Thinking about expanding your indoor plant collection? Check out this advice for growing and caring for indoor cacti.
There are a ton of species of cacti out there in the wild, but only a couple would fit in an apartment. Forest cacti and desert cacti love the indoor climate and don’t require too much attention as well. However, if you are living in an area where winters are pretty harsh, make sure you have both interior and exterior wall isolation because cacti love warmth.
Among the most resilient houseplants, desert and forest cactus grow slowly and produce stunning flowers. Known for their hardiness, desert, and forest cacti are striking additions to any windowsill or well-lit space due to their distinct and angular appearance.
If you take care of them accordingly and you have patience, you might be lucky and rewarded with some jaw-dropping flowers as well. For instance, the Christmas cactus is one of those that has stunning pink, yellow, purple, and red blooms.
Now, because I don’t want to bore you with a very long introduction, let’s get straight to “business” and find out how to maintain a healthy growing and caring for indoor cacti.
Place your cacti in a bright spot in the house
Most cacti species need a lot of light during the day; I’d say 5 to 6 hours of full sunlight, which is why you might want to put the pot near a window. To ensure it won’t burn or dry out, put some drapes too, and after noon use them to hide the cacti a bit.
If your cactus needs lots of light, you may take it outside in the summer, but only if the nighttime low reaches fifty degrees Fahrenheit or above.
Choose the right type of soil
Another thing you must pay attention to while growing and caring for indoor cacti is the soil. A fast-draining soil mixture designed especially for cacti is ideal for growing desert cacti. Additionally, they thrive in ordinary potting soil that has been enhanced in drainage and aeration with perlite, sand, or stones.
Although forest cacti may frequently grow quite fine in standard potting mix, they do like well-draining soil. Specialists recommend adding a bit of fertilizer to the soil too, but not too often; 2 or 3 times a year, especially in the spring, is more than enough. Therefore, look for a specific organic cactus fertilizer that has a higher phosphorus content than nitrogen.
Use a 50% organic and 50% inorganic soil combination for your cacti. This might help prevent overwatering-induced root rot by increasing the quantity of water that seeps through the soil.
Since cacti love light but less water, if you “forget” watering them won’t be an issue, but I will explain in further detail later on in the article. But before that, I want to recommend some ceramic pots designed for cacti with draining holes. I bought my set last year from Amazon, and I still have them, my cacti seem to thrive in them, so I guess it’s a win-win.
Watch out for the right temperature
Temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit are like heaven for cacti. The plant loves a cool-down phase during the winter when temperatures are close to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. A desert cactus is adapted to extremely cold nights in its native habitat; certain varieties can even tolerate nights as low as 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Nevertheless, winter draft protection is necessary for any indoor plant that hasn’t been hardened off.
Average humidity levels are ideal for cacti, and most households can easily reach these. Compared to desert types, forest cacti have somewhat greater humidity in the air. Therefore, spray your succulent plant occasionally if you see it withering.
You can forget to water them
I know it may sound odd, but it’s true. As I mentioned above, when growing and caring for indoor cacti, it is important to know everything before adopting it in your home. Compared to other houseplants, cacti are drought-tolerant, and because of their desert-like features, they can go days without water.
Hence, make sure the dirt is totally dry before offering them any drink. If you’re not sure how to go about this, you can just place a wooden chopstick or moisture meter on the ground. It’s not time to add water to your cactus just yet if you notice dirt or a watermark on the chopstick.
Since this plant is usually dormant during the winter season, you can decrease watering even more. Every six weeks is more than enough.
It doesn’t need pruning, yet…
Compared to other plants, including succulents, cacti don’t need major pruning unless you want it smaller because you don’t have enough space for it. If so, please see an expert before purchasing any cactus species, as there are many others available that don’t grow large and require trimming.
However, sharp, clean gardening scissors can be used to remove any dead or damaged pieces. To propagate new plants, gardeners usually simply trim their cacti to get rid of young offshoots, often known as pups. To prevent injury during the operation, always handle the cacti with a thick newspaper and sturdy gardening gloves.
Natural corking is normal, so don’t panic
A feature of the cactus life cycle that most people are unfamiliar with is the “corking” process, which is the gradual development of a tough, brown, bark-like surface on the lower parts of adult cacti. The natural green exterior of the plant is replaced with an appearance of death in this state, which might give the impression that it is severe, but in reality, the plant is not in danger, so don’t worry!
But wait! If you notice this corking anywhere else than at the bottom, it’s a sign your cacti aren’t exactly healthy. If the plant appears cracked at the top and on the side facing the sun, for example, and not at the base, this may indicate that the cacti are getting too much sun instead of natural corking.
In this case, it is recommended to move its position somewhere in a shadier place at least until you figure out the issue.
Do you have an open balcony? Let the cacti out for a sunbath
Think of this like a summer vacation for them. Your cactus “would love to spend the summer outside if you had a backyard or a sunny balcony. Additionally, they won’t need any watering when outside because an occasional rain should be plenty for them.
You should be careful to allow cacti in the shade as well, especially when they’re outside, as they may also become burnt and there isn’t any after-sun treatment available for them. When summer ends and overnight lows fall below fifty degrees, bring cactus inside again.
Choose an easy-to-take-care-of cacti
This applies mostly to those who are new to this field. Even though these plants don’t require much care, mistakes can still be made with them. Therefore, if you’re seeking cacti that also boom, as a cactus mother myself, I would suggest starting with the Rose Quartz; if not, Coryphantha andrae is a little clustered and will also ultimately bloom, likes partial shade, and detests winter frost. Another wonderful variety of small-growing cactus that enjoys warmth, well-drained soil, and a container is Matucana Madisoniorum.
However, if you want your cacti to bloom faster, you must create the optimal conditions for it, which means nighttime lows of 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit and plenty of sunlight during the day. Be patient, because eventually, it will bloom. Mine open themselves after 2 years, so depending on the species might take a bit.
I really hope this article was helpful and you will put a pin on it for later. Until next time!
Related article: Easy Green Thumb: 7 Cacti & Succulents.
