Cactus

While the Cactus boasts a well deserved reputation of being one of the hardiest houseplants in the world, it does need a little TLC on occasion to bring the best out of this beauty.   A Cactus belongs to a group called succulents, which are plants that retain water in their leaves to adapt to a dry climate.  But there are actually thousands of types of cacti, and they can be broken down into five groups:

·         Desert cacti such as the Prickly Pear or Saquaros (the typical multi-armed tall version you picture in the desert).  Of course these favor more direct sun and less water;

·         Mountain cacti such the Monk’s Hood or Bishops Cap, which favor cooler night temperatures;

·         Seashore cacti such as the Melon Cactus and Copiapoa Cactus.  This group needs more humidity and tend to be the most difficult group to grow as a houseplant;;

·         Rainforest cacti – the most popular cactus, the Christmas Cactus, belongs in this group and of course, they need less sunlight and more water.

·         Savanna cacti, such as the Indian Head or Pincushion cactus tend to be the easiest to grow as a houseplant, and do well in terrarium settings.

It helps to know exactly which species of Cactus you have, so be sure to identify your plant.  While each group and species of Cacti has more specific handling and care tips, all will benefit with the following general Cactus care tips:

Light

Of course a cactus needs plenty of light, but some species, such as the Christmas Cactus, can actually get sunburned leaves!   This is the point where you need to identify your cactus to determine if it prefers sun or shade.  Shade lovers will do best in an east facing window without bright, direct sunlight, while the sun lovers will do best in a south or west window which has a few hours of direct sunlight per day.

Water

Overwatering is a surefire way to kill a cactus.  Each type of Cactus needs to have the planting medium dry between waterings.  To test, stick a pencil or thin wooden stick one to two inches in the soil or medium – if soil or moisture sticks to it, do not water.  Since a cactus is a perennial plant, it needs less water in the winter.

Potting

Cactus houseplants need a soil or planting medium that drains well.  Cactus soil mixes are available, or you can make your own by combining two parts peat-based potting soil with one part coarse sand.

The best pot for a cactus tends to be a clay pot with a large hole for drainage.  Cover the hole with shards of broken pots so the soil/sand does not run out.  A good rule of thumb for pot size is to choose one that is half as wide as the height of the plant.  Do not water a newly repotted cactus immediately, give it at least a week to get settled in its new home.

Indoor Cactus houseplants are hardy, show-stopping beauties that will reward you with years of enjoyment.  They offer so much back for so little!  Just remember, if you kill a cactus you could be labeled for life as plant-challenged, so take a few minutes to learn how to care for your Cactus.