Cacti are easy-care and very decorative plants perfect for placing at home or in the office. For many years they have become one of the preferred ornamental elements, especially in work or study areas because they are considered to help improve concentration, call for success, and protect us from bad energy, all of which provide a more natural environment. and relaxing.
Are you interested in knowing more? There is a wide variety of types of indoor cacti and, for this reason, We have made a compilation to show you different species of cacti that are more common and others that are less well known.
Astrophytum myriostigma or bishop’s bonnet
One of the most beautiful and decorative cacti is the Astrophytum myriostigma, popularly known as the bishop’s bonnet, and for this reason, it is one of the most appreciated by collectors. It is a globose and small cactus, which has 5 ribs in its most common variety, which is why it is also often called a star cactus. One of the most striking characteristics of the bishop’s bonnet is that it is a spineless cactus and instead numerous scaly and whitish structures cover its stems. In addition, it is one of the simplest and most beautiful cacti with flowers. In summer and spring, between 1 and 6 flowers usually bloom on it.
Although it is an easy cactus to maintain, you must give it plenty of light for optimal growth, it is even recommended to expose it directly to the sun during the summer months between 2 and 3 hours a day. In addition, it is recommended that it be kept at more than 20 ºC during the day and above 10 ºC at night. Regarding irrigation, it should be minimal, since otherwise, it could rot. It is advisable to do it once a week or fortnightly, that is, whenever the earth has dried up.
Gymnocalycium or chin cactus
Gymnocalycium, also popularly known as dwarf chin cactus, is a species of plant in the Cactaceae family of South American origin. These are small indoor cacti that can reach between 10 and 13 centimeters in height, so they will do well outdoors in a suitable environment, but it can also be grown in pots to keep it indoors with the environmental conditions it requires. This cactus also has beautiful flowers in very bright colors, such as red, pink, or purple. They flower in early summer and you can even extract seeds from their fruits.
Among the care of a mini chin cactus, we highlight that it always requires partial sun exposure, that is, it prefers semi-shade. Inside, it requires very bright rooms but without direct sunlight. On the other hand, they prefer acid soils, so it is recommended to prepare a mixture of coarse sand, peat, and topsoil, which you can find in gardens and nurseries. Irrigation should be moderate, once a week (as long as the soil is dry).
Carnegiea gigantea or columnar cactus
In the desert and dry climates, such as in the deserts of Mexico, saguaros, sahuaro, columnar cacti, or Carnegiea gigantea are born. This type of cactus requires a lot of light, so they can be kept in interior patios with glass ceilings or in rooms where a lot of light enters, always in a large pot. It is a cactus from which white flowers bloom and its fruit is very beneficial for health.
Since it is a very resistant plant, it does not require much care. However, you should know that it is convenient to have it in places with high temperatures, especially in summer, and that watering should be suspended during the winter, especially in very humid places, with a lot of rain and cold. Like most columnar type cacti, it needs to be watered moderately and should be done whenever the soil is dry at a depth of several cm, which you can check by digging your fingers into the soil or with a wooden stick.
Euphorbia ingens or candelabra tree
From the Cactaceae family, we can highlight the Euphorbia ingens or also known as the candelabra tree or candelabra cactus, a name adopted for its unique shape. It is a very resistant cactus succulent, which adapts both indoors and outdoors, although it prefers warm climates.
As for its irrigation needs, they are minimal during the winter, but to enhance its growth, extra doses of water must be provided during the spring and summer months. On the other hand, the more land and space it has, the more it will grow, so you can keep it in a pot indoors and control its growth or transplant it to the garden so that it becomes a large tree that can reach up to 15 meters in height.
Schlumbergera or Christmas cactus
We continue to see different species of indoor cacti and we stop to observe one that is especially beautiful and striking. It is the Santa Teresa feather cactus or Christmas cactus ( Schlumberger a, with 7 species) , a group of hanging cactus species Originally from the tropical areas of Brazil that can be grown indoors. The ideal temperature for this is to keep this cactus between 16 ºC and 21 ºC. It requires a lot of ambient light and some direct sun. Unlike other species, the Christmas cactus requires abundant watering when the plant is generating new stems and a reduction in watering after flowering, which occurs especially in the colder months, you can even leave it for two months without watering.
Its beauty lies in the flower, as this is another of the beautiful cacti with flowers that you can have outdoors and indoors. Its flower arises at the end of its stems and is composed of arrow-shaped petals, forming flowers that look like feathers. these flowers can be pink, fuchsia, orange, yellow, red, or white.
Cereus Peruvianus or computer cactus
From Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay come the Cerus peruvianus, also known as the computer cactus. It is a branched columnar cactus that grows very fast and can even reach 10 meters in height. Its green tone that can go bluish, its brown spines, and its showy white flowers make it a very particular species.
It can be kept in a pot as an indoor plant and is known as a computer cactus because it is capable of absorbing electromagnetic radiation from computers and Wi-Fi, so it is common to place it next to the PC screen. To live it needs a lot of sun exposure, so it is recommended to place it next to the window and it is not convenient to expose it to temperatures below 7 ºC. If you have it next to the computer due to electromagnetism, remember that every day you will have to leave it in the sun for a few hours so that it remains healthy and so that it can better eliminate excess electromagnetism, being outdoors and exposed to the sun and to the wind.
Euphorbia lactea or crested cactus
The Euphorbia lactea, more commonly called the crested cactus, is a cactus with black spines. Its crested and wavy green stems with yellowish, purple, or pink spots are very curious and ornamental. The crest plant is characterized by slow growth. But also by easy cultivation, making it perfect for use as an indoor plant.
It requires an illuminated exposure and receiving the first rays of the sun, although you should avoid the direct sun at the central hours of the day. In addition, they resist drought very well, so you can water them every 10 days in summer, as long as the substrate is dry. Overwatering can cause the tissues to rot, so avoid overwatering.
Haworthia fasciata or zebra plant
The Haworthia fasciata or zebra plant is an ideal succulent for indoor cultivation since in addition to having great beauty it is very easy to care for. It is mainly characterized by its dark green leaves, up to 7.5 cm long, and the white lines that cross its leaves. Giving it its own design that makes it perfect for interior decoration.
It is easy to grow them in pots or terrariums. It likes semi-shade but always be well lit, avoiding direct sun. It is advisable to give them away every 15 days, especially in warm months. As long as the substrate is completely dry. As for temperatures, the zebra plant does not tolerate the minimum very well, so it is recommended that it does not go below 10 ºC.
