need to tweak this recipe depending on the cactus variety in question.

Watering

Watering a cactus can be a tricky affair. On one hand, you know they are plants and would, obviously need water to survive. On the other hand, you are also conscious of the fact that these are desert plants adapted to survive in areas with little water. The trick here is knowing how best to balance the two. The truth is, cacti need enough water to thrive; they just happen to have a unique ability to survive longer without water.

To avoid overwatering your cacti, water them only when the soil is dry.

If you are looking to get vibrant cacti that will produce healthy blooms, you got to get your watering regime right. As a rule of thumb, always make sure that the soil is dry between your watering routines. Too much water can easily lead to root rot, and this can mean premature death of your prickly companion.

You would fare much better in sunny areas or locations with high heat conditions by watering your cactus once every week. However, when winter hits, you can cut down on watering since, at this point, the plant is dormant and won’t need much nutrient uptake. If you are not sure when to water, you may want to check on the soil moisture from time to time. Once you note that the first 2 or  3 inches of the potting soil is dry, it is time to water. Always make sure that excess water drains out from the pot. This helps prevent chances of root rot.

Lighting

Cacti are desert plants, and so it is only natural that they will prefer some adequate amounts of sunlight. However, when positioning your cactus at home, they should not be exposed to direct sunlight as this can led to burns. Based on the variety, cacti need varying amounts of light throughout the day. As such, you may see the need to keep changing their positions or simply place them in moderate light all through the day. In this case, a south-facing window will work best.

Although cacti love sunlight, too much direct light might damage their stems and leaves.

Some signs of too much light may include the plant turning brown or yellow on the side facing the sun. In case this happens, relocate the plant to a cooler location for some time and let it heal up. In cases where you cannot access the natural sunlight, then you may opt for artificial lighting in the name of grow lights. This is a special type of lighting that can replicate that of the sun and help keep your plants healthy.

Fertilization

Think of a cactus and the picture that comes to mind is a plant that can survive in arid conditions with limited nutrient supply.  With this notion, you may be tempted to think that cactus does not need any fertilizer. Nothing could be further from the truth. Cactus needs the right amounts of fertilizer just like any other plant to help it grow actively, bloom better and multiply much faster.

If your cacti start growing fresh needles or leaves, you should consider fertilizing the soil.

A good fertilizer for cactus should have the right balance of NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium) where in this case, phosphorous should be higher than nitrogen. Cactus will work best with soluble or liquid fertilizer as these can be taken up easily by the plant.

Make a weekly inspection of your cactus for any signs of new growth regarding fresh needles, new leaves or a general increase in size. Any new growth noted should be a sign that the plant needs fertilizer. Otherwise, it is recommended that you fertilize your cactus at least once a year. Only apply fertilizer when the plant is actively growing and cut down the same during the winter months as the plant will be in a semi-dormant state at this point.

Success tips when caring for a cactus

Understand your specific cactus species care tips

Good lighting, the right soil, watering and fertilization are not enough to guarantees success when caring for cactus. Success in cactus care starts from making the right choice of cacti for the right conditions. Cactus will thrive better in certain conditions depending on the species. As such, you must choose a cactus species that can easily fit into your weather conditions apart from fulfilling its purpose of adding some pomp in your indoors or garden.

When buying your prickly companion, take time to determine the exact species of the plant you are buying. Your arborist should be in a position to expound more on the specific care tips for your particular choice.  On the other hand, knowing your cactus type will help you do your own research online or elsewhere in terms of how best to take care of the plant.

Look out for pests

Contrary to popular opinion, cactus is occasionally susceptible to pests.  As such, it is advisable to keep a close watch on your cactus pans for any signs of pests from time to time. Some of the common pests that attack cactus plants include mealy bugs, scale and spider mites. The earlier you note them, the better as this will give you ample time to get rid of them without much hassle. You can use several pesticides to get rid of such pests, which will depend on your cactus variety and the type of pest in question.

Avoid getting pricked

By planting cactus indoors, it can only mean one thing; constant contact from time to time. Considering that most cactus plants have pricks or spikes, these may cause bodily harm if not handled carefully. When relocating or inspecting your cactus plants, use some thick hand gloves or wrap some sheets of paper around the plant before handling them. Alternatively, you may also use moving blankets to help protect your hands from the plant’s spines.

Keep Succulents Clean

Depending on the position of your cactus indoors or out in the garden, they will pick up dust and all sorts of dirt with time.  This can be detrimental to its growth. As such, it is advisable to wipe its leaves regularly and stems with a clean cloth. This not only helps keep the plant vibrant but also improves is overall outlook and appearance.  This should be done as per need basis depending on the overall conditions of the room, but as a rule of thumb, clean your cactus whenever you are cleaning your room and tending to your garden. With a clean cactus, you can easily note any changes in terms of discoloration, dents or even pest infestation.

Great Companion Plants And Flowers For Your Cactus

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Adored by gardeners for their fascinating textures, drought resistance, vibrant colors, and beautiful shapes, cacti plants are a joy to behold and a delight to have in your home. These succulents are well suited for climates with relatively high temperatures and low rainfall, thanks to their ability to store water in their stems for longer periods. Most of them are easy to grow and are tolerant to diseases and insect problems.  However, when designing your cactus garden, don’t limit yourself to these succulents alone.

So, what are some of the great companion plants and flowers for your cactus?  There is a wide range of companion plants and flowers that can bring out the best qualities of your cactus and share its space with a serene balance. These plants and flowers include the red valerian, African daisy, autumn sage, hummingbird plant, trailing lantana, and some types of Euphorbia.  These plants/flowers can highlight your cacti’s form and color and have almost similar maintenance requirements to your cacti.

In this post, we discuss some of the top companion plants and flowers for your cactus plant and some of their unique properties. The plants featured in the list have been carefully selected to ensure they bring out the best in your cactus. So, let us get started.

1. African Daisy

The African daisy is mostly native to South Africa and can grow up to four feet high if you provide it with the optimal growing conditions.  The plant has a mounding/trailing habit and can produce many daisies over a long period, especially in warm or mild climates.

Their flowers mostly open when the sun is up and close in the evening.  The centre disks of their flowers look as though they have been colored with metallic paint.

The plant does well when grown in containers or the garden. Blooms tend to peak in late spring or early summer and again in late summer or early fall.

African Daisy can produce many purple daisies and is an ideal plant to be paired with various cacti species.

Since the African daisy stops blooming during the hot days, it is good to pair them with cacti species that will pick up the slack during the warm summers to provide you with a non-stop floral display.

Although the plant is somewhat drought resistant, it is crucial to ensure you water it sufficiently. Most African daisies need at least one inch of water per week to thrive.  During periods of intense heat, the plant will most likely slow down and go into dormancy.

The plant also prefers relatively cooler weather. During prolonged periods of drought it will gradually cease flowering and go dormant. This is the best time to prune it but keep it watered.

It also needs some supplemental fertilizer every three weeks, especially when you grow it in a container. Make sure you choose a water-soluble fertilizer and follow the instructions on the label when administering it.

2. Red Valerian

The Red Valerian is bushy, well-branched, and has one of the longest flowering seasons. The plant is popularly grown for its ornamental and magnificent star-shaped flowers. It is also relatively easy to grow and fairly resistant to pests and diseases.

The Red Valerian is an amazing bloomer from summer to late fall. It produces plenty of well-rounded flowers that may be pink, white, or blue-green, depending on the species.

When placed in a spot with a plenty of sunlight, Red Valerian can produce lots of star-shaped flowers with a pinkish red color.

The plant does pretty well in a full sunlight position, but it can also tolerate partial shade. However, it may not produce a lot of flowers when it is under partial shade.  Providing your red valerian with plenty of sunlight is all you need to do to witness the best of it.

The plant can also thrive in poor soil conditions since it copes well with dry, infertile soils. It can also thrive in compact form areas in spots where other plants may not survive.  

It prefers a slightly alkaline soil type, which can be achieved by adding limestone to your regular soil. If the potting soil you want to use is a richer variety, the plant will benefit greatly from staking.

Red Valerian is drought-resistant and doesn’t need a lot of water to survive. Young seedlings require light watering, but old plants can survive with natural rainfall or light watering when the soil is completely dry.

However, this plant doesn’t withstand overwatering. In fact, the only time you will need to water mature red valerian is when there has been a prolonged dry spell, and the potting soil is excessively dry.  For fertilization, you don’t need to fertilize your red valerian.

3. Hummingbird Plant

The Hummingbird plant is also known as the “Uruguayan Firecracker” plant and is a great attractor of bees and hummingbirds. It produces beautiful orange flowers from July to late October.

The plant is hardy and nearly indestructible. Therefore, you can expect it to thrive even with minimal care. Although it likes dry soil, it can benefit greatly from occasional watering during the hot and dry season. But you don’t need to fertilize it at all.

If you are growing the plant as a perennial, make sure you cut it nearly to the ground once the blooming season is over. The plant enters a dormancy stage during winter and bursts back to life once the temperatures start to rise in spring.

The Hummingbird Plant is an easy-to-grow plant that produces reddish orange flowers from July to late October.

The hummingbird plant is highly resistant to most pests and diseases and may rot in soggy and poorly drained soil.

The plant is relatively easy to grow, and it is usually propagated by dividing the root ball of mature plants.  It requires exposure to full sunlight to thrive and can do well in average to below-average soils.

The hummingbird plant is usually bushy and can reach heights of up to two feet tall with a similar spread when provided with optimal growing conditions. Their velvety leaves and stems are pretty attractive and offer you a spectacular view throughout the year.

4. Trailing Lantana Plant

The trailing lantana plant is a popular landscaping plant that can also serve as a great companion to your cactus.  The sprawling woody shrub usually forms a dense and colorful groundcover with its evergreen foliage of strongly scented and dark-green leaves.

The plant produces small, tight clusters of beautiful flowers and spreads up to ten feet wide.  The trailing lantana is mostly used as a bank cover to control soil erosion, but it can also be used in raised plant gardens to complement the beautiful green view.

When grown in a relatively warm climate, Trailing Lantana produces white-purplish flowers during the entire year.

Trailing lantana blooms year-round in most frost-free areas. It can thrive in full sunlight or partial shade and can survive outdoors in warm regions. However, excessive frost and freezing will most likely kill the plant quickly.

If you stay in areas that experience temperatures close to freezing and still want to grow trailing lantana, ensure you cover the top of the soil with enough mulch just before winter.

This is a relatively low-maintenance plant that requires moderate watering and medium moisture to thrive. Once the plant becomes well established, it only needs light watering when the soil starts to show signs of drying. Never allow the soil to dry out completely.

Potted plants require frequent watering but make sure the soil doesn’t become soggy.  Place a layer of mulch around newly planted lantana to prevent weeds until the plant covers the entire area with its foliage.

Always prune perennial trailing lantana back to 6-12 inches from the ground level in the spring. Pruning helps to remove the old growth to reinvigorate the plant.

5. Mountain Pepper

Mountain pepper bush is a lovely evergreen shrub that can complement your cactus quite well. The plant has beautiful red stems and dark green leaves that add a unique appearance to your garden or interior spaces.

Once established the plant is drought-resistant and can thrive with minimal care. Mountain pepper is named for its pungent and hot-tasting oils found in its leaves. The plant produces clusters of relatively small, sweet-smelling, pale yellow or creamy white flowers that mostly appear in late winter and early spring.

The flowers are usually followed by dark red fruits that turn black when ripe. The mountain pepper can reach heights of up to 13 feet tall at full maturity. It can also spread to a width of up to eight feet. It usually works well as a privacy screen or hedge plant and will always hold its own focal point in your garden.

The easiest way to grow this plant is by purchasing the male and female plants at your local plant nursery. Alternatively, you can acquire mature seeds and plant them. Seeds tend to germinate well when they are still fresh.

Water the plant deeply during the first few months to help it establish a deep root system but always allows the soil to dry completely between watering to prevent root rot. Even at maturity, you still need to water the plant regularly, especially during the hot and dry seasons.

Consider pruning the plant slightly during spring to maintain its natural form. Fertilization is not necessary.

Final Thoughts

Growing cacti plants in your home garden or indoors helps to fill areas that might not be ideal for the growth of high-maintenance plants. However, you need more than cacti plants to make your garden look stunning and well balanced.

We hope you now have an idea of some of the plants that can act as great companions to your cactus. Let us know if you have any questions or suggestions in the comments section below.

Best Small Cactus Species For Your Indoors

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Cactus is a unique plant that comes in a variety of sizes. While some are huge and may grow to heights of up to 40 feet, others are small enough to fit into small pots at home. Small cactus have recently become a huge sensation and used as indoor plants. These come in a variety of colors and shapes and provide additional ambience to the home when blended with other notable house plants. While most of these small cactus varieties are adapted for the deserts, they can also thrive as indoor plants with the right propagation and care.

So what are the best small cactus for your indoors? Small cactus varieties come in various shapes and colors, but the most ideal species for indoors are those that do not need much sunlight can fit into small pots and are slow-growing. Some of these include the following:

  1. Moon Cactus
  2. Bunny Ear cactus
  3. Rat Tail
  4. Old Lady Cactus
  5. Christmas Cactus
  6. Star Cactus

This article will be looking at some of the smallest cactus can be grown as indoor plants. It will look at their features in terms of propagation, adaptations and suitability as indoor plants.

1.     Moon Cactus

Moon cactus is one of the most recognizable indoor cacti, thanks to its unique shape and a variety of colors that range from yellow to pink, red and orange. These bright neon colors are usually noted in its ball-shaped appearance. They would usually be sitting on top of another green colored typed of cacti.

The moon cactus is a product of human design as the cactus on its own cannot thrive. As such, it needs to be grafted on another green cactus to help offer chlorophyll to make its food. This makes it two plants in one. The beautifully, brightly colored part of the moon cactus cannot produce chlorophyll independently, thus the need to graft it onto another plant.

Moon Cactus is characterized by a ball-shaped appearance and bright colors, including red, pink, yellow, and orange.

Moon cactus is an ideal indoor cacti, especially to the first-timers in horticulture because it’s low on maintenance. They can be used to add some pomp and color to your window seal, living room or porch area. For best results, moon cactus should be positioned in a bright area but away from direct sunlight. In terms of water requirements, moon cactus, just like any other cactus adapted for the deserts do not need much water. Be careful not to overwater as this may lead to root rot and eventually death of the cactus.

When grown indoors, moon cactus can drastically improve the overall look of your home and complement the indoor décor thanks to its variety of colors. You may choose to go for one specific color or use a mix of what is available. What’s more, moon cacti are slow-growing and can grow to a maximum of about six inches. Remember, the health of your moon cactus will highly depend on that of the stock. As such, it is important to choose an ideal stock cactus that will blend well with your moon cactus.

2.     Bunny Ear cactus

The bunny ear cactus is a small desert plant that perfectly fits the indoor environment. It is native to Mexico but can be found in most arid and semi-arid areas. It is one of the most popular indoor plants thanks to its unique appearance with pads that mimic rabbit ears. Growing the bunny ears as an indoor plant is simple; all you have to do is ensure the growing conditions are as close to its natural habitat as possible. So with some dry, sunny and low humidity conditions, you can easily grow the bunny ears as an indoor plant.

Bunny Ear Cactus is a small desert plant native to Mexico that can reach a height of 2 feet when grown indoors.

While in its natural habitat, bunny ears can grow to a height of 3 feet. When grown indoors, however, the cactus grows to a maximum height of 2 feet, making it a perfect indoor plant. What’s more, it is slow-growing, thus giving you enough time to enjoy its trappings and beauty. The bunny ears does not grow spines but instead develop glochids in the form of whitish brown prickles.

For better development, bunny ears should be repotted after every one or two years. This should give you more time to enjoy its interesting features.

3.     Rat Tail Cactus

 The rat tail cactus is an exciting plant native to Central America and southwestern Mexico. It stands out with its long, trailing steps that mimic a rat’s tail, thus its nickname. These stems grow to a maximum of 4 feet. When grown indoors, the rat rail cactus will thrive best when grown in hanging baskets or pots. This enables its trailing stems to get enough space to manifest in its natural growth sequence. 

Rat rain cactus comes in many varieties and will bloom in spring and early summer with violet-red blooms. Depending on the variety, however, it can sometimes produce orange and pink-colored flowers. The flowers are fairly large and tubular but will only last a couple of days. Rat rail cactus can be propagated using its stems that grow rapidly under the right conditions. However, you will need to be careful when handling its stems as it grows spines that can prick your skin easily.

4.     Old Lady Cactus

The Old Lady cactus, otherwise known as Mammallaria Hahniana is a popular, sun-loving powder puff cactus that can be grown indoors. It stands out with its lone spherical stems that can grow to about 4 inches tall and 8 inches wide. When grown indoors, the cactus should be positioned in a sunny area for better development.  If this is not possible, provide some outdoor time during the summer months.

Old Lady Cactus is a small indoor plant that should be placed in a spot with sufficient sunlight.

The best spots to position your Old lady cactus indoors would be by the window as these spots tend to receive enough sun or light for most of the day. However, in cases where you cannot find the best spot with enough light, you may consider using grow lights to help supplement the lighting needs for your cactus.

The Old lady cactus gets its nickname from its white, thin and flexible hairs that may grow as long as 5 centimeters. As the plant reaches maturity, these hairs grow richer and thicker and tend to curl, thus cloaking the plant.

5.     Christmas Cactus

The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgessii) otherwise known as the Easter or Thanksgiving cactus is an interesting plant that blooms just in time for the holidays, thus its name. Its propagation and care are pretty simple, making it a favorite for holiday gift-giving.

Christmas Cactus is an indoor plant that produces reddish pink flowers when grown away from too much sunlight.

The cactus can be propagated from cuttings and will thrive better under moderate indoor conditions. However, Christmas cactus should be kept away from too much sunlight to avoid its leaves getting burnt. Notably, the Christmas cactus blooms with bright colors, but dramatic temperature swings and lack of enough water may cause flower buds to drop prematurely.

 To help maximize its blooming period, ensure that you maintain optimal temperatures of about 65 degrees and always keep the soil moist during the blooming period. It is also a good idea to apply for high potassium fertilizer once every two weeks and report yearly after every flowering period.

6.     Star Cactus

The Star Cactus (Astrophytum asteria) is one of the few spineless cacti and stands out with its chubby round body that mimics a sand dollar. The fact that it is also easy to grow makes it a perfect candidate for an indoor plant. Its round body may grow to about 6 inches wide. It features some gently ridged sides and covered with some tiny white dots.

The Astrophytum cactus blooms between March and May. Its flowers are bright yellow with orange centers. These would later fade out to give way for some berries or drupes in late spring. When grown indoors, this cactus will not need much attention apart from the occasional watering and access to full sunlight. The star cactus is known to store a lot of water, thanks to its shape. These come in handy in times of drought. However, be careful and avoid over-watering as this may lead to root rot.

The cactus is not poisonous to animals and humans, thus making it just the perfect indoor plant. However, it would be best if you practiced caution when handling it as it can be pretty prickly.

When it comes to keeping your indoors as serene as possible, you do not want to take chances. If you are a cactus enthusiast, you would see the need to go for one of the various small cactus species suitable for indoor environments. While the list is endless, there are common ones that can survive in most environments and are readily available. The best thing about these small cactus species is that they are easy to maintain and will not need much attention apart from the occasional watering and fertilization.

Best Indoor Plants That Don’t Need Sun

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Most of us love indoor plants because they make interior spaces feel prettier, greener, and brighter. Indoor plants also purify the air and promote feelings of inspiration and happiness.  They reconnect us with nature and remind us of the need to preserve our environment. However, most plants need water, sunlight, and air to grow. So, what happens if you live in a house that doesn’t receive plenty of sunlight? Does it mean you cannot have indoor plants? The answer is “no.”

Some indoor plants don’t need direct sunlight to thrive.  There are plenty of low-light plants that you can grow indoors. They include bromeliad, cast iron plant, spider plant, snake plant, parlor palm, dracaena, and many more.  These plants are great for spots in a room that need touches of green but don’t receive plenty of direct sunlight for most indoor plants to survive. These plants can survive in low light conditions quite comfortably while others only need artificial light to thrive.

In this post, we look at some of the most famous low-light indoor plants that don’t need the sun to survive. You can pick any of them when you want to add some green touches to your home, but your indoor spaces don’t receive plenty of sunlight.

So, let us get started.

1. Bromeliad

Bromeliad is one of the most common tropical plants that usually come with a vibrant pop of color. Their tropical feel and unique appearance make it an excellent houseplant choice. This plant looks best on tabletops, shelves, or even the floor, depending on the species you choose.

Over the years, bromeliads have adapted to average home conditions attracting much attention from homeowners. Their showy flower displays create a beautiful show. They have strappy leaves with bands, spots, stripes, and other features.

Bromeliads are low-maintenance plants that do not require sunlight, special fertilizer, or regular watering.

Their leaves can be yellow, orange, purple, red, or green.  Bromeliads are more tolerant to careless feeding, fluctuations in temperature, and drought.  In the natural environment, bromeliad plants are usually epiphytic and cling to trees and other structures.

However, they are not parasitic and only use other plants for support and to reach direct sunlight.

When growing bromeliads indoors, you need to keep in mind that they don’t need deep containers or thick potting mix. In most cases, they do well in relatively shallow containers and may still thrive in low potting mix mediums such as sphagnum moss, orchid mix, and other soils.

The plant doesn’t require special fertilizers to thrive. All you have to do is feed it with half-strength fertilizer once every month. For water needs, fill the cup at the base of the leaves, and you are good to go.

Water that may collect in the pot must be emptied every week to eliminate dead insects and debris that stagnant water attracts into the cup.

2. Cast Iron Plant

The cast-iron plant is a relatively hardy plant that can endure unfavorable conditions.  The plant usually thrives in a wide range of conditions, including low light areas. In fact, keeping them in direct sunlight can easily scorch and burn their beautiful leaves. They require very little maintenance to survive and thrive.

However, the cast-iron plant is extremely slow to grow. This makes it a perfect choice for forgetful or busy plant owners who won’t have a lot of time to take care of them. The plant’s rich green leaves provide you with a perfect way of adding a natural touch of greenery to your indoor spaces.

Cast Iron Plant is a low-maintenance plant that thrives in low-light areas and produces purple flowers when grown outdoors.

When grown outdoors, the plant usually produces slightly creamy purple flowers near the base, but the blossoms rarely appear when the plant is grown indoors. The cast-iron plant is always green and can handle deep shade along wall foundations or under deck stairs that receive almost no sunlight.

The plant tends to grow during the hot summers and hibernates during winter. Insects don’t like it, and it is rarely bothered by any diseases.  Its leaves are upright and strappy and grow from an underground rhizome.

The only threat to cast iron plants is too much water and direct sunlight. It dislikes waterlogged potting mix and exposure to direct sunlight.  When exposed to these conditions, the plant’s leaves will start to turn yellow, and then brown, before it eventually dies.

3. Snake Plant

The snake plant is incredibly tolerant to neglect and tends to do well when tucked into one of the corners of your house, far away from the window.  The plant has stiff leaves that range from slightly six inches to over eight feet tall, depending on its variety.

The plant is a member of the Asparagaceae family, a close relative of the asparagus plant.  It is native to China, where it is highly treasured because many people believe that the gods bestow important virtues upon individuals who grow and take care of the plant.

The plant is also among the few plant species chosen by NASA for a scientific study on how houseplants can be used for air purification and how they eliminate the “sick building syndrome.”

If you are looking for a plant for your low-light corners of the room, the Snake Plant might be the ideal option for you.

According to joint research run by the Institute for Environmental Research at Yonsei University in South Korea and the Department of Horticulture at the University of Georgia in the United States, the snake plant has demonstrated a unique ability to remove benzene and formaldehyde from the air.

Growing snake plants from cuttings is relatively easy, but the most crucial thing you need to remember is that the cuttings can easily rot. To avoid rotting, ensure you use free-draining soil.

Once you have propagated your snake successfully, put it in indirect sunlight and avoid overwatering, especially during winter. In fact, it is always good to let the plant dry out between watering. If the plant is in a pot, consider applying a little general-purpose fertilizer.

When potting/repotting the plant, choose a relatively sturdy material because its strong roots can easily break fragile pots.  The snake plant is generally slow-growing and rarely needs repotting, but if you expose it to ample sunlight, it might grow quickly and require dividing or repotting annually.

4. Parlor Palm

If your preference for indoor plants is more Bohemian, the parlor palm is the perfect choice for you. Also known as the “good luck palm,” this plant will add good vibes to your indoor spaces and make you feel better.

The plant is a relatively slow grower that can only reach three feet high or six feet high if you dedicate yourself to repeated repotting.

Like most tropical plants, the parlor palm thrives in slightly warm and humid spots. Therefore, be sure to mist them or position them strategically on a tray filled with moist pebbles.

The plant was first discovered in Central America and transferred to the United States, where it immediately became a popular indoor plant.

Parlor Palm grows healthy in low-light and low-temperature environments while adding good vibes to your house.

Besides being adapted to relatively low light, it can also handle lower temperatures quite well and grow into beautiful clumps with light-textured leaves cloaking its thin trunks.

Since it is tolerant to low light and quite sensitive to excess water, it is the perfect choice for gardeners who are forgetful or too busy to take care of their indoor houseplants regularly.

However, the parlor palm is highly vulnerable to pests such as mealybugs, whitefly, and aphids. It is always crucial to inspect the plant regularly to identify pest infestation signs as early as possible and treat it with the least toxic option.

5. Dracaena

The dracaena is one of the most popular houseplants that are easy to care for in your home.  The plant comes in a wide range of varieties and looks excellent on your tabletops, shelves, and floor décor. The relatively large varieties, such as the dracaena massangeana, have a tree-like appearance and work especially well when used as floor décor.

It thrives in bright, indirect sunlight but can still survive in medium and low light if need be. The plant has excellent air purification properties and can filter out some of the toxic elements from the air.

The stems of a dracaena plant are known as canes and can be pruned at any point to keep its size under control. The plant can grow up to ten feet high, so pruning is essential. When you prune the plant, new leaves will grow below the cut after a few days.

Care for this plant involves keeping the soil moist but not soggy. Yellowing or drooping leaves indicate overwatering or poor drainage. Appropriate fertilization is also part of the plant care routine.

Typically, dracaena requires feeding every two weeks in spring and summer. However, you need to reduce the fertilization rate to once a month during fall and stop feeding the plant completely during winter.

6. Chinese Evergreen Plants

The Chinese Evergreen plants are relatively easy to care for and are fairly resistant to pests or diseases. They usually have leathery, dark green leaves with white and gray veins like a jigsaw puzzle on the foliage.

The plant does well in low to medium light but prefers bright indirect sunlight during summer. During winter, you can keep it away from direct sun. In fact, artificial lights are enough to keep it healthy and happy.

Chinese Evergreen plants are incredibly hardy plants, making them ideal for beginners. They require consistent watering and can tolerate short periods of drought.

During the growing season (spring to summer), water your plant weekly, allowing the soil to dry out in between watering sessions.

Overall, the Chinese Evergreen makes a great low-light option for anyone looking to add plants with beautiful color and texture to their home.

7. Peace Lily

Peace Lilies are among the most beautiful and easiest to care for house plants. They are tough, low-maintenance, and love shade. Peace lilies thrive in indirect or filtered light and don’t need direct sunlight to survive.

These plants require weekly watering during the summer when they are actively growing. During winter months, you can water them every two or three weeks. Overwatering can cause root rot, so ensure the soil is completely dry between watering sessions.

Peace lilies are incredibly tolerant of low-light conditions and will bloom flowers in darker areas around your house.

Their white blooms help to purify the air by reducing harmful toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide.

Peace lilies are also very resistant to pests and diseases and can be grown in average indoor temperatures of 65-75°F (18-24°C).

They can sometimes suffer from overwatering or too much fertilizer, but they are otherwise hardy plants that require minimal effort to keep them happy.

8. Spider Plants

Spider plants usually grow in relatively cold and wet conditions and are incredibly tolerant of low light or total darkness.

These plants have a wispy appearance due to the thin green leaves that stretch out from their central stem, resembling spiders’ legs.

Spider plants enjoy regular watering in slightly acidic soil (between 6.5-7.0). Your spider plant will generally be happy if you allow soil to dry out between watering sessions.

These plants prefer bright indirect light and temperatures between 65-75°F (18-24°C). If you expose them to direct sunlight, they might suffer leaf damage.

The best way to prevent this is by shading them with sheer curtains or by placing them in the corner of a room, away from direct sunlight.

Spider plants often sprout small, white flowers during warm seasons like spring and summer. These flowers eventually turn into tiny spider plantlets that you can pluck from the mother plant and propagate independently.

These plants are also incredibly effective natural air purifiers, filtering the air of toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide.

Summary

Now that you know some of the houseplants that don’t need direct sunlight to survive, you should go out there and acquire one that suits you. Just make sure you take good care of the plant, and you will end up adding the right touches of green to your indoor spaces.

If you are having trouble deciding on the right houseplant, seek expert advice from your local plant nursery. We hope you enjoyed reading this post and you will be back for more.  Feel free to share this post with your friends, leave a comment and subscribe to our email list for the latest gardening tips and tricks.

Here are 10 amazing desert plants with flowers

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When you think about the desert, what comes to mind? Most probably, an endless mass of sandy soil and rocks. While it is true that this is the case with most deserts, it does not mean that nothing good comes out of the same. The desert is home to some of the most colorful plants you will ever encounter.  These drought-resistant plants help add pomp and color to the otherwise dull desert terrain. These may range from trees to shrubs, cacti, succulents and wildflowers. These flowering desert plants come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors.

So, what are some of the most common types of flowering desert plants? Truth, is most desert plants have flowers, but some have more distinctive, brighter flowers that the rest. Some of the most common flowering desert plants include the following:

  1. Arizona Poppy
  2. Desert Marigold
  3. Tacoma stans
  4. Prickly pear
  5. Ice plant
  6. Muhly Grass
  7. Lantana
  8. Desert Lily
  9. Mojave Aster
  10. Bottlebrush

This article will take a look at each of these flowering desert plants in detail. It will look at their characteristics, type and color of flowers, the flowering seasons, and the importance of the same.

1. Arizona Poppy

The Arizona Poppy (Kallistroema Grandiflora) is a flowering herb native to Arizona and found in Northern Mexico and California. It stands out with its herbaceous stems that rise from the stout and the numerous branching.

This flowering desert plant features abundant flowers that measure about one inch. The flowers are five-petaled and rise above the plant. Usually, the flowers are bright orange with a noticeable red basal spot. Its petals feature a number of nectar guides and are distinctively ultraviolet reflective.

Arizona Poppy is a desert herb with yellow to bright orange flowers.

The flowers from the Arizona Poppy remain open for one day, during which cross-fertilizing takes place. As the flower closes, however, this opens ways for self-fertilizing. Its blooms may lack any fragrance, but it still attracts over 46 species of insects, including wasps, bees, butterflies and flies.

2. Desert Marigold

The desert marigold, also commonly known as ‘paper daisy,’ is an outstanding desert plant that can grow to about one foot in height. It stands out with its flowers that produce many seeds. The plant is usually short-lived and would only live through one season and germinate the following year through its seeds. Blooms from that desert marigold start during spring and may last through summer.

The bright yellow flowers form clusters about two inches in diameter. Its leaves are green coupled with some silver-white hairs that grow very low on its thick stems. When planning to grow these in your garden, it helps to note that they are poisonous to sheep and goats but have not been proven to harm larger animals like horses and cattle.

3. Tacoma stans

The Tacoma stans, also commonly referred to as yellow bells, is a flowering desert plant native to the Sanora desert. It thrives best in sunny conditions or filtered shade. The plant produces bright yellow flowers that assume the shape of a bell, thus its name. Yellow bells bloom at the end of spring and would last through the start of fall.

The Yellow Bells is a favorite for bees and hummingbirds, thanks to its tubular, yellow blooms. It also stands out with its vibrant leaves that mimic feathers. These features make it a perfect choice for a butterfly garden. When not blooming, the plant still adds some ambiance to your garden as it turns into an appealing backdrop for other plants in the garden.

4. Prickly Pear

Prickly pear is a type of flowering cactus that blooms bright flowers during the spring season. These would eventually lead to some edible fruits on maturity. Also known as Opuntia, this desert plant stands out with its paddle-shaped stems. It is one of the most adaptable blooming cacti that you can include in your desert garden.

The Prickly Pear cactus features red, pink, or purple flowers that lead to the growth of edible fruits.

The prickly pear is rarely noticed until it starts to bloom. Its flowers range from white to red, to pink and purple. Apart from its fruits, the pads from prickly pear are also edible and can be harvested at any time of the year. Both the pads and fruits can be eaten raw or cooked.

5. Ice plant

The Ice Plant is an easily recognizable flowering desert plant that can help add color to your desert garden or landscape. This colorful succulent features bright flowers that come in a variety of colors ranging from pink to yellow, red and purple. This is an excellent recipe to attract various species of insects like bees, butterflies and even birds.

The Ice Plant’s daisy-like flowers help add some pomp to your desert garden and act as a perennial ground cover even when not in bloom. It acquires its name from the fact that its leaves and flowers tend to shimmer as though they have been covered in some ice crystals. The plant grows to about one meter wide and 6 inches tall.

6. Muhly Grass

Muhly grass (Muhlenbergia) is an ornamental grass that blooms into a beautiful white or pink spectacle. It is commonly found throughout Canada, Mexico, South and Central America. Usually, individual species of the plant would assume a capillary-like branching system, thus forming some form of shrubs. Its green leaves would cover the understory while the pink flowers would outgrow them.

Muhly Grass consists of green leaves surrounded by white to pinkish flowers.

This flowering desert grass may grow in clumps but does not spread through underground or above-ground stems. Being a warm-season plant, Muhly Grass thrives during the summer, and by autumn, it would be in full bloom.  This makes it an excellent garden plant as it also attracts notable insects like the ladybird and butterflies.

7. Lantana

Lantana is a genus that involves over 100 flowering plants.  These are native to tropical regions in Africa, central and south America. Lantana grows to form clusters of rounded flowers, usually very bright in color.  Colors from its flowers vary from species to species. These may range from orange to red, yellow, white, purple, and much more. In fact, some species may depict more than one color in one cluster. Lantana’s leaves and flowers have an aromatic fragrance that attracts insects and birds, thus helping in desert pollination.  Its leaves are also used to make perfumes, thanks to its fragrance. However, the plant is toxic when raw and should be kept out of reach of children when grown in the garden or indoors.

Lantana blooms almost all year round in tropical climates. In the United States, this flowering can be seen from spring to fall.  Notably, the flowers’ colors tend to change through the season. This may see a yellow flower at the start of the season turn to reddish-brown or orange by the end of the season.

8. Mojave Aster

The Mojave aster is a delightful desert plant, also known as the Mojave woody aster. It is a perennial plant that can grow up to 30 inches high. As the name suggests, the plant is native to the Mojave desert. When it blooms, the plant produces large daisy-like flowers. Mojave aster stands out with its petals that resemble lavender and features white rays that come right from its yellow center. Its overall flowerhead grows to about 2 inches in diameter. Normally, the Mojave aster blooms in spring, but it can sometimes flower in the fall too. During this time, each plant may bear up to 20 flowers.

Apart from the Mojave desert, this desert flowering plant also grows in the Great Basin Desert and the Sonoran Desert. Usually, the plant grows alongside other notable desert plants like the creosote bushes, Joshua tree, and saltbush shrubs.

9. Desert Lily

Lilies are hugely popular for their colorful flowers. This is not different for the desert lily. Well, it may not be a true lily, but its flowers resemble that of a lily, thus the name. When the desert lily blooms, it produces some large white or cream-colored, funnel-shaped flowers that mimic a true lily.

Desert Lily is similar to a regular Lily and produce funnel-shaped white to yellowish flowers.

The blooming happens between March and May, with flowers growing up to 2 inches wide.  The flower features some six petal-like segments, each bearing some silver-green band on the back. Usually, this bluish-gray plant would grow to a height of about 6 feet.

10. Bottlebrush

Bottlebrush is a flowering desert plant that grows as a shrub. They are native to Australia and would produce colorful red flowers. These would contrast with its light green foliage, making it an ideal candidate for a desert garden or landscape. The plant gets its name from its flowers that mimic a bottle brush.

Usually, the bottle brush blooms during the summer months.  While a majority produces red flowers, some varieties have crimson and even light yellow flowers. When grown at home, the plant needs regular pruning and removal of suckers.

Flowering desert plants are delightful additions to the desert environment. This makes them the perfect options when looking to design a desert landscape or garden. These would also come in handy when looking to create a butterfly garden since most of these plants attract a large variety of insects and birds.

10 Desert Plants ideas When Landscaping

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You are finally through building your dream home, but wait; your outdoors look plain and unpleasant. This is the time to think about landscaping to help improve the overall outlook of your backyard. While you may consider several options for the purpose, using desert plants for the same can be a unique approach to your landscaping endeavors. While many may picture the desert as a barren endless mass of sand, nothing could be further from the truth. The desert is home to various plants that include cactus, trees, shrubs, grass, and other attractive, flowery plants. These come in multiple shapes, sizes, and colors to help transform your outdoors into some work of art.

So what are the ideal desert plants you can use for your landscaping? While the choices are endless, the following are the most common options based on their growth patterns, size and visual appeal:

  1. Golden Barrel Cactus
  2. Yellow bells
  3. Bottle Brush
  4. Texas Sage
  5. Aloe Vera (Aloe)
  6. Flaming Katy
  7. Jade Plant or Friendship Tree
  8. Mexican Feather Grass
  9. Paddle Plant or Red Pancake
  10. Ghost Plant Succulent

This article takes a closer look at each of these desert plants and their suitability for landscaping.  We will discuss more about their adaptations and what attractive features they bring to your landscaping design.

1. Golden Barrel Cactus

You may have heard about the huge barrel cactus; this is not it. The Golden Barrel Cactus (Echinocactus grusonii) is from the same family, but smaller and round-shaped. This unique shape makes it an attractive feature to add to your landscape design. If you are working on a rock garden or cactus garden, then this is your best bet to include in the mix. Its spherical form makes it an ideal option for anyone looking to create a geometrically inclined landscaping design. As the cactus grows, however, it may change shape and turn cylindrical. You can find the golden barrel cactus in various shades of green coupled with spikes that come in multiple shades of yellow. Occasionally, the cacti may surprise with some bright yellow flowers.

Golden Barrel is a round-shaped cactus species that can produce bright yellow flowers when blooming.

2. Yellow Bells

Are you looking to go flowery for your landscaping project? Well, what better option to go for other than the flowery bell? These unique desert flowery plants stand out with their bright yellow flowers that bloom abundantly within a short period. As the name suggests, its flowers are bell-shaped and vibrant. The plant works best when mixed with other flowery or non-flowery plants to give your landscaping design the much-desired ambience.

3. Bottlebrush

The bottlebrush (Callistemon) gets its name from its flowers that bear some striking resemblance to bottle brushes. This desert plant stands out with its brightly colored needles that form the flower. Although the plant is sometimes referred to as a bottlebrush tree, it also grows as a shrub. This makes it an ideal option to include in a list of low-growing landscape plants. The plant commonly bears red flowers, although there are species that bloom a variety of other colors. Add color, intriguing texture, and drama to your garden with this unique desert plant.

For best effects, first determine what the bottlebrush needs to do in your landscaping design. Usually, this would come in to enhance the color scheme, support local birds, or even liven up that dull corner in your garden.

4. Texas Sage

Are you looking to add some natural purple to your landscape? Well, the Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens) does just that. It helps bring in that neutral tone that helps blend with other desert plants in your garden. Its lavender and purple colored blooms may be significantly small but stand out with their sturdiness.

 This desert plant remains green for the better part of the year but come summer, the tiny flowers in shades of lavender, blue and purple will cover its branches. This bloom will remain all through the fall. The texas sage does not need any pruning, making it ideal for gardens that do not require much disturbance all through the year.

5. Aloe Vera (Aloe)

If you live in a mild climate and love succulents, then the aloe vera should be your best bet when designing your landscapes. This drought-resistant succulent not only helps add some drama to your garden but also gives your landscape a contemporary look, especially when planted in geometrical blocks. For better results, bring in a mix of two or three varieties of aloe vera. They work best when mixed with some drought resistant flowering perennials or ornamental grass.

Aloe Vera is a drought-resistant succulent that carries a variety of health benefits.

What’s more, you will be glad to benefit from aloe vera’s medicinal values right at your doorstep. However, you may need to approach this feat with care as some aloe species are poisonous and require the expertise of an experienced arborist to help differentiate the same. With the right mix, aloe vera brings in a versatile addition to your landscape design.

6. Flaming Katy

Have you been searching for the best way to add some color to your landscaping design? The Flaming Katy (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) would be an ideal pick for this purpose. This easy-to-grow succulent helps bring some vibrancy to your garden or backyard. The best thing about the Flaming Katy is that it is not an invasive plant. As such, you need not worry about it crawling all over the place when used for landscaping.

This delightful plant not only helps add some striking colors to your landscape but also gives you an easy time on maintenance. With just the right lighting and temperatures, you can be assured of getting some gorgeous blooms to make it a strikingly attractive centerpiece for your landscaping design. You will love the giant splash of color the plant comes with when they bloom.

7. Jade Plant or Friendship Tree

The fact that the Jade plant (Crassula ovata) falls somewhere between a flower, a tree, and a shrub makes it a unique addition to your desert landscape. Usually, the plant grows to take up the shape of a small bush. During the winter and fall months, the plant blooms with some slightly pinkish but white flowers. This gives your garden some color, especially when mixed with other flowery plants. Jade plants or friendship tree will flourish best in loamy quick-draining soil as it is prone to root rot easily when exposed to slow-draining soil.

The Jade Plant is a desert plant with white to pinkish flowers that can give your garden a more lively look.

8. Mexican Feather Grass

A landscaping design cannot be complete without some grass and the Mexican Feather Grass (Stipa tenuissima) come in to complete the design by giving your garden that feathery feel. As an ornamental grass, the Mexican Feather Grass stands out with its delicate but graceful and fine texture. Its growth pattern cascades just like a water fountain, making it appealing to the eye. Its delicate blades blend in to create that magical beach-like environment. Add this allure to its drought resistance, and you have just the right desert plant for your landscape design. When planting, however, be careful not to overdo it as the grass spreads quickly and can become invasive.

9. Paddle Plant or Red Pancake

The Paddle Plant  (Kalanchoe thyrsiflora) is a popular succulent in the world of landscape design.  It stands out with its rounded and thick paddle-shaped leaves. The Paddle Plant is a crowd favorite thanks to its easy disposition, coupled with its eccentric shape and coloring. It may look bizarre in its growth pattern, but this uniqueness makes it even more appealing as a landscaping plant.

 For better results, intertwine the paddle plant with other succulents to create an attractive silhouette. Add some dramatic splashes of red to your landscape design using this color-changing low maintenance desert succulent.

10. Ghost Plant Succulent (Graptopetalum paraguayense)

The Ghost Plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense) is a cold-hardy desert succulent featuring some whitish or pale grey leaves. Its stands out as an ideal landscaping plant thanks to its versatile growth. You will love how it cascades down the pot or container to make an unprecedented groundcover.

The Ghost Plant is a desert succulent with pale green, grey, pinkish, or blueish leaves.

The plant gets its name from the powdery coating on its leaves that give it a ghostly look. This coating should be handled with care as it fades with ease. Its trailing stems and form rosettes that range from yellow-pink to blue-gray gives the plant an edge as an attractive landscaping addition. They work best when planted along pathways, in rock gardens, arranged in planters, or as garden borders.

Final Thoughts

Your idea of a desert landscape doesn’t necessarily have to be all about green, brown and other dull colors. You will be surprised to realize that there is a myriad of colorful, ornamental, and attractive desert plants you can use for your landscape idea or outdoor garden. It all boils down to how best you can mix and blend them to give you that appealing look. Break up the plant pattern by mixing desert plants of different sizes, shapes and colors in your landscape design. 

Apart from plants, you can also consider throwing in some desert oriented items like stones and sand. This will help complement the desert plants and give you that natural desert feel and look.

Top 8 Desert Plants To Grow Indoors

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Bringing some plants into your house is a great way to freshen up your space. Not only that, but having indoor plants has many benefits!

The hard thing about growing plants indoors is that not everyone has a green thumb. In fact, many people find it difficult to keep indoor plants.

But that’s where desert plants come in! Due to the nature of their origin, desert plants like cacti are very hearty and can withstand even rough, indoor conditions. Once you learn about your desert plant and understand their light and water requirements, you could find yourself growing a plant that could live upwards of 50 years!

So, what are the top 8 desert plants to grow indoors? Our top eight best selection include aloe vera, lithops, old lady cactus, adenium plant, ghost plant, ponytail palm, African milk tree and the prickly pear cactus.

So, are you ready to get started growing your indoor garden? Check out the top eight desert plants to grow indoors!

1. Old Lady Cactus

The Old Lady Cactus is a great desert plant to grow indoors. Usually, it is grown as an outdoor plant but with the right care, it can thrive indoors.

The Old Lady Cactus, which is native to central Mexico, is also known as the Birthday Cake Cactus or the Old Lady Pincushion.

This spherical succulent does not like growing alone, so it does best in a pot with other similar cactuses. On average, it grows four to five inches tall and about five inches wide. If you take great care of it, it could grow as tall as 10 inches!

A old lady cactus flowering.
To help your Old Lady Cactus bloom and produce magenta flowers, make sure it gets enough sunlight and just a bit of water.

The most beautiful part of the Old Lady Cactus is its magenta flowers that look like a hero around its top. It also features thin, white spikes in dense groupings all over its surface. They may look soft, but be careful! They can be prickly!

To get your Old Lady Cactus to thrive and bloom indoors, you have to get its conditions just right. It is a very durable plant, but it needs plenty of sunlight and only a little water. And you should consider choosing a cactus mix soil because it is porous and well draining- perfect for your Old Lady Cactus.

Make sure that your Old Lady Cactus gets 4-6 hours of sunlight a day. If you don’t have a window that gets that much sun, you can use a grow light instead. And only water it when the soil is completely dry to avoid overwatering.

With the proper care, your Old Lady Cactus could live for 10 years or more!

2. Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera plants are great desert plants to grow indoors, especially in the kitchen! Aloe is not only pretty, but all of its medicinal properties can come in handy.

For starters, the gel from inside the leaves on aloe plants can be applied to burns, scrapes, and even sun burns to relieve the pain! Aloe is also used in various beauty treatments for your skin, hair, or scalp.

You can even eat aloe! It’s not uncommon for aloe to be added to smoothies as the juice has plenty of digestive benefits. You can even dry out the leaves and eat them like a chip. Aloe has plenty of uses!

A aloe vera.
When growing Aloe Vera indoors, you should allow 3-4 years for the plant to reach maturity.

Aloe Vera, which is also known as the Lily of the Desert and Plant of Immortality in Egypt, has many thick and fleshy leaves. When the plant is healthy, it is a shade of grey green or blue green.

When an aloe plant reaches maturity, they can get as big as 25 to 40 inches tall. When grown indoors, it can take about three to four years to reach maturity. Plus, it can also spread or create new, smaller plants through offsets.

Aloe vera plants can live up to 25 years with the right care. However, you learn how to propagate your aloe plant, you can see its offspring live on and on for years!

To care for your aloe plant, first make sure that it gets plenty of sunlight, about six hours a day. It needs to be in a bright spot with indirect sunlight. Full, direct sunlight could actually burn your aloe! You should also turn it regularly to avoid the leaves getting yellow on one side.

When it comes to watering your aloe plant, make sure that its soil dries completely before you water it. It will also do better in a pot that has plenty of drainage holes. Without drainage holes, the roots of your aloe plant might start to rot. Finally, aloe grows better in cactus mix soil.

Aloe is a very safe plant to grow in your home. However, if you have pets, be aware that it has been known to cause mild to moderate effects of toxicity in both cats and dogs when ingested. Side effects include vomiting and diarrhea.

3. Ghost Plant

The Ghost Plant is one of the most common types of succulents you see and it is a great desert plant to grow indoors. In fact, the Ghost Plant is also very popular as a fake plant!

Also known as the Mother of Pearl plant, the Ghost Plant has short, fleshy leaves and is often found in a light green or pink/grey color. When full grown, they can get up to 20 inches wide and 12 inches tall.

When it comes to its lifespan, the Ghost Plant, which is part of the Jade Plant family, can live anywhere from a whopping 70 to 100 years. So if you give it the love and care it needs, you could see it live a long, long time.

A Ghost plant.
The Ghost Plant is one of the most widespread succulent species characterized by a light green or pink-greyish color.

The best part about the Ghost Plant is that it is non-toxic to both humans and pets, making it a very safe plant to have around your home!

To care for your Ghost Plant, make sure that it gets plenty of full sunlight. If full sunlight isn’t available, it can still thrive in partial sun. However, be aware that the kind of light it gets will affect its coloring.

Full sunlight will make a Ghost Plant bushier while partial sunlight can give a grey tone to their leaves.

Just like most succulents and desert plants, make sure your Ghost Plant’s soil is completely dry before you water it. You may even only end up watering it every other week. Talk about low maintenance!

And don’t forget it’s soil! Like the rest of the desert plants we have discussed, a cactus mix soil will be best for your Ghost Plant.

4. African Milk Tree

The African Milk Tree is another great desert plant that is easy to take care of. This plant that is native to Central Africa grows quite quickly and is also known as the Good Luck Plant.

It got its name from the milky latex that is right beneath its outer layer. However, be careful with this milky layer if the outer layer breaks and you become exposed to it. The milky latex layer can be a harmful irritant.

When it is full grown, the African Milk Tree can grow up to eight feet tall. However, when grown indoors, it is possible it won’t grow taller than four feet. It can also live up to 60 years with the right care!

A african milk tree.
Your African Milk Tree will only need water once a week, after the soil has had time to dry out.

The African Milk Tree has at least one large, green stalk with protruding leaves. If you have a Rubra or Royal Red variety of the African Milk Tree, you will see your plant’s leaves turn red late in the season.

When deciding where to put your African Milk Tree, choose a spot that has indirect sunlight. If you can’t completely avoid direct sunlight, make sure to keep an eye on it on days when temperatures get high as it could damage its leaves.

Your African Milk Tree will only need water once a week, after the soil has had time to dry out. Also make sure that you plant it in soil that has good drainage, such as Sandy Loam soil.

Again, be careful of coming into contact with the milky latex layer. If the plant is damaged, this layer will become exposed and can be harmful to both pets and humans if it is ingested or if it comes into contact with skin.

Side effects of coming into contact with the milky latex layer includes redness in the affected areas and swelling. If it comes into contact with your eyes, it could cause temporary blindness and in extreme cases, ingestion could cause death.

So be extra careful if you bring this plant into a home with pets or small children.

5. Prickly Pear Cactus

The Prickly Pear Cactus is what most people think of when they picture a cactus. It is also easy to grow indoors!

A fun fact about the Prickly Pear Cactus is that it grows fruit that is known as “tuna.” This fruit is high in Vitamin C and many people describe its taste as a cross between raspberries, watermelon, and bubblegum!

The pads of the Prickly Pear Cactus are also edible once its skin and spines are removed. This part of the cactus is used in tacos and salads a lot.

Since the Prickly Pear Cactus is edible, it is a safe and non-toxic plant. However, its protruding spines do raise another safety issue. Because of that, make sure it is out of the reach of small children and pets.

A pricly pear cactus with fruit.
The Prickly Pear Cactus is a fruit-bearing cactus species that requires about 4-6 hours of sunlight daily.

The Prickly Pear Cactus has pads that are flat, green ovals. Spikes spread across the surface of the pads that protrude outward and the “tuna” fruit grows in clusters around the tops of the pads. The “tuna” are either light red or magenta and have their own smaller clusters of spikes.

With the right care, your Prickly Pear Cactus can grow anywhere from one foot tall to 18 feet tall, and can ever live to be over 20-years-old.

Prickly Pear Cacti love to get 4 to 6 hours of sunlight a day. They are also one of the most drought resistant desert plants. In the summer, they only need water once every two weeks. For the rest of the year, they only need watering once a month.

When planting your Prickly Pear Cacti, a mix of sand and potting soil would be best.

Adenium Plant

Adenium plant is a type of flowering plant native to the deserts of Arabia and Africa. It is also known as the “Desert Rose.” The Adenium Plant is a beautiful, low-maintenance plant that can be grown both indoors and outdoors.

The Adenium plant has a thick, fleshy stem with glossy, dark green leaves. The flowers are beautiful and come in various colors, such as pink, red, white, and yellow. The Adenium Plant is also known for its poisonous sap, which can cause irritation to the skin.

Choose a spot with bright, indirect sunlight when deciding where to put your Adenium Plant. If you can’t avoid direct sunlight, make sure to keep an eye on it, as the leaves can get scorched.

Your Adenium plant will need water once a week, after the soil has had time to dry out. Also, make sure that you plant it in well-drained soil.

Since the Adenium Plant is poisonous, keeping it out of reach of children and pets is crucial. The sap can cause irritation to the skin, so be careful when handling the plant.

The Adenium plant is a beautiful, low-maintenance plant that makes a great addition to any home. Just make sure to keep it out of reach of children and pets!

Ponytail Palm

The ponytail palm is a popular houseplant because it is easy to take care of and can tolerate neglect. It is native to Mexico and gets its name from its long, curved leaves that resemble a ponytail.

This plant does best in bright, indirect sunlight but can also tolerate low-light conditions. Water your ponytail palm when the top inch of soil is dry.

Ponytail palms are poisonous to pets, so keep them out of reach. If ingested, they can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and tremors.

The ponytail palm is a beautiful, easy-to-care-for plant that makes a great addition to any home. Just make sure to keep it out of reach of children and pets!

Lithops

Lithops is perhaps the most beautiful plant on this list. It is a succulent that resembles a stone or pebble, hence its nickname, “living stones.”

Lithops are native to southern Africa and can be found in different colors, such as yellow, white, pink, and red. They do best in bright, indirect sunlight but can also tolerate low-light conditions.

Water your lithops when the top inch of soil is dry. Lithops are poisonous to pets, so keep them out of reach. If ingested, they can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and tremors.

Generally, lithops is an easy-to-care-for plant that makes a great addition to any home. However, it is essential to handle them with care because they are so delicate.

Summary

Desert plants are some of the world’s most resilient and adaptive plants. While they may thrive in hot, dry climates, many of these plants can also be grown indoors with a bit of extra care. We hope you enjoyed reading this blog post and are ready to explore your options.

Here Are The Most Popular Plants You Can Find In The Desert

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Think about the desert and all you can picture is endless sand mass, high humidity, high temperatures, and low precipitation. All these may be a recipe for infertility and barrenness, but the fact is; the desert can be anything but barren. This is home to a number of plants that have adapted to these conditions and go ahead to thrive and reproduce.  These plants are unique in their own way, and you wouldn’t find them anywhere else. In fact, some are so rare that they have turned into a major tourist attraction. The cactus may be the most popular desert plant, but there are a couple of others that call the desert home.

So what are the most popular plants you can find in the desert? The desert is home to hundreds of plant species, but the most popular include cacti species like prickly pear, barrel cactus, organ pipe cactus, and Saguaro. There are also flowery dessert plants like desert lily, desert marigold, and California Poppy. The desert is also home to various trees and tree-like species such as the acacia tree, elephant tree, desert willow tree, Joshua tree, and palm tree.

In this article, we take a look at some of the most common desert plants. This will include their full descriptions and their adaptation to the desert environments.

Cactus

The cactus is the most recognizable desert plant thanks to their interesting adaptations, unique shapes and weird adaptive features. There are literally thousands of cactus species, but the most common cactus varieties that grow and thrive in the desert include Saguaro, organ pipe cactus, barrel cactus, hedgehog cactus and prickly pear cactus.

Cactus is among the most widespread desert plants that can grow healthy in harsh climates.

Cactus is known to grow and thrive on the otherwise barren washes, the rocky hillsides and the alluvial fans of the desert. The cactus is fully adapted to the desert thanks to its succulent stems, spines to ward off predators and roots that grow close the ground to take advantage of the little rainfall.

Elephant Tree

The elephant tree belongs to the family of small trees or shrubs. They are easily recognizable by their thick, swollen trunks. Despite the large trunks, its branches are uncharacteristically small and feature pinnate leaves that are usually shed during drought. 

The elephant tree is fully adapted for the desert thanks to the following features:

Large trunk – this serves as a water reservoir

Leave shedding – during drought, the leaves shed off, and the plant can photosynthesize through its stem and branches.

Palm tree

The palm tree may be synonymous with the coastal regions, but some species are specially adapted for the desert. Some notable palm tree species that thrive in the desert include the doum palm tree, date palm tree and Bismarck palm tree. Most desert palm trees are long-lived with lifespans of about  150 years.

Although palm trees are associated with coastal regions, particular species can also thrive in deserts.

Palm trees are adapted for the desert conditions thanks to their thick and long trunks that help store water for more extended periods. They also feature broad leaves, hereby called fronds. The fronds help convert the desert sunlight into sugars that can then be used by the tree in times of scarcity.

Acacia tree

The desert acacia tree is one of the most resilient trees in the desert and one of the few true trees that survive the harsh weather conditions. In fact, research shows that the desert acacia thrives more during the hot, dry summer months compared to the slightly wetter winters.

The acacia tree takes advantage of its long taproot that runs deep to fetch water from the underground reservoirs. On the other hand, the acacia tree attracts a range of insects and animals that help in pollination, thus improving the survival rate of the species. During the drought, it sheds its leaves to help reduce water loss through stomata.

Desert Willow Tree

The desert willow tree otherwise referred to as Chilopsis is a small shrubby plant mostly found in the Mexican and American deserts. It produces bright lavender and light pink flowers around May and would last till September.

The plant stands out with its lower lip and throat designed with purple lines and yellow ridges. The desert willow occurs in clusters to make maximum use of the little nutrients and water in the desert.

Joshua Tree

The Joshua tree may not be a true tree, but a desert-dwelling plant stuck between a cactus and a tree. It is actually a Yucca and is native to the Mojave desert. Joshua tree is fast-growing and can get to heights of between 15 and 40 feet with a diameter of up to 3 feet.

Joshua Tree can withstand the desert climate and grow up to about 40 feet in height.

With a lifespan of about 200 years, this desert plant is rightly adapted for the desert conditions thanks to its extended root system that goes up to 36 feet deep to fetch as much water as possible. Additionally, the Joshua tree features thick waxy skins that help prevent water loss by evaporation. It also relies on the yucca moth to help in its pollination and subsequent reproduction.

Desert Lily

One would expect to find lilies in places with plenty of rainfall and nutrients, but the desert lily disapproves this notion. Well, it may not be a true lily, but its large white lily-like flowers give it the lily similarities. This bluish-grey desert plant may not be a succulent either but has mastered the art of thriving in the deserts. It stands out with its heat tolerance and is related to the agave plants.

The desert lily adapts to the desert environments by replacing leaves with barbs to help prevent water loss through evaporation. Its green structure in the form of stems not only helps hold water but also work to defend it against animals. Most importantly, the desert lily features an underground bulb that would remain dormant during most seasons but will only swing to action during drought to provide water and nutrients to the plant.

Desert Marigold

The desert marigold is a perennial, short-live flowery plant native to the arid regions of Utah, Mexico, Arizona and California. Its bright yellow flowers add life and color to the otherwise dull desert landscape. Notably, the large disk flowers bloom during the spring season and would last through the hot months of the year.  This is usually between March and September. Interestingly, any additional rainfall will trigger a new round of flowering irrespective of the season. The plant grows to about 30 inches tall and features a basal rosette about 4 inches long.

The desert marigold is suitably adapted to the desert thanks to its pinnate leaves the help reduce water loss through evaporation. The leaves are also hairy, and this helps increase light reflection, thus lower temperatures.

Aloe Vera

There are hundreds of aloe plants, but the aloe vera is the most common and thrives in desert conditions. This fleshy-leaved plant can comfortably grow in bone-dry sandy soil. In fact, it thrives best in the rocky regions of the desert. Being a succulent, this desert plant stores its water in its fleshy leaves and would use it up in times of drought.

Aloe Vera is a desert plant that can grow in dry soil by storing water in its chubby leaves.

Aloe Vera also adapts to the desert using Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). This is an adaptation that largest the photosynthetic pathways during the hot seasons by forming malic acid. Besides, the aloe vera gel found in the leaf pulp acts as an energy and water storage component.

Tumbleweed

Tumbleweed is probably the most recognizable desert plant after cactus. Its unique growth pattern that gives it the appearance of some assembled weeds stands out. This desert dweller is native to Russia and the United States. They start off as tiny seedlings before finally taking its round shape as it matures. It later grows flowers in between its thorny leaves. This would eventually lead to the formation of little fruits with one tiny seed. By fall, the plant is usually fully mature and will start to dry out. It will only take some gusts of wind to break the dead plant and get it tumbling over.

The tumbleweed is fully adapted to the desert thanks to their ‘tumbling’ nature that helps it spread its seeds as efficiently as possible. The seeds would grow within a few days with just some little signs of water. When seedling, tumbleweed produces tube-shaped leaves, and this minimized surface area helps reduce water loss through evaporation.

The desert may be dry for the better part of the year, but this does not mean it is lifeless. Thousands of animal and plant species live and thrive in the desert. Most of these plants have developed unique adaptive features that give it an edge to survive in such harsh environments. These plants defy all odds to live up to maturity and reproduce to increase their chances of survival. There are literally thousands of plant species that live in the desert, but the above are the most common and easily recognizable. They would be found in a majority of desert regions across the world.

How To Grow And Care Fore Moon Cactus?

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You cannot mistake moon cacti thanks to their bright neon colors that come in round-looking balls of yellow, bright pink or orange. They would usually be sitting atop another green colored cactus since it does not produce chlorophyll on its own. A moon cactus is usually a product of human design through grafting to make it two plants in one. This makes it two plants in one with the bottom part being the rootstock while the top part or scion being the actual moon cactus.

So, how do you grow a moon cactus? Moon cacti can be grown from seed, but this takes at least one year to germinate. As such, the best way to grow moon cacti is by grafting it onto a green rootstock with the ability to produce chlorophyll. Choose a cactus soil mix that is rich in organic matter, low pH and fast draining. They do not tolerate direct sunlight or too much water and should be grown in a moderately bright spot using well-draining pots.

Propagating moon cactus

Generally, moon cacti are not ideal for propagation. However, you can easily learn how to graft them at home. Graft a moon cactus by cutting off the scion (the upper part of the moon cactus) from the old rootstock with a sterilized knife. You will notice a circular, vascular tissue on both the host cactus and the scion. Bring them together by aligning their vascular tissues.

Once aligned, use some rubber bands to wrap the scion cactus as well as the bottom of the host container. Once the tissues heal up, you can remove the rubber bands. In some rare cases where you get a moon cactus that produces offsets, you may propagate it on maturity.

Offsets are much easier to separate from the mother plant. Remove one offset and let it dry for a day or two before planting it in a cacti-friendly potting soil. With time, however, you will need to graft it onto a host cactus to increase its chances of survival for longer.

You can propagate your moon cacti either using its scion or by removing one offset from the mother plant.

There are cases where moon cacti require re-grafting. This may become necessary in case the rootstock becomes mushy due to overwatering or other causes. In such a case, you will follow the above grafting procedure to re-graft the scion onto another healthy rootstock.

This said, most moon cactus purchased online or at most gardening stores come complete with instructions on how to graft if not already grafted. If this is not the case, you need not worry as most of its care and cultivation needs do not vary much with the rest of the succulents.

Watering moon cactus

Just like most of the cacti plants, moon cactus doesn’t need much attention when it comes to watering. Usually, the bottom half or host cactus would be adapted for drought and will be tolerant even when neglected for some time.

In cases where the temperatures are a little high, however, moon cactus will require regular watering. In such a case, you will need to pay much attention to the type of soil in question. Moon cactus will not tolerate swampy sol, even for a day. As such, always ensure the soil is completely dry before you embark on your next watering regime.

Ideally, you should plant your moon cactus in a container with drainage holes and water it about once a week.

To avoid too much exposure to moisture, you are better off using containers with drainage holes to help drain excess water from the cactus. Exposing the cactus to too much water can lead to root rot that can eventually kill the whole plant. Watering moon cacti also depends on the size of pot used. For instance, if you grow moon cactus on a small pot, watering once a week will be enough.

Frequency of watering moon cacti also depends on the season and location. During the summer months, for instance, you may see the need to increase the frequency of watering. This is especially so if your cacti grow outdoors. At this time, heat may come in excess, thus causing increased evaporation. During the winter, you can reduce the frequency or stop completely, but just ensure that you always keep them misty.

Just like most of the succulents, moon cactus will thrive in places with low humidity. Use a dehumidifier to help you maintain an ideal amount of moisture for your moon cactus. You do not want to keep it too low or too high as these extremes can be detrimental to your moon cactus.

Potting and repotting moon cactus

Being an indoor plant, the moon cactus will need repotting at some point. This is especially so if you grow the plant indoors. While this can be a seamless process, there are various factors that one must keep in mind to make this process successful and increase the chances of the plant’s survival. We detail eh me below.

Time

While moon cactus can be re-planted at any time, experienced gardeners recommend the springtime as the most ideal for repotting your moon cactus.  This is because at this time, moon cactus will be actively growing, and root development will be developing backup roots. As such, the cactus will be most willing to be moved and will most likely thrive more in its new environment.

Frequency

Moon cacti have a cramped root system. As such, it would be most ideal to repot them once every 3 to 4 years.

Type of Pot

Following its cramped root system, moon cacti do not need a large pot. A small pot with sufficient drainage holes to drain excess water will work best for the moon cactus. For better results, use unglazed shallow pots with drainage holes beneath to avoid water collecting at the root zone.

You should use a small pot for your moon cactus with enough drainage holes for the plant to grow healthy.

Soil Change

One of the main purposes of repotting a cactus is to change the old soil that would, by now, be drained of the necessary nutrients. For moon cactus, you may consider using store-bought soil mix already prepared for planting. Otherwise, you may manually mix coarse sand and peat soil when refilling the new pot. Moisten this mix slightly before repotting the moon cactus into it. Remember the type of soil you choose for planting moon cactus will determine the growth and overall health of the moon cactus.

Preparation for Repotting

Repotting moon cactus needs preparation several days before the actual process. This will involve watering the cactus in its original pot or location to ensure the roots remain moistened. Once ready to move, carefully lift the plant from its original pot, shake off excess soils, and gently place it into the new pot. Fill the empty spaces with the previously prepared new soil. You will need to wait for at least once a week before you start watering your moon cactus in the new pot. This helps give it enough time to use up the previous water, fertilizer and other nutrients.

To successfully repot your moon cactus, water it in its original pot first and then place in a pot with prepared soil.

With successful repotting, your moon cactus should be good for at least 3 to 4 years. During this time, you will be performing the basic care practices like watering, fertilizing and pruning as desired.

Sunlight and temperature

Being a desert plant, moon cactus would thrive in temperatures that you would expect in their natural habitat. They prefer a bright environment but should not be exposed to direct sunlight as this can greatly affect the overall growth of the cactus. As such, it would be best to cover the plant or place it in a shade in cases where it is grown outdoors.

You should place your moon cactus in a bright place but never expose the plant to direct sunlight.

While moon cacti may survive the winter breeze, it is advisable to take it indoors during such conditions. If this is not possible, you may consider covering them with a piece of cloth or light blanket to help shield them from the harsh winter conditions.

Common problems with moon cactus

Moon cactus may be a resistant plant, but this does not make it immune to problems, diseases and other shortcomings. We take a look at some of them.

Short lifespan

Unlike other types of indoor cacti, moon cactus is not destined to live long. This has nothing to do with diseases or harsh conditions but everything to do with its parasitic nature. Since the scion acts as a parasite to the lower rootstock, the food produced by the rootstock is not enough to sustain both plants indefinitely. Over time, it fails to produce enough food, weakens from malnourishment, and eventually dies.

However, there are other notable problems and diseases faced by the moon cactus. This is usually caused by four main factors: water humidity, moisture and light. Too little or too much of these can lead to moon cactus developing growth problems. Some of these problems include the following:

Root rot

Root rot is a common problem with moon cactus. This is mostly brought about by overwatering.  Being a desert plant, moon cactus does not need too much watering, and when this happens, root rot follows. The following are some telltale signs that your moon cactus is overwatered:

  • The rootstock becomes mushy or turns brown
  • The soil remains soggy even after skipping watering for long
  • The roots may turn black, brown or mushy

Remedies of root rot

Salvaging moon cactus suffering from root rot depends on the condition and extent of the rot. If the rootstock is affected and is already mushy, there is nothing much to do other than re-grafting the scion to a new rootstock. However, if the scion is still healthy and only the roots are affected, you can cut off the mushy or black roots, leaving out the white, healthy ones. You can then repot the plant in well-draining soil, and wait for a couple of weeks before watering.

Sudden color change

Moon cactus is known for its bright colors. However, a sudden change in its natural color pigmentation may be a sign of danger. Usually, the plant may turn yellow with white or black spots. This is usually a result of too much light or exposure to direct sunshine.

Salvaging this situation depends on the extent of the damage, while some will simply require change of environment other may call for complete re-grafting for better results.

Fertilizing moon cactus

Moon cactus may be adapted for the desert with little nutrients, but this does not mean it won’t need fertilizer. Fertilizing moon cactus helps it adapt much better to home environments. It also thrives more, and its colors bloom more brightly with the right fertilizer.

For better results, mix one gallon of water with ¼ teaspoon of 15-15-15 water-soluble fertilizer for moon cactus. This should be done weekly during summer and spring seasons.  Apply fertilizer by replacing one of your watering schedules. Do this by applying just the same amount of solution as you would when watering the plant. During winter, moon cactus won’t need much fertilizer and so once a month will do.

To help your moon cactus adept to an indoor environment, you should consider fertilizing the soil.

For the monthly fertilizing or feeding, you may consider flushing the soil completely to refresh the plant nutrients therein. Do this by watering your cactus thoroughly. Ideally you will need to use four times the water volume capacity of the pot. After all the water drains completely, you can then add your cactus fertilizer. Apart from improving nutrient uptake, soil flushing helps prevent the build-up of mineral salts that derail growth. Be careful not to use too much fertilizer or risk weakening the cactus or killing it altogether.

Pests

As resistant as it is, moon cactus can sometimes be infested with mealybugs. If not attended to in time, these white, fury pests can slowly kill the plant. Luckily, you can easily get rid of these pests by brushing them off with a Q-tip. You can then spray it with a mixture of water and half rubbing alcohol. This should be done consistently for a while since they keep coming back. In cases where selected plants have been infected, you may consider separating them from healthy plants.

Pruning

Considering its small size and slow growth, moon cactus does not need much attention in terms of pruning. However, in cases where it gets overgrown, you may consider trimming offer any excessive or broken foliage. This is usually done just after the cactus completes flowering. Take clean and sharp pruning shears and follow the leaves all the way to the main stem to cut from this point. Dispose the plant tissue appropriately and leave the cactus free to blossom once again.

Interesting facts to note about growing moon cactus

Apart from their unique color pigmentations, moon cactus exhibits some other interesting features. The colorful part, hereby referred to as the scion is usually the main plant while the lower part can be any species of cacti that acts as the rootstock. While many species of cacti can be used as the rootstock, the Hylocereus cactus is usually preferred because it roots easily and grows fast.

While many people mistake the colorful part of the moon cacti with their flowers, this is not the case. Moon cactus rarely flowers, but when they do, the flowers come in varying shades of pink. Flowers would usually shoot from the top colored scion and not from the green rootstock. This happens mostly in late spring or early summer. Seeds can also be achieved if the conditions are right and the cactus thrives as expected

Moon Cactus is widely known and highly valued of all cacti. Growing moon cactus is a popular skill among gardening enthusiasts for its beautiful appearance, ease of growth and productivity.

If you are wondering how to grow moon cactus, you have come to the right place. This succulent plant is very beautiful and unusual looking with its interesting color and shape. Its moon-like appearance makes it very popular among people for its beautiful appearance, ease of growth, and productivity.

Moon cacti rarely bloom, but when they do, the colored scion produces pinkish flowers.

Moon cactus can grow to various heights. This will be dependent on the rootstock, but generally, the cactus will stop growing at about 4 inches. Its maximum diameter is between 1 and 2 inches. Even with such size, its stands out with its interesting growth patterns. The plant features 8 to 14 ribs, usually slightly notched and with narrow edges. It grows several slightly curved, weak and flexible graying-yellow thorns.

The moon cactus can be grown together with several other cacti varieties but blends best with the Schlumbergera, otherwise known as the Christmas, Thanksgiving or Easter cactus. Both cacti varieties require the same environmental conditions to thrive. It needs plenty of light but should not be direct. When grown indoors, you may consider positioning it in an east or west-facing window. Some notable signs of too much light is a bleached white pigment or scars developing on the ribs. In some cases, the whole plant may suddenly turn yellow.

Moon cacti cannot survive in temperatures below 9 degrees. However, it prefers relatively humid conditions. As such, they are easy-going in terms of their moisture needs. Always make sure the soil is completely dry before adding in more moisture. Additionally, you may consider misting the top of the cactus to keep their pink, orange, red and yellow colors even more vibrant. Misting helps offer the much-needed moisture without necessarily adding more water to the soil underneath.

Growing moon cacti doesn’t have to be too complicated. However, you will need to keep in mind that you are caring for two plants in one. In most cases, the rootstock may require different conditions and care needs from the main moon cactus at the top. As such, you need much diligence to ensure that you strike a balance for a better relationship between the two. With these in place, this colorful mutant cactus will give your home that ornamental look for much longer.

Top 5 Desert cactus To Grow Indoors

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Growing plants in your home can be a thrilling and satisfying experience. In fact, it is one of the best things that every plant enthusiast longs for in life. While there are many plants you can grow in your home, succulents will always stand out because they need minimal care to thrive. They also offer a wide range of exciting benefits such as improved concentration, productivity, and air purification.

So, what are the top five desert cactus to grow indoors? While there are more than 2500 cacti species, only a few stand out as great indoor plants. Opuntia, Christmas Cactus, Saguaro Cactus, Barrel Cactus, and the Old Lady Cactus are the most popular indoor cacti species.

These plants do well in average room temperatures and can still survive without exposure to lots of sunlight. Most of them are also flowering species and may surprise you with vibrant blooms, which is a bonus for plants that already thrill with their magnificent shapes and spiny textures.

In this post, we discuss these cacti species in detail and provide you with great insights into how to achieve better results.  Keep in mind that growing these succulents indoors is quite different from growing them outdoors. So, let us get started.

Saguaro Cactus

If you have ever visited the Sonoran Desert, you may never forget the astonishing sight of a 40-feet giant Saguaro cactus standing tall in the landscape. The Saguaro cactus (Carnegiea Gigantean) is an enormous and slow-growing plant that can live for up to 200 years.

A mature Saguaro Cactus.
Saguaro Cactus requires well-drained soil and relatively hot environment to grow healthy.

Its scientific name translates to “gigantic candle” because of its large size. Saguaros are barrel-shaped with external water-storing pleats.

The plant can be used as a source of food for both humans and wild animals and provides a cavity-nesting for various birds. Saguaro plants also have peripheral stems known as arms.

An adult Saguaro can weigh up to six tons or more when filled with water and requires a relatively strong internal support skeleton.

Growing Saguaro Cactus Indoors

Saguaro cactus can only thrive in well-drained soil that doesn’t hold for too long.  The plant does well when it receives low levels of water and prolonged exposure to light.

Since it is used to growing in relatively hot conditions, this plant won’t survive freezing temperatures. Make sure you bring your containerized plants indoors as soon as temperatures fall below 60oF.

Water your plant at least once every 10 to 14 days and ensure the soil dries out completely between watering sessions. Check the soil to four inches deep with your fingers just to be sure that it is completely dry.

If you feel even the slightest moisture, wait for a few more days before watering. During winter, stop watering until temperatures start rising above 60oF.

Keep your plant in a brightly lit spot but maintain low humidity. Consider taking your Saguaro outdoors during spring and summer so that it can enjoy the sunlight. Consider keeping it out for several hours a day then bring it back indoors during the night.

Saguaro Cactus Blossoms

This plant is slow to develop and maybe 35 years old or even more before it starts flowering. It mostly blooms in May to June and produces creamy white flowers that are approximately three inches across. Saguaro flowers open up at night and close during the day.

Christmas Cactus

The Schlumbergera Bridgessii, commonly referred to as the Christmas Cactus, is one of the few spineless cacti species native to Brazilian tropical rainforests. The plant is characterized by its serrated green leaves and beautiful flowers.

A flowering Christmas Cactus.
Christmas Cactus can grow healthy in low-light conditions with well-draining soil.

The Christmas Cactus does well indoors in relatively moderate home conditions. The secret to getting the best out of your holiday cactus is to avoid too much watering because it can lead to irreversible root rot.

The plant can adapt to low-light environments and does well in well-draining soil that doesn’t hold water for too long.  To achieve better results, make sure you use quality potting mix rich in humus and other vital nutrients.

Maintain your indoor temperature at 65oF and keep your soil evenly moist when the plant is flowering. During summer, move it away from the brightly lit spots into more shaded areas.

Christmas Cactus Bloom

The plant starts flowering in winter just around the Christmas period hence the name Christmas Cactus. To start blooming, the plant requires exposure to extended hours of darkness at least four weeks before the flowering season kicks in.

Therefore, it is crucial to relocate your Christmas Cactus to a dark spot in early October and keep it covered for at least 12 hours. This reminds the plant that the blooming season is around the corner, and it should start preparing to form flower buds.

When flower buds start to appear, introduce it to warmer temperatures, and resume regular watering regimen.  Fertilize your plant after the flowering season.

Old Lady Cactus

The Mammillaria Hahniana, also known as the Old Lady Cactus, is characterized by white hair that covers its entire surface. This cactus is from the Cactaceae family and is native to Guanajuato State of Mexico and the dry regions of Bolivia and Argentina.

A flowering old lady cactus.
The Old Lady Cactus can still do well indoors if positioned in a room with moderate sunlight exposure.

The white hairs on its surface give the impression of an old lady’s white hair or old man’s beard. The hairs protect the plant from excessive heat and also hide the numerous amounts of yellow spines.

Growing the Old Lady Cactus Indoors

While it thrives well in an outdoor setting, the Old Lady Cactus can still do well indoors if positioned in a room with moderate sunlight exposure.

Plant the Old Lady Cactus in a fast-draining potting mix, preferably with added perlite or pumice for enhanced draining. If you are planting it in a pot, choose a container with plenty of drainage holes.

Although this plant is well-adapted to sustain excessive amounts of heat, do not be deceived because overexposure to direct sunlight can lead to severe and irreversible sunburns. Move it around in the course of the day if you are keeping it in a spot that is lit all day.

You should only water this cactus when the soil is completely dry because it only requires little water to thrive. Be careful not to overwater the plant because it can easily develop irreversible root rot.

During winter, cut back on watering because the plant is dormant and doesn’t require as much water as usual. You can stop watering altogether or only mist it once in a while.

Fertilize your Old Lady Cactus at least once in the summer with a high potassium fertilizer and consider repotting it at least once every year. Repotting should only be done during spring or early summer.

Opuntia Cactus

The prickly pear (Opuntia spp.) is one of the most popular plants in the Cactaceae family. It thrives in drought-prone areas, but it also does well indoors. The plant is characterized by flat and club-shaped pads containing many spines, hence the name prickly pear.

A prickly pear Cactus.
Prickly pear is a fruit-bearing cactus that can thrive in a well-lit place and fast-draining soil.

Most Opuntia cacti species are prized for their edible fruits commonly enjoyed as a refreshing snack in parts of Mexico and the United States. The plant blooms mid-summer, producing lovely yellow, purple and red flowers.

Growing Opuntia Cactus Indoors

As a desert cactus, the prickly pear requires maximum exposure to sunlight/artificial light to survive and thrive. Therefore, consider positioning it in a well-lit spot of your house that receives plenty of sunlight. A north-facing window works best if you live in the southern hemisphere.

However, these plants require little water to thrive. So, limit your watering to once every three or four weeks and only water when the soil is completely dry.  The most critical requirement for any plant in the Opuntia genus is a potting mix that drains fast.

Choose a potting mix that is well formulated to drain fast, and when watering your plant, simply moisten; don’t soak. If you are growing your Opuntia spp. in a pot, make sure it contains plenty of drainage holes.

Repot only when the plant outgrows its current pot and make sure you go for the right pot size. It shouldn’t be too small or too big.  Fertilize your plant twice every year to ensure healthy and quality blooms. Fertilization should be done in spring.

Barrel Cactus

This cactus is named after its barrel/circular shape. The plant is also nicknamed the “Mother-in-law-cushion” and is mostly found in Mexico and parts of Southwestern US.  In their natural habitat, these plants live in extremely hot areas and have adapted to direct sunlight.

A golden barrel cactus.
Barrel cactus can grow in relatively low temperatures but cannot tolerate humidity.

They make perfect display plants when grown indoors since they are highly attractive.  As they grow, they tend to stretch out and assume a circular or oval shape. Just like other cacti plants, the secret to growing them indoors successfully is perfect drainage.

Growing Barrel Cactus Indoors

Barrel cactus does best in relatively sunny spots. Therefore, consider positioning it on a north-facing window. If your house doesn’t have a perfect place that receives plenty of sunlight, install artificial growth lights.

The plant can tolerate low temperatures of up to 50oF but does best without humidity.  As long as everything is kept constant, the plant should be fine in a regular household environment.

Make sure you use a well-draining potting mix and repot the plant as soon as the soil starts to break down. You can encourage drainage by adding sand or extra perlite to the soil or adding a few inches of small pebbles or gravel to the bottom of the container.

Feed your barrel cactus with a weak liquid fertilizer solution at least once during spring.  Water infrequently and ensure that the potting mix drains out completely during watering. Do not allow the plant to sit in water because the results can be catastrophic.

How Long Can a Cactus Survive Indoors?

Cactus plants are well-suited for indoor living since they require little maintenance. With proper care, cacti can survive indoors for several years and even decades.

Ensure you provide adequate light, the right soil mix, and enough water to help them thrive indoors. Also, remember not to overwater since too much water can lead to root rot.

Lastly, ensure you repot your cacti when needed and fertilize them twice a year. Typically, you should repot your indoor cacti every two or three years and fertilize them once in spring.

When repotting, pay close attention to the soil mix you use since this will determine how well your cacti survive indoors. A good quality potting mix that drains fast is essential for their healthy growth and survival.

Also, go for a pot slightly bigger than your existing one to provide enough space for the roots and top growth. Ideally, the new pot should be two to three inches larger than the previous one.

For instance, if the current pot is five inches in diameter, go for one that is seven to eight inches in diameter. This will give your cactus plenty of room to grow.

Can an Indoor Cactus Flower?

Yes, an indoor cactus can flower. While some cacti species may remain vegetative for years, others will produce flowers under the right conditions. 

Typically, these plants need plenty of light and a warm temperature to flower successfully indoors.

You must also remember to feed your cactus regularly during spring and summer to ensure healthy and quality blooms.

Consider using a balanced liquid fertilizer that is formulated for cacti and succulents. Use the solution at half strength and apply it every other month during the growing season.

How Often Should I Prune My Indoor Cactus?

It is normal for your indoor cactus to outgrow its pot and become bushy. As this happens, it will require regular pruning. Pruning helps encourage healthy growth and enhances the appearance of the plant.

To ensure vigorous growth, you should prune any overgrown parts of the cactus during springtime or summer. Use sharp pruning shears or scissors to avoid damage and cut the stems off at their base.

How Do I Treat Pests and Diseases On My Indoor Cactus?

Indoor cacti may be affected by pests and diseases, especially if they are overwatered or exposed to low temperatures. Common pest infestations include spider mites, mealybugs, aphids, and scale insects.

To treat these pests, you can use insecticidal soap or neem oil to eliminate them. Consider using a systemic insecticide formulated for cacti and succulents if the infestation is severe.

If your plant shows signs of fungal or bacterial diseases, consider discarding it because the diseases can quickly spread to other plants in your collection.

Summary

Cacti plants are a unique addition to your indoor plant collection. These plants are low-maintenance and easy to care for. Furthermore, they offer a wide range of benefits to you and your loved ones.  So, if you are ready to up your houseplant game, make sure you start with any of the cacti species mentioned above.