Cacti are a type of succulent plants known their ability to survive in hot and dry conditions. They have unique and interesting shapes that makes gardeners and plant enthusiasts to love them. Holiday cacti in particular produces colcorful blooms around the winter holidays.
It is relatively easy to care for a cactus plant, but there are a few conditions you have to meet for them to thrive including:
Under right care, cacti are long-lived and low-maintenance plants that can add a unique touch to any indoor or outdoor space.
Below are a collection of posts exploring on care requirements for various cacti plants.
Winter can be brutal for outdoor cacti. I learned this the hard way when a sudden freeze turned my favorite barrel cactus into a soggy mess. Living in the U.S., where winters range from mild to downright arctic, protecting your outdoor cacti is a must. These desert beauties love sun and heat, but frost? Not…
Winter is tough on houseplants, especially cacti. Colder months always bring unique challenges. Low light, dry indoor air from heaters, and reduced watering create a perfect storm for pests. Mealybugs, spider mites, scale insects, and fungus gnats love these conditions. These pests don’t take a holiday, and they can sneak into your home unnoticed. I’ve realized…
Winter can be tough on cacti. I learned this the hard way when my lovely prickly pear turned mushy after a cold snap in my Chicago home. If you’re like me and love your spiky friends, you want to keep them thriving through the chilly months. In the U.S., where winters range from mild to…
Cacti are treasured for their striking shapes, low maintenance, and desert-chic aesthetic. Whether you’re in the arid Southwest or a humid East Coast city, these desert plants can bring a touch of nature to your home. However, summer’s heat can pose unique challenges for indoor cactus care. Many gardeners unknowingly make mistakes that stress their…
Fungicides are helpful in controlling and even preventing fungal infections in plants. Often, cacti and succulents are prone to fungi when grown in damp or poorly lit conditions. Getting leaves wet when watering and poor air circulation also increase the chances of an infection. Many fungicides made from chemical compounds can cause serious damage to…
Cacti have low watering and fertilizer needs, making them easy to care for as houseplants. However, they require a boost for healthy growth and better flowering. The easiest way is to use homemade fertilizers, which are safe to use on plants and around children and pets. When using commercial cactus fertilizers, there is always the…
Pink flowers are visually striking and can make your collection stand out. Besides, it’s a color frequently associated with love, admiration, and compassion. There are hundreds of plants with pink flowers but I always prefer cacti because they are easy to care for. As drought-tolerant plants, their watering needs are low. Cacti also have unique…
What fascinates me about cacti is sometimes their strange-looking shapes. The unique design contributes to maximizing water storage and minimizing water loss through evaporation. Features like ribs, globules, and creases reduce surface area for water loss. As you know cacti are desert plants with adaptive features that make them survive dry conditions. Their fleshy stems…
I have always wondered what eats my cactus. In spite of the thorns, it seems some animals use cacti plants for food and shelter. Many rodents, birds, and mammals rely on the flowers, fruits, and stems of cacti for survival. Cactus is also a great source of water for most desert organisms. For birds, cactus…
The paper spine cactus is a unique and attractive plant for any garden. It is a bushy plant covered with long white papery spines and a ring of glochids – short hair-like spines found in the areoles of the stems. The plant looks great in pots especially when grouped with other plants. Native to South…