Beginners Guide

Ever wondered why a cactus plant is highly referred both in its natural habitat and at home? Well, this prickly plant has remained a wonder to both man and animals, thanks to its unique features.  Any animal or human who has come in contact or seen a cactus will attest that no other plant comes close to it in terms of its uniqueness. It goes against the norm expected for most plants, and this has made it stand out.

So, what is so special about cactus plants? Apart from being one of the longest living plants on earth, it is also one of the most resilient and can withstand the harshest climatic conditions. The plant also grows in unique shapes and sizes seldom seen in conventional plants. They are also nocturnal and display unique growth patterns.

This article will be looking at some of the most notable features that make this plant uniquely special. It will look at how this prickly plant is wired differently, and factors that make it stand out in its growth pattern.

They are nocturnal

 While each plant is wired differently, most of them are known to be active during the day. This is especially so in terms of their ability to take up nutrients and make food. During the day, the sun provides the best environment and conditions for photosynthesis, thus keeping most plants active. However, cacti seem to take a different route since they work best at night.  Unlike most plants that open their stomata during the day, cacti have their pores open at night.  This is an adaptation meant to help avoid water loss that would otherwise happen during the day when the sun is up.

During the night, temperatures are low. This is coupled with the calm breeze that helps them retain as much water as possible.

They are stem succulents

By virtue of being part of the succulent family, cacti are known to store water within its system. Unlike other succulents that store its water in the leaves, cacti do not have leaves and will let its stems take up this role. The huge, thick stem help function as a water storage ‘tank’.  This explains why most cactus, have huge, round stems. During the dry season, this plant uses up the water already stored in its stems awaiting the little rains that come by occasionally in the deserts.

Unique growth patterns

Cactus is known to display some of the most bizarre growth patterns in the plant kingdom. This may range from its size to shape and texture. Some varieties like the arborescent cacti would take up the shape of the normal tree but will have a single huge trunk coupled by several branches. Then there are the columnar cacti that grow in cylindrical shapes. Depending on the variety, its stems may or may not have branches.

These prickly plants have it all from the massive-shaped cactus like the Saguaro to the smallest varieties like the moon cactus. Each cactus species has a unique growth pattern based on its adaptation and environment.  Some species like the barrel cactus grow into huge cylindrical shapes while others like the pencil cactus depict the smallest of stems, you can almost mistake them for some type of grass. This huge contrast is what makes cactus stand out from the rest.

They are drought resistant

This may be rather obvious, but at the same time, it is a feature you would not find in most plants. Most cactus species are adapted for the deserts. As such, they have developed unique features and characteristics that help them adapt to this environment. Not many plants would survive in the desert, considering the fact that little rains and lack of enough nutrients may be detrimental to plant survival. However, cacti have mastered the art of thriving on such harsh environments thanks to its unique adaptations like succulent stems, lack of leaves and shallow root systems.

They can flower any time

Unlike other plants that have specific blooming seasons, most cacti species do not follow this trend. Their flowering will depend on the weather conditions and availability of food. As such, they tend to flower when they are ‘happy’. This is characterized by enough water and nutrients in the soil.

Usually, some cactus species that rarely flower in their natural habitats would bloom better when grown at home, thanks to close monitoring, water availability, and the right fertilizer. While some would follow up this flowering with some fruits, others would simply fade out awaiting the next appropriate season to bloom again.

Unique skin surface

It is always easy to spot a cactus plant by simply looking at its skin surface. Most cactus plants have a characteristic shiny, waxy skin that helps them survive through the harsh conditions in the desert. In most cases, the outer part of the stem is ribbed. These ribs come in handy to help the plant stretch out and accommodate as much water as possible without the risk of bursting. While the ribs also help in offering shade to the plant’s skin, the shiny waxy skin, on the other hand, comes in handy to help reduce the evaporation rate of the plant.

Multipurpose  spines

Most plants have spines, alright, but for the cactus, its spines stand out, thanks to its functions and positioning.  In most cases, the spines would grow all over the plant’s stem. Apart from offering some aesthetics to the plant, the spines have other special functions in terms of helping the plant survive harsh environmental conditions. Mostly, the spines take the place of leaves and thus help reduce water loss that would otherwise happen through the stomata.

On the other hand, these prickly features on the cactus act as a defence mechanism against attack from herbivores. During the dry season, the cactus will be the only green plant remaining. This makes it the main target for herbivores looking for food. With these spines, the plant deters such animals from devouring them. In some cactus species, the spines help collect and direct the little rainwater into the roots. Others have huge spines that also help offer shade to the plants’ skin to avoid unnecessary water loss.

Complex root system

Roots are meant to help a plant tap nutrients from the soil while offering support. Unlike other plants that have extensively deep roots, the cactus depicts a shallow root system. This is a special adaptation meant to help collect as much rainwater as possible. The desert experiences occasional rains, and when it does rain, it comes in small portions that may not seep deep into the soil.

With the shallow roots, it becomes much easier for the cactus to take advantage and use up as much water as possible. These roots would grow exponentially during such wet conditions to help the plant take up as much water as possible. When it dries up, the extra roots will break off from the main root system to help conserve as much water as possible.

Areoles

Areoles are small raised structures visible on the stems of most cactus species. These have become a distinguishing trait for the cactus family as you would not find these in any other plant. Cactus spines originate from its areoles. They are usually oval-shaped or circular and would be covered by sharp spikes or small hairs.

Extensive lifetimes

Cactus is one of the few plant species that have been documented to live for hundreds of years. This may result from their slow growth, but most importantly, their adaptations that help them survive and thrive even in the harshest of conditions. Some species like the Saguaro have been documented to live for well over 200 years.

They use ants as an additional defence mechanism

A cactus’ first line of defence against herbivores is the spines. However, these may not always be effective since there are other predators like mealybugs and other harmful insects and pest that may be destructive to the cactus. As such, most cactus species employ other forms of defence to help them survive the harsh environment. One of these is the ability to attract ants within its vicinity to help deter small animals and harmful insects from feeding on it. It does so by producing nectar and other attractive juices for ants. In their bid to quench their thirst, the ants will flock to the plant thus acting as additional bodyguards to the cactus.

If you are a cactus enthusiast, you will agree that these prickly plants never cease to amaze. With their hundreds of species and respective uniqueness, you would be spoilt for choice on what to go for. Its exotic-looking features are enough to keep you glued to this special family of plants.

If you are a plant lover and have a few cacti plants in your outdoor garden or indoor spaces, you already know that these succulents are unique.  While most of them grow slowly, they tend to bloom when the right time comes, and the conditions are right. In fact, many gardeners get a lot of satisfaction from seeing their cacti plants flower.  It is always a validation that they are happy and doing well. But what happens after cacti plants flower? Do they die? We shall find out shortly.

So do cacti plants die after flowering?  The simple answer is “no.”  Most cacti plants do not die after blooming, although some do.  It depends on the cacti species you have in your home and how you take care of it during the blooming season.  If you do everything right and your cactus plant still dies after blooming, it could be a monocarpic species. When a cactus plant dies after blooming, it is commonly referred to as the “bloom of death.”

This post covers everything you need to know about the bloom of death and whether cacti plants experience this phenomenon. We shall also highlight some of the things you need to do to take care of your cactus during and after the flowering season. So, let us get started.

Why Do Cacti Plants Flower

The truth is that a majority of cacti species do flower. Some species such as the Christmas cactus start flowering early, while others such as the Saguaro won’t start blooming until they are 30 years old.

With over 2,000 species in the cactus family, diversity also reigns on the size of flowers they produce. While some cactuses produce relatively smaller and inconspicuous flowers, others produce large and bold flowers that provide a magical floral display.

It is the flowers and the magical show that they put on which distinguishes cacti plants from other succulents. However, one thing you must remember is that these succulents only bloom during seasons of active growth.

But what does a flowering cactus mean? Like all plants, cactuses bloom to attract pollinators. It is one of their natural ways of surviving in the relatively harsh environment to ensure the production of the next generation.

But how do they do this? It is quite simple. They produce seeds within the flowers, which later on fall to the ground and germinate. Flowers contain the primary reproductive parts for most plants. The flowers are mostly brightly colored to attract birds, butterflies, and bees for pollination.

In the wild, these plants mostly rely on birds and insects for pollination to reproduce.  However, if grown at home, you can use a standard paintbrush to facilitate cross pollination. The goal is still the same- to produce seeds.  You can then harvest the seeds and germinate them to produce new plants.

Most cacti plant gardeners use this approach to expand their plant collection. However, there are still other ways of reproducing cacti plants, such as stem propagation.

When Do Cacti Plants Flower?

Most cacti species flower at some point in their growth cycle. However, there is no definitive answer to this question since the flowering time for cacti plants can vary greatly.

Some cacti species will flower early during their growth cycle, while others won’t flower until they are much older.

For example, the Christmas cactus usually flowers within 2-3 years from seed, while the Saguaro cactus can take up to 30 years before it produces its first bloom.

The main flowering season for most cacti is spring. However, some species, such as the Christmas cactus, can flower during other seasons, such as winter. In general, the blooming season for cacti is mostly determined by the type of cactus plant and the climate conditions in its natural habitat.

For example, cacti plants that originate from tropical regions, such as the Christmas cactus, are more likely to flower all year round than those from desert regions with a shorter blooming season.

Do Cacti Plants Die After Flowering?

As mentioned earlier, most cacti species don’t die after blooming, although we have a few species that do. Plants that die after flowering are known as monocarpic, and it is a natural phenomenon that you can’t avoid. If your cactus dies after blooming, then it is known as the “bloom of death.”

One way to tell if your cactus is monocarpic is by the way it blooms.  If the flowers tend to come out from the center of the plant and the entire plant transforms into a flower stalk, there is a high probability that it is monocarpic. Typically, the flowers should grow from the sides of the cactus.

There is nothing you can do once you realize your cactus is monocarpic. Nothing can stop the process because it is natural. All you have to do is enjoy the floral display while it lasts and be prepared to say goodbye to your plant.

Although it may sound tragic, you will be surprised to learn that most monocarpic plants don’t die in vain.  Most of them are great producers and tend to produce plenty of pups just before they flower and die. 

In most cases, the pups will continue living and transform into beautiful plants. Only the mother plant dies after a massive blooming.

How Do I Care for a Blooming Cactus?

In most cases, you don’t need to provide a flowering cactus with any special treatment. In fact, blooming is a sign that the plant is meeting all of its needs just as it is. The only thing you need to do is continue providing it with the normal daily care, and it will do the rest.

Some gardeners like to supply their cacti plants with extra nutrients during the flowering season to ensure that the plant receives all it wants to sustain the flowers.

If you must feed the plant during this time, make sure you administer the fertilizer at ¼ or ½ strength every two or three weeks. This is enough to provide the cactus with sufficient nutrients it needs during the blooming season.

However, you need to be careful with watering. If you overwater a cactus, it won’t achieve full bloom. If you overwater before the first flowers appear, the plant will only start shooting out what appears to be a bloom stalk, but it won’t bloom.

This is common with overwatered cacti. If you want to see the best of your cacti plants during the blooming season, it is necessary to provide enough water but don’t overwater.

How Do I Take Care of the Christmas Cactus After the Blooming Season?

The Christmas cactus is one of the most commonly grown cacti species in homes. Most people love it for its beautiful appearance and regular blooming. As long as you take good care of a Christmas cactus, it will always bloom around the holiday season.

Since a Christmas cactus blooms furiously, you need to know how to take care of it after the flowering season so that you don’t end up with a mess.

The first thing you need to do immediately after the blooming season is to prune your Christmas cactus to transform it into a full bushy plant so that it can flower better the next holiday season. 

The best time to prune your Christmas cactus is four to six weeks after it has stopped flowering.

During the first 30 days after the blooming, consider keeping the soil slightly drier than usual. However, you should never prune your Christmas cactus after May. You can easily propagate this cactus species from stem tip cuttings.

Make sure you use at least three jointed segments from a healthy stem to achieve good results. Allow your cuttings to dry out for a couple of hours before you plant them in a pot to avoid rotting.

You should also avoid moving your Christmas cactus into a larger container. The cactus will typically grow better and produce more flowers when it is in a slightly smaller container.

If you must re-pot your cactus, wait until the blooming season is over. The best time to do the re-potting is in the spring.

How Long Do Cactus Blooms Last?

The answer to this question largely depends on the type of cactus. There are several types of cacti, and each one has a unique blooming period. Some cacti have flowers that only last for a day, while others can keep their flowers for months.

The length of time a cactus bloom lasts also depends on the environment and how you take care of the plant.

For instance, if you live in an area with high humidity, your cactus bloom is likely to last shorter than in a drier climate.

The same goes for how you take care of the plant. If you overwater your cactus, the flowers will most likely rot and fall off sooner than if you kept the plant healthy and hydrated.

In general, cactus blooms usually last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. However, some types of cacti can keep their flowers for months.

A Saguaro cactus flower only stays open for one night, while other species’ blooms may last much longer—a week or more in some cases. The duration of a cactus bloom also varies depending on the age of the plant. Younger plants tend to have shorter-lived blooms than older plants.

Should I Deadhead My Cactus Blooms?

In most cases, deadheading cactus blooms isn’t necessary because the blooms tend to fall off automatically when they dry.

Getting rid of the spent cactus blooms is relatively easier in such a situation. All you have to do is pick them up from the ground where they have fallen and dispose of them appropriately.

However, you need to be careful when picking the blooms because you may come into contact with the dreaded spines that can pierce through your skin, causing severe injuries.

In some cases, the faded blooms will cling to the cactus and start rotting when it rains or when you water the plant. With careful observation, you will know which blooms have clung to the plant for deadheading. In this situation, it is best to remove the stalks as soon as the bloom starts to fade away.

Look for seeds that may reproduce before you get rid of the blooms. If you know the exact names of the cacti species in your garden, look them up to see if they usually produce viable seeds inside the flowers. 

In some cases, you may be forced to leave the seeds inside the flower for them to mature before planting.

Should I Water My Cactus When It Is Blooming?

It is crucial to water your cactus when it is in bloom to ensure that the blooms last longer. The extra moisture will also help the plant produce more flowers.

It is best to use lukewarm water when watering your cactus during the blooming season. You can water the plant at the base or use a misting can to avoid damaging the blooms.

Avoid getting water on the flowers as much as possible because this can cause them to rot. Water the plant in the morning so the leaves have time to dry before nightfall.

It is also important to fertilize your cactus when it is in bloom. Use a fertilizer that is high in phosphorus to encourage blooming. You can either apply the fertilizer directly to the soil or mix it with the water when you water the plant.

How often you need to fertilize your cactus depends on the fertilizer you use. Follow the instructions on the package for best results.

Final Thoughts

Cacti are great plants to have in your home. While there are different cacti varieties, most of them bloom at one stage in their lives. As long as you provide your cactus with the right conditions, you can be sure to witness a beautiful floral display when the right time comes.

Although most cacti species don’t die after flowering, a few of them do. Cacti plants that die after flowering are known as monocarpic, and there is nothing you can do about it.  Fortunately, the monocarpic cacti species usually leave behind plenty of pups that mature into new plants.

Your primary responsibility as a gardener is to keep doing what you are supposed to do, and your cactus will reward you with plenty of blooms when the right time comes.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.