Top 10 Cactus Plants To Decorate Your Home

The specialty of greenery is that there’s a plant specimen for every potential plant parent out there! While people who indulge in leisure activities experiment with high-maintenance plants, some of us look for fuss-free greenery options that won’t take much away from our rare free moments. Hardy plants like succulents and cacti are low-maintenance green buddies that add sparkle to the ambiance without much care and attention. This article concerns the top 10 cactus plants for home decoration!

What Is Cactus Plant?

Cacti come from a plant family that comprises more than fifteen hundred cacti species called the Cactaceae. All plant specimens falling under such genus have unique characteristics like the love for hot climates, the self-sufficiency of water, and the resilience of standing tall & erect even in desert locations. Over time, these plants lost their leaflets and started developing robust stems in their place. These stems are often spiky, known for their ability to store water.

The term cactus comes from the ancient Greek word ‘Kaktos,’ later translated to cactus in the Latin lingo. These plants are often confused with their close relatives called succulents, but the difference lies in the presence of areoles. They are also known for the rare quality of restricting transpiration during the day when the plant focuses on photosynthesis; transpiration is then carried out in the cold of the night, limiting water usage.

Besides their easy-going nature, cactus plant for indoors are most suitable for gardeners looking for hassle-free greenery. These plants are perfect for beautifying any space without needing much attention to detail. Although they love the bright warmth of the outdoor sun, one may also keep certain species in indirect sunlight. Got all excited? Let’s get to know more about these truly hardy plant buddies.

What Are The Top 10 Cactus Plants In India?

It can get a bit tiring to pick your favorites from the long list of over fifteen thousand cacti species, so here we have compiled a list of the top 10 cactus plant images for your home:

1. Holiday Cactus

We were just talking about how the cactus plants require the least watering, and here’s one example that receives the exceptional tag. A native of the Brazilian rainforest, the Christmas cactus flower plant requires frequent hydration to thrive in home gardens. This plant grows with thick, flattened stems that attach red or pink flowers when winter strikes. One should propagate this plant in hanging planters to allow the plant enough space to dance with gravity! The plant needs to go through a phase of darkness to come out with the light of buds and blooms.

2. Lady finger Cactus

Also called the gold lace cactus, it matures to a maximum stature of six inches with thick, oval, and elongated stems. These bright green stems are covered with white, yellow, and orange spikes that give this cactus indoor plant a copperish appearance. These spikes are sharp but won’t harm you if touched. What’s better is that the plant impregnates white flowers after the winter ends. It looks so supreme that it has found a place in the merit list of the Royal Horticultural Society.

3. Fairy Castle Cactus

How beautiful a plant would be if it had a fairy and castle in its name, right? This cactus traces its origins to Central America, where it was christened in sync with its castle-like appearance. Its elongated stems closely resemble the spires and turrets of a castle. The plant grows at a tortoise’s pace and turns old with a maximum height of six feet. Its green stems turn woody and yellow with maturity, giving it an antique look. When grown inside the home, this cactus plant for home looks super aesthetic, though it will only flower outdoors.

4. Easter Cactus

A close cousin of the Christmas cactus plant, this one also belongs to the dense rainforests of Brazil. Alike the holiday cactus, the easter cactus also requires generous watering with less intense sunshine to flourish in the home environment. This cactus never really preferred soil as its growth medium, as it clung to rocks and other plants for survival, which is why it is essential to propagate this plant with a loose potting mix that provides enough aeration and porosity. Nonetheless, this plant flowers with gorgeous blooms colored red, pink, and purple!

5. Saguaro Cactus

This desert cactus plant belongs to the desert regions of Sonora, Mexico, that witness this plant in abundance. The Saguaro cactus is one of those plants that can make humans stare at them for hours, making us wonder about the glory and magnificence of nature. Although this is a slow-growing cactus that can live up to two centuries, one can propagate it at home in floor planters as well! The thick and elongated stems might take about forty years to bloom and another thirty years to grow arms. Nonetheless, this cactus plant benefits humans with its fruits and ribs used by locals in their routine lives!

6. Moon Cactus

Also called Ruby Ball Cactus, this plant comes from the mingling of human hands in the natural environment. It is an outcome of grafting two different cactus species; the lower part, which appears as a thick and hardy stem, is Hylocereus, and the upper color-popping part is called Gymnocalycium mihanovichii. The main purpose of the lower part is to create an elongated pedestal to showcase the upper part, which can be colored red, yellow, or orange. The moon cactus plant experiences a short life due to the grafting process, but it can be grafted to another specie to extend its lifetime.

7. Star Cactus

This is not a plant alone but a species containing different cactus plants under the Astrophytum genus. Indigenous to Mexico and USA, this mini cactus plant has a rigid personality that often resembles a stone. On maturity, though, this cactus plant at home alters its stone-like personality by growing sharp spikes colored brown and black. Some of these species adapt to the environment, resulting in vibrant blooms from the plant’s center. This plant can take years of patience to mature, but it will all be worthwhile when you see the results!

8. Blue Column Cactus

This variety of cactus plants belongs to the Pilosocereus genus, giving it the binomial name Pilosocereus Pachycladus. It is easily distinguished from other cacti due to its rare ability to reflect blue-colored stems. Although not a houseplant, it is gaining fame due to its ornamental and unique physique. This plant is a fast-growing cactus that gains about one to two feet every year of its life. One may also catch it blooming during the cold nights when it is wrapped with indoor warmth!

9. Feather Cactus

An ancestor from the desert areas of Mexico, the feather cactus is known for its magical ability to dupe people with its soft and feathery appearance. However, these feathers are actually sharp spikes that could hurt when touched. Overall, the plant looks super aesthetic and interesting with its clustering stems that can reach five inches in length and sixteen inches in breadth. This plant is a cool cactus specimen that loves sunshine but not too much!

10. Peruvian Apple Cactus

This cactus comes directly from the desert landscapes of South America and is known by many names, like hedge cactus, giant club cactus, Cadushi, and Kayush. Apart from its decorative appearance, this plant is a member of the culinary world. Its big and spikey columns produce delicious fruits called Pitaya or Peruvian apples; their outside covering is cream-colored, while the edible insides are fleshy white with numerous crunchy seeds. The uses of cactus plant revolve around its ornamental value, making it a favorite among urban plant parents!

How To Care For Cactus Plants In India?

Although cactus plants are super low-maintenance, they need the least care and attention from their parents. While some of them can thrive with neglect, it doesn’t mean we should leave them all alone! Before wondering where to place cactus plant in home, here are some tips and guidelines to care for the top 10 cactus plants:

➤ Weather Conditions

The first and foremost part of growing cactus at home is to ensure the environment has enough humidity and heat to cater to these hardy green buddies. They prefer tropical areas that match the heat and humidity requirements. One may also mist them daily to imitate their natural growing conditions. Also, some cactus plants are prone to winters due to a lack of acclimatization, so it is best to keep them protected when the temperatures turn low.

➤ Sunlight Prerequisites

Exposure to light can be critical when it comes to cacti, as some of them really love the full sun while others are a bit shy of it. It is advised to propagate the cactus plant in terracotta pots and place it on a windowsill that receives bright yet filtered sunlight. Also, short exposure to direct sun exposure might induce their growth too. However, settle it in a shaded outer spot to ensure the plant receives bright light yet doesn’t get burnt.

➤ Potting Mix

Most flower cactus plants are used to the soil's arid elements that keep them drained and eliminate any water logging situation. It is suggested that one mixes plant soil with perlite to induce the soil’s draining abilities. These plants love loose soil that drains well and allows for proper air circulation.

➤ Hydration Schedules

The cactus plants love generous doses of water, but not every day. You are required to hydrate your cactus once in a while and then leave it be for the next fifteen days till the soil dries out; this will cause the plant to bloom faster during the hot months. Also, winters ask for more dry spells, so it is better not to water the plant frequently.

➤ Re-potting & Pruning

One good news for busy plant parents is that cactus plants don’t require much re-potting as they grow slowly. Also, trimming sessions are not needed as much as there are rarely any uncontrolled growths. However, if the plant seems rootbound, it is time to shift it to bigger plastic pots. Also, if you see any signs of decay in the cactus’s stems, prune that to encourage rejuvenated growth. Less re-potting and less pruning are some of the benefits of cactus plants!

➤ Fertilizers & Manure

The cactus plant online is so self-sufficient that it rarely requires additional doses of nourishment. Treating them with chemical fertilizers might induce faster flowering and active growth. However, ensure you don’t overfeed fertilizer or manure, which might take the plant’s life. Bring one home to enjoy the cactus plant benefits in home!

Takeaway:

The top 10 cactus plants are ideal plants to introduce greenery amidst fast-paced lifestyles. These plants are independent and will only ask you to fulfill their basic needs to stay young and wild! The cherry on the cake is that these hardy and drought-tolerant plants are now available in online gardening stores like Plantlane at the most affordable cactus plant prices!

FAQs About The Top 10 Cactus Plants In India

Ques: What Is So Special About The Cactus Plants?

Ans: The cactus genus of plants has thick and fleshy stems that store water for long periods of time, making them resilient in drought-prone areas.

Ques: Are Cacti The Same As Succulents?

Ans: Cacti and succulents are almost similar as they both have water-storing tendencies; however, cactus plants also have areoles which make them different from succulents.

Ques: How Long-lasting Are Cactus Plants?

Ans: The life of different types of cactus plants varies, but most can last up to decades and centuries.

Ques: Which Cactus Plant Is Good For Home?

Ans: Different types of cactus plants have different appearances, so judging the best is a bit difficult. However, Christmas cactus, moon cactus, elongated cactus, etc., are some of the most favorable cactus plants for home.

Ques: Can A Cactus Flower?

Ans: Absolutely! Several cactus species produce charming blooms in summers and winters.