Types of indoor cacti

Can cacti be used to decorate a room? I think it is important to ask yourself this question, because we are talking about plants that are very demanding of light, something that they cannot always have in the home. In fact, this is a problem that causes the rapid deterioration of their health, as it causes, at the very least, they lose their natural color and consequently the production of chlorophyll, essential for photosynthesis, decreases.

But I won't be the one to tell you that you can't have them indoors. It's more, Yes, it is possible to enjoy them there, but it is convenient to choose the right species and provide them with a series of care that I am going to explain to you in this article. Of course, before we are going to see what are the types of indoor cacti that will best adapt to the conditions of the home.

Indoor cactus selection

Cacti in a home can do a lot of good. They are exotic plants, with flowers that often have a very high ornamental value, and also do not require too high maintenance. But taking into account your needs, I am going to recommend these species, as they are the ones that can grow best in a room:

Cleistocactus colademononis (Monkey tail cactus)

The cactus known as monkey's tail It is an epiphytic or hanging plant with cylindrical and hairy stems that can measure up to 2 meters long. Its flowers are red and they sprout at the end of these stems, throughout the spring.

Disocactus flagelliformis (Rat tail cactus)

El rat tail cactus It is an epiphytic plant that you can use as a pendant. Its stems are cylindrical, protected by thorns 4-7 millimeters long. Flowers bloom in spring, are pink or red, and are approximately four centimeters in diameter.

Epiphyllum oxypetalum (Orchid cactus)

El orchid cactus is an epiphytic cactus plant that produces one of the largest and most beautiful flowers of all cacti: they measure up to 25 centimeters in diameter, are white and also give off a delicious aroma. The downside is that they only last one night. It blooms in summer, so stay tuned.

Echinopsis chamacereus (Peanut cactus)

This is a cactus that used to have another scientific name, Chamacereus silvestrii. It is a plant that produces many cylindrical stems that first grow vertically but eventually lean towards the ground. It measures approximately 10 centimeters high by 30 centimeters wide, and its red flowers appear in spring.

Gymnocalycium mihanovichii (Chin cactus)

El Gymnocalycium mihanovichii It is a spherical, reddish-green cactus that reaches a height of about 3 centimeters and a diameter of 6 centimeters. It is, therefore, a small plant, which in addition blooms in summer producing small 1-2 centimeter pink flowers. It is often grafted onto other cacti, such as Hylocereus, thus adopting the red or yellow color that attracts so much attention.

Hatiora gaertneri (Easter cactus)

The Easter cactus is a highly branched epiphytic plant with flattened, green stems. Its flowers bloom in springThey are scarlet in color, and are about 5-7 centimeters in diameter.

Rhipsalis baccifera (Ripsalis or disciplinary of Cuba)

El ripsalis It is an epiphytic cactus that has thin and very thin green stems that can measure up to one meter in length. Blooms in spring-summer, and it does so by producing white flowers.

Schlumbergera truncata (Christmas cactus)

El christmas cactus It is a hanging cactus plant, with practically flat green stems that grow about 60 centimeters long. Towards the end of the year and until the beginning of spring it produces flowers white, red, pink or purple.

How to care for an indoor cactus?

Caring for an indoor cactus can be a simple task, but you have to take into account several things so that unforeseen events do not arise:

Luz

They are plants that they need lots and lots of natural light. It is important that they are placed in a room where there are windows through which sunlight enters, or where there is a glass ceiling. But yes, you do not have to give them direct light, not even through the windows, as they would burn. Also, you have to rotate the pot every day so that it receives the same amount of light from all sides.

Irrigation

Irrigation of indoor cacti has to be very scarce. Water only when the soil is dry. If in doubt, you can do a couple of things to check the humidity:

• Weigh the pot before watering and after: wet soil weighs more than dry soil, so this difference in weight will be very helpful.
• Use a digital moisture meter: it is practical if you insert it at different points (closer to the edge of the pot, further away). As soon as you do it, you will see how wet the earth is.

Likewise, it is better not to put a plate under them. Think that the water that remains stagnant there, near the roots, and if you keep the plate full, the plants will rot. If you want to put it on, remember to drain it after watering.

Cactus soil

Cactus roots do not tolerate excess water, but they also rot if the humidity of the environment is high. Therefore, it is necessary that the soil that you put on it is light and that it drains the water well, such as this. The standard mix is ​​black peat with equal parts perlite, but if you live on an island or near the sea or a river, I recommend planting them in, simply, pomx (for sale here) so that the humidity does not harm them.

Transplant

Cacti grow slowly, so it is normal that from one year to the next you hardly notice any changes. But after 2 or 3 years you will have to plant them in a pot about three or four centimeters wider and deep that has holes in its base.

Fertilizer

The fertilizer is especially important if you choose to plant them only in the pumice, as this substrate does not have nutrients. You have to pay them during the spring and summer, with specific liquid fertilizers for cacti (for sale here) always following the instructions on the package. So you will see that it grows normally and that it even blooms.

What do you think of these indoor cacti? These are succulent plants, like succulents, but unlike succulents they have areoles and often thorns. If you want to know more, I invite you to read this article:

Related article:

Everything you need to know about succulents