How many types of cacti are there and how are they cared for?

Cactus in a botanical garden

Cacti are equally loved and detested plants. Thorns can do a lot of damage, but often that is what people like so much; and that is not to mention how precious, although not very durable, that are its flowers. Another great attraction of these plants is that there are many types of cactus that are very different from each other, which is why they invite you to collect them.

Many of them can be kept in a pot throughout their life, but there are others that, due to their size, are better to grow in the garden. But, Do you know how many types of cacti there are?

Specimen of Eriosyce bulbocalyx

Eriosyce bulbocalyx

Cacti overview

The Cactus (family Cactaceae) are plants that began their evolution about 40 or 50 million years ago. Unlike the rest of vegetables, they have no leaves (although there are exceptions), but possess thorns. The task of photosynthesis has fallen on the stem, which in most species is green. That same stem is the one that contains the precious water. 

Therefore can withstand long periods of drought, But that doesn't mean they don't need a supply of water, which is why many cacti planted in gardens are lost or become ill. Even cacti from the driest climates on Earth, like the desert de Atacama receive a regular supply of water thanks to the mists. A man skilled in growing them once told me that a cactus needs much more water than we give it, and a substrate that drains very, very well, like pumice or river sand. 

Cacti Ferocactus viridescens

Ferocactus viridescens

In addition to a good substrate and water, they also need food. They are living beings and in order to grow they must have a regular supply of fertilizer during spring and summer. A) Yes, It is important that we fertilize them with a fertilizer for cacti following the instructions specified on the package, or with Nitrofoska by pouring a small spoonful on the surface of the substrate every 15 days.

And this is something we have to do with 2500 species distributed in more than 200 genera of cacti that currently exist, regardless of their shape and size. As there are so many species and there are so many different types of cacti, it is very difficult to talk in general about their care, so we are going to separate them into subfamilies and then into tribes, to try to be as exact as possible. Keep in mind that this classification may change from one day to the next. Then we will separate them by their shape to make it easier. 

Mammillaria pseudoperbella cactus in flower

Mammillaria pseudoperbella

Cactus types taxonomically

What all these plants have in common and allows us to differentiate a true cactus from a similar plant of another family is the presence of areolas, modified brachyblasts that only exist in this family. From them come the flowers, leaves, thorns, nectaries and branches. Here we are going to organize the types of cacti according to the taxonomic classification.

Subfamily Pereskioideae  

Fruits of Pereskia grandifolia, one of the most primitive cacti

Pereskia grandifolia              

Only includes gender pereskia. It is the most primitive cacti, to the point that they do not look like cacti. They have arboreal or bushy growth, with well developed leaves. Its flowers are similar to those of the wild rose bushes, which gives them the name of the rose cactus. Generally they want more humidity than the rest of cacti, since their leaves allow a lot of water to escape through perspiration. They are tropical, but most tolerate temperatures close to -3ºC. They mainly inhabit Central America.

Subfamily Maihuenioideae

Form of Maihuenia poeppigii

Maihuenia poeppigii

Only includes gender maihuenia, another of the most primitive cactus. They have leaves, but little developed, similar in appearance to those of Austrocylindropuntia, a genus with which it is easy to confuse them. They have a tufted growth, fragile-looking stems, and long spines. Flowers similar to those of the Opuntioideae family. Very resistant to cold and excess humidity, but not so resistant to heat. Endemic to South America.

Subfamily Opuntioideae

This subfamily includes 5 tribes quite different from each other. The common characteristics of all of them are the following: eharpoon-type spines, that remain nailed in the animals; presence of glochids, very small spines that come off on contact and are very irritating, whose basic function is to deter predators; presence of leaves, persistent or expired and growth mainly due to gear (short stems that lose their apex after the first growth).

Tribe Austrocylindropuntieae

Austrocylindropuntia subulata, one of the most common cacti

Austrocylindropuntia subulata

Endemic to South America. Includes genres Austrocylindropuntia y cumulopuntia, completely different plants.

  • Austrocylindropuntia: has elongated leaves, usually persistent for a year or more, except in drought conditions that throw them away. Its stems do not lose their apex, so they continue to grow up to several meters high, lacking the typical growth of the family stem. They are usually bushes at least a couple of meters high. They tend to withstand heat, cold, drought and excess water well.
  • Cumulopuntia: very small and compact plants, with large, very numerous spines and tiny leaves that fall after a few days. The joints are cylindrical or spherical and very short (they usually do not exceed 2cm in length).

Tribe Cylindropuntieae

Cylindropuntia tunicata

Cylindropuntia tunicata

It includes four genera, two specialized in vegetative reproduction transported by animals and two that become seedlings.

  • Cylindropuntia y Grusonia: Growth by cylindrical sticks with large, very sharp spines. These sticks are detached from the plant with great ease, so that when an animal brushes them, they get hooked and transport them to other places. They have leaves, but only while they develop the new knots. The fundamental difference between these two genders is that Cylindropuntia large plants are made, some species being able to be considered trees, and Grusonia They are very small plants that do not usually rise more than about 10cm. They rot quite easily, so they need very good drainage. In general, very resistant to cold. All the cylindropuntia are one of the most dangerous types of cacti.
Pereskiopsis spathulata detail

Pereskiopsis spathulata

  • Pereskiopsis y Quiabentia: Continuous growth by fine branches. They have large persistent leaves, similar to those of pereskia (hence its name). Quiabentia becomes a seedling, while Pereskiopsis has a bushy growth. They cannot stand the cold, but they do with excess humidity. Due to the fineness of its stems and its vigor, Pereskiopsis It is used to graft freshly sprouted cacti.

Tribe Opuntiae

Console rubescens detail

Consolea rubescens

Prickly pears and the like. These types of cacti have a growth by flattened sticks (cladodes), with leaves that remain on the plant only during the growth of new cladodes. It includes the following genres:

  • Opuntia: This includes the prickly pears or edible nopales and many similar plants. They can measure from a few centimeters to several meters, although their cladodes are usually always moderately large. They generally bear the cold well and are not delicate with the type of substrate.
  • Braziliopuntia y Console: two genera of arborescent opuntias. They usually have two types of growth, one with more cylindrical and continuous stems that form the main trunk and typical cladodes that form the lateral branches. They do not tolerate frost.
  • Tacinga: Generally they look similar to other opuntias, but smaller in size, with the biggest difference being the flowers, which are much smaller and less showy. Some species grow with cylindrical stems and sometimes even continuous ones.
  • Mycheliopuntia: identical in appearance to a Cylindropuntia, but that curiously is little related to them.
  • prickly pear: similar in growth to cumulopuntia but with cladodes instead of cylindrical devices.

Tribe Tephrocacteae

Tephrocactus geometricus dehydrated

Tephrocactus geometricus

With two genders, Maihueniopsis (also know as Puna) Y tephrocactus. They are medium to small plants, generally cylindrical or spherical. They have tiny leaves only as they develop the new knots. This tribe includes some of the most sought after cacti by collectors due to their curious aspects, such as Maihueniopsis clavata, whose pieces look like mushrooms or Tephrocactus articulatus var. strobiliformis, whose artifacts look like pine cones. They require very little water and substrates with excellent drainage, since they are very prone to rot. They bear the cold very well.

Tribe pterocacteae

Pterocactus tuberosus in flower

Pterocactus tuberosus

With only one gender, pterocactus. They are small plants with cylindrical stems that come out from the base, almost without branches. Not very aggressive thorns and generally terminal flowers that give them a curious appearance when blooming. Another interest of these plants is that they normally have tuberous roots that give them the appearance of a caudiciform plant when exposed. Quite resistant to cold.

Subfamily cactoideae

The most numerous subfamily of cacti. It includes both typical, columnar and barrel-type cacti, as well as epiphytic cacti. Sow lack leaves and the spines are rigid and stay attached to the plant. In general, everyone wants very draining substrates and plenty of sun. It includes nine tribes and many genera, so let's go through them quickly by focusing on just a few important characteristics.

Tribe browningieae

Browningia candelaris in habitat

browningia candelaris

Includes genres Armatocereus, Browningia, Jasminocereus, Neoraimondia y stetsonia. They are generally columnar cacti with high branching and little structure, which is why they have a tree-like appearance. They inhabit South America. Medium or small flowers, generally nocturnal.

Tribe cactus

Echinocactus grusonii in garden

Echinocactus grusonii

Includes genres Acharagma, Ariocarpus, Astrophytum, Aztekium, Coryphantha, Digitostigma, echinocactus, Echinomastus, Epithelantha, Escobaria, Ferocactus, Geohinthonia, Leuchtenbergia, Lophophora, Mammillaria, Mammilloydia, Neolloydia, Obregonia, Ortegocactus, Pediocactus, Pelecyphora, Sclerocactus, Stenocactus, Strombocactus, Thelocactus y Turbinicarpus. In this tribe you will find almost all the typical barrel cacti (Echinocactus grusonii, the mother-in-law seat, is found in this tribe). They may have only one type of areola from which all the structures emerge or have some with only spines and others for flowers and ramifications, as in the case of mammillarias. Also included in this tribe are cacti with rarer shapes, such as leuchtenbergia y digitostigma, which have very elongated tubers. Medium to very small flowers, generally diurnal.

Tribe calymmantheae

Calymmanthium substerile flower detail

Calymmanthium substerile

It includes a single genus, Calymmanthium. Little branched trees or shrubs are made. Its stems have very marked ribs and rather weak spines. Flowers of medium size, diurnal. It is not usually cultivated, so there is not much information about its requirements.

Tribe Cereeae

Fruit of Cereus validus

Cereus validus

Includes genres Thrown, Brasilicereus, Cereus, Cypocereus, Coleocephalocereus, melocactus, Micranthocereus, Pierrebraunia, Pilosocereus, Praecereus, Stephanocereus y uebelmannia. They are generally columnar cacti that branch from the ground, so they have a rather shrubby growth (an exception is melocactus, which has a globose appearance until it begins to flower and never branches). Some measure a few centimeters and others exceed 10m in height.

Tribe Hylocereeeae

Epiphyllum oxypetalum in flower

Epiphyllum oxypetalum

Includes genres Disocactus, Epiphyllum, hylocereus, Pseudohipsalis, Selenicereus y Weberocereus. They are climbing cacti that prefer more organic substrates than most and some shade, as well as a support on which to grow. To get hooked, they usually use aerial roots. They usually have few very marked ribs. Its flowers are very large and generally nocturnal. The pitahaya (Hylocereus spp.) is included here.

Tribe notocacteae

Eriosyce curvispina in flower

Eriosyce curvispina

Includes genres Austrocactus, Blossfeldia, Cynthia, copiapoa, Eriosyce, Eulychnia, Friar, Neowerdermannia y Parody. They are small and normally rounded cacti, with the exception of Eulychnia, which is a genus of fairly tall columnar cacti. The flowers are diurnal, medium or small. They generally inhabit southern South America.

Tribe Pachycereeeae

Carnegiea gigantea, the saguaro

The giant carnage

Includes genres Acanthocereus, Bergerocactus, carnegiea, Cephalocereus, Corryocactus, Echinocereus, Escontria, Leptocereus, myrtillocactus, Neobuxbaumia, Pachycereus, Peniocereus, Polaskia, Pseudoacanthocereus y Stenocereus. Almost all large columnar cacti. In this tribe are the famous saguaros (The giant carnage) and the largest cacti in the world (Pachycereus pringlei). Its flowers are usually medium and diurnal. They inhabit from Central America to Central North America.

Tribe Rhypsalideae

Schlumbergera truncata, the Christmas cactus

Schlumbergera truncata

Includes genres hatiora, Lepismium, rhipsalis y Schlumberg was. They are epiphytic cacti with medium to tiny flowers. In cultivation they prefer to be in the shade on a substrate similar to that of orchids. The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) and easter (Hatiora gaertneri) are found in this tribe.

Tribe trichocereeae

Echinopsis oxygona in flower

Echinopsis oxygona

Includes genres Acanthocalycium, Arthrocereus, Brachycereus, Cleistocactus, Denmoza, Discocactus, echinopsis, Wife, Espostoopsis, Facheiroa, Gymnocalycium, Haageocereus, Harrisia, Leocereus, matucana, mila, oreocereus, Oroya, Pygmaeocereus, Rauhocereus, Rebutia, Samaipaticereus, Trichocereus, Weberbauerocereus, Yavia y Yungasocereus. It is extremely variable, with all types of cacti, columnar, rounded, large, small, with daytime, nighttime, large, small flowers ... Some of the most cultivated cacti in cold climates (Cleistocactus strausii) and more showy flowers (Echinopsis spp.) are found here. They are all from South America.

Types of cactus according to their shape and care

The easiest thing is to classify them in this way, including only the most common ones. All types of cacti need very draining substrates.

  • Columns: they need full sun and mineral substrates.
  • Opuntia type: they prefer full sun and mineral substrates, generally supporting poor quality soils.
  • Barrel cacti: they want a lot of sun, but with some shade, and mineral substrates.
  • Napiform root: they need an almost completely mineral and extremely draining substrate, since they rot easily. Full sun or some shade.
  • Jungle cacti: they tolerate fairly organic substrates and prefer to be in semi-shade. They need somewhat more frequent waterings than the rest.

Thornless cactus

Astrophytum asterias in flower

Astrophytum asterias

For everyone who likes the look of cacti, but not so much having to deal with thorns, there are many species that may interest you.

  • Most epiphytic and climbing cacti lack spines, but it is true that they do not have the typical cactus shape.
  • As for the opuntias, Opuntia microdasys 'caress' and Opuntia ficus-indica 'inermis' they lack them.
  • Of barrel-type cacti, the Rebutia although they have thorns, they are not harmful. The peyotes (Lophophora spp.) Y Astrophytum asterias generally they don't have.
  • For the rest, those with the word 'inermis' behind the scientific name will not have thorns.

Did you know all these types of cacti? If you want more information, Click here.


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