12 Best Cactuses for home: care, varieties and irrigation

They are the perfect plants to decorate the house or the terrace, since their care is minimal, they withstand high temperatures very well and, best of all, they require little watering.

Interior design has always chosen to decorate with cacti, they look luxurious on wallpapers, in the living room or bedrooms, or on vinyl for the kitchen or bathroom: can you imagine a wall full of cacti?

How to choose a cactus?

When you go to buy a cactus you have to look at the base of the trunk to check that it is healthy, with good color, and without insects. Choose small specimens, as they reach maturity and therefore flowering earlier. In addition, its great variety of shapes allows you to make beautiful centers. Cacti belong to the family of succulents, along with succulent plants, but they should not be confused. Cacti are easily recognized by their aureoles, small mounds, usually with a fluff on top, from which the spikes come out. Once you have chosen the plant, we have excellent tips to dress a table for cactusmaniacs.

Succulent plants do not have spikes, except for some varieties of candelabra euphorbes, which have spikes coming directly from the plant body and not from a halo. They all have a great capacity to store water, which is why they withstand prolonged droughts and very intense heat. The spikes and wool that cover these species serve to protect them from the heat, since perspiration is limited, and from insects that could drink their water reserves.

Types of cacti

Cacti and succulents are native to America and Africa, and they have conquered us not only because of the beauty of their shapes and the ease with which they grow. And it is that these plants are true survivors and have an excellent ability to adapt to any type of climate.

The key to their high survival lies in the fact that they have transformed their leaves into thorns to reduce the evaporation surface, act as a screen against solar rays, capture dew water by condensation and protect themselves against herbivores. With round bodies or vertical thickenings, these fighters have earned a place of their own in our homes. Learn to decorate with cacti and enjoy the beauty of these peculiar plants not only with living species, cacti prints and decorations are an absolute trend.

There are 5 types of cacti: with thorns (such as the Ferocactus); spineless (like Lophophora diffusa); indoor cacti (such as Echeveria elegans); hanging cacti (such as Schlumbergera truncata); and with flowers (such as Astrophytum).

Cacti are in fashion. Whether they are real plants, pieces that evoke their shape or printed motifs, their decorative value is undeniable. Do you want to know how to get more out of them?

Cacti care

Put them in a pot that has good drainage and water once a week, since the environment will now be drier due to heating. Put them next to the window, in an area that is lit, but not directly in the sun.

• Light. They need a lot of light, so the ideal place is in front of the window. In summer they will be grateful if you take them out to the balcony or terrace.
• Irrigation. In winter it will be enough to water it every two months and during the summer when you see the dry substrate. It is important that there is good drainage, since excess moisture rots the plant. If you doubt if it needs water, do not water it.
• Pass. We will fertilize the cactus once a month from early spring through fall. To do this, use special fertilizers for this type of plant, dissolved in the irrigation water. They need a special type of land and it should have a large part of sand. You can buy it already prepared or mix 1/3 blond peat, 1/3 coarse sand and 1/3 ground charcoal. It is important that the substrate is well drained.
• Temperature. They withstand very high and very low temperatures, since they come from the desert where temperatures below zero are reached at night. With the cold, cacti need different attention than the rest of the year, since it is a plant of warm climates. Although they can withstand a temperature between 8º and 10º C, the combination of cold and excess water can be lethal for them. The best thing is that you put them inside the house, in a cool room, that is around 15º C and that you water them only when the soil is completely dry, removing the excess water that remains in the dish. With these cares they will be perfect for you to enjoy in spring.

Cactus flowers

They are very spectacular and many cacti are hybrids. The flowering time is in spring/summer, depending on the species. The flowers are spectacular but very short-lived, never lasting more than a week. Some varieties have flowers that last only one night. But, if they have had a very hot winter, they will not bloom. We tell you that flowering cacti and succulents are key to creating a mini indoor garden.

Although they do not need too much care, you have to be aware when you see that the roots come out too much. It will be an inescapable signal that the cactus needs to change the pot, every two or three years. To do this, take out the plant with gloves and check the roots well, to check that they are healthy. If there is a cochineal, carefully remove the soil, dip the roots in a specific insecticide and, finally, put them in the new substrate. Do not water until a day or two later, doing it little by little.

To avoid hurting yourself or pricking yourself when transplanting the cactus, fold a sheet of newspaper, as in the drawing, and take the plant with it. Put them near the window, in a place where they get direct sunlight and avoid taking them outside.

Mammillaria, your first cactus

Children enjoy taking care of plants, didn’t you have a mammillaria cactus when you were little? They do not need pruning and are only watered from autumn to spring, once a month. They acclimatize very well outdoors, such as porches or gardens, and indoors. In their maxi version they are spectacular, although the microcactus are gorgeous and you will want to have one.

Rhipsalis cassutha, very decorative

The rhipsalis cassutha cactus is bushy and has a spectacular cascading shape. Having no thorns, it is an excellent option for homes with children or if you have pets. It will also become your perfect ally if you want to decorate with hanging pots for indoor plants. They are a real cutie.

Chamaelobivia cactus, a beauty

Isn’t that great? The red flowers give a note of color. Chamaelobivia is a hybrid cactus that is very easy to care for. Try to check the drainage of the pot so that water does not accumulate and fungi appear. You already know that all spices are very sensitive to excess moisture.

Echeveria, the most popular succulents

Succulents are versatile in outdoor and indoor settings. The echeveria has an original flower shape, so it is highly appreciated to decorate all kinds of environments. It is a very compact plant and its leaves range from green to red, passing through bluish tones. Succulents are perfect for making a terrarium, a simple craft to decorate your home.

Christmas cactus, with flowers

It blooms in winter and is also known as the Easter cactus, although its scientific names are hatiora or schlumbergera. It withstands temperatures of up to 15ºC and has a slow growth, so you will only change the pot every three years. If you want to know more, follow these tips to take care of the Christmas Cactus.

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Computer cacti

Although it does not seem proven, the cereus cactus has a good press because it reduces electromagnetic pollution produced by electronic devices. They are large cacti, which can reach up to 15 meters in height.

The cactus of the American West

When you see a western you always imagine the silhouette of the opuntia basilaris cactus. Known as the beaver’s tail, its ribs or blades with thorns are seen indoors, but also in gardens or orchards, there are even wild ones. In Spain, the most widespread variety is the prickly pear.

Old man’s head, with white fluff

Cephalocereus senilis is a very original cactus. It has a layer of white filaments that covers the solitary stem. In order for it to flourish, the specimen of this cactus must be more than 15 years old. It needs to be in full sun and admits a sandy substrate as decorative as the one you see.

Haworthia truncata, the zebra succulent

The fleshy, jagged leaves of the zebra plant look hand-painted. Haworthia truncata is small in size, rarely exceeding 25 cm. Its flowers are so ephemeral that they do not last more than 4 days. As is common in the irrigation of cacti and succulents, always let the soil dry before watering it again.

Aloe vera

Bring a piece of the desert home with this cactus composition. Aloe is one of our favorites for its healing powers for diseases and skin care and because it is capable of purifying the air. Find out how to care for and water aloe vera.

Grafted cacti

They have vibrant colors, different heights and a curious morphology, the peculiarity of grafted cacti is that they need more care. The substrate must always have moisture and they need light, but not direct sunlight. They are perfect for garden arrangements, here you will find many ideas to make very creative plant centers.

Poinsettia cacti

The euphorbia candelabrum plant has a beautiful column-like structure. Bring it to life with good lighting and ventilate the room where you place it. Take care of excess watering.

Cactus to create a cleaner environment

According to experts, some cacti absorb the electromagnetic waves produced by computers and other devices. The most suitable is the Cactus cereus peruvianus, called the Computer Cactus, which absorbs these waves, leaving environments clean.