Cacti are succulent plants that live mainly in the arid and semi-arid regions of the Americas. Although they usually start their life having the protection of other much larger plants that give them some shade, in the end they end up exposing themselves to sunlight because it is something they need to continue developing normally.
We must keep this in mind if we are looking for indoor cacti that need little light, since they are plants that can be very demanding indoors. I do not want to say with this that it is not viable to have them, because there are cacti that can adapt to living in these conditions, but it is not easy.
Are there indoor cacti?
I'll start by answering this question first because it's important. There is no indoor plant, none. But if, for example, we are in a town where temperatures drop below zero degrees and we have a cactus that does not resist frost, if we want it to survive we will have to protect it either inside the house or inside a greenhouse.
Only then can it have the chance to get ahead and reach spring to continue its growth. For this reason, every time we see them in stores or nurseries, or when the person in charge of these tells us that they are "indoor plants" we have to think that They are cold-sensitive plants that will need protection during the winter.
What are the indoor cacti that need low light?
Cacti, or any plant, can be in a dark room. They need light -natural- to carry out photosynthesis and grow. For this reason, what we will do is put them in one in which there is at least one window through which light from outside enters. Likewise, we will have to think that there are species that are more tolerant than others to low light, such as the following:
Cereus peruvianus (computer cacti)
El Cereus peruvianus It is a columnar cactus that is usually kept in offices since it is believed to absorb radiation from the computer, but although it can be there, It is important that there is light in that room so that it can grow. It is a spiny, slow-growing plant that can be kept in pots for a long time.
Echinopsis oxygona
Image - Wikimedia / Alan Levine // Echinopsis oxygona
El Echinopsis oxygona It is a more or less globular type of cactus, although it tends to grow vertically covered with short spines. It is a small succulent, which It can be grown in pots and indoors as long as it is placed in a room where there is a lot of light.. Its flowers are large and pink or white.
Epiphyllum (all species)
Image - Wikimedia / കാക്കര
The Epiphyllum are epiphytic cacti of tropical origin that are known by the names of orchid cactus or queen of the night, since their flowers are a real beauty, just like those of the aforementioned. Large size, its petals can be white, pink, orange, red, and also have the peculiarity that they open at sunset. Not liking the cold at all, they are very interesting to have indoors.
Gymnocalycium (all species)
Image - Wikimedia / Petar43
Gymocalycium, called chin cacti, are globular plants of low height. They protect themselves with spines, which can be short or long. It must be said of these that They produce flowers of very beautiful colors, such as pinks, lilacs or oranges. In addition, they need relatively little irrigation, since they do not tolerate excess water in their roots.
Schlumbergera truncata (Christmas cacti)
Image - Flickr / Maja Dumat
El christmas cactus It is a succulent with drooping stems that blooms during the winter., either before, during or shortly after Christmas (everything will depend on the temperatures in the area and your state of health). That is why it is one of the favorites to have indoors, especially during those very important dates. Its flowers are wonderful, being able to be white, pink, orange or red.
How should cacti of cacti be indoors?
To finish, I want you to know how to take care of these cacti, since that way you can make them survive. Y The first and most important thing you have to do is plant them in a pot with holes with a specific substrate for these plants. (on sale here). That is to say, it is not worth putting them in a pot without holes, nor in a pot that does not have them, because if we do, the roots will rot due to the water that will remain stagnant in there.
Continuing with the water they must be watered when said substrate is dry. The roots do not like to be constantly or permanently wet, so it is necessary for the soil to dry out completely before watering it again. Also, you have to think that during the winter the risks will be much less, since it takes longer to dry.
When spring and summer arrive, think about fertilizing them with a liquid fertilizer for cacti (on sale here), following the instructions on the package. And if you see that their roots are sticking out of the pot, do not hesitate to plant them in a larger one.
Do you dare to have cacti indoors?