Pictures of Different Types of Cactus Plants
A cactus is a great addition to the home thanks to its striking shape, size and flowers. Seeing as no cactus plant is the same, this houseplant is a unique, decorative way to add interest to your living space, whether it's perched on your windowsill or styled on a shelf.
The name cactus (official name Cactaceae) is derived from the Greek word 'kaktos', which means 'spiky plant'. Native to the Americas (a large territory in North and South America with a strong concentration in Mexico) and typically found in areas subject to drought, cacti or cactuses are perfectly adapted to live in the intense heat and environment of the desert, which means they can most definitely survive the warm and dry conditions of a centrally heated home.
For plant lovers, a cactus is perfect for the less green-fingered as you only need to water moderately – in fact, it's actually better to underwater than it is to overwater.
Although slow-growing, a cactus plant is fairly self-sustaining as it stores moisture in its roots, leaves and stems, and so largely regulates its own food intake. A cactus plant likes a light, airy and warm spot – but not too hot, around 18°C is ideal – and can cope well in direct sunlight.
Find out why there's a lot more to these striking houseplants than just their prickles!
1. Are cactus plants indestructible?
No, if you've ever killed a cactus you are not alone. The easiest way is by over watering, poor drainage and using the wrong compost. Ordinary potting compost holds water well, which is a huge bonus for most plants, but not for cacti, as they need very good drainage. If you want to keep them alive it's best to use specialist cactus soil instead.
Crocus
2. What's the best spot in the home to place a cactus?
A cactus can tolerate a warm and sunny spot in the summer, even outdoors on the patio or balcony. But in winter the placement should be cooler and light.
3. Does a cactus flower?
Cacti are all flowering plants, but some have more prominent blooms and there are a few, such as Mammillaria, Gymnocalycium and Parodia, that will flower quite easily with impressive, colourful displays.
4. How do you get a cactus to flower?
Cacti flower on fresh growth, so if your plant just sits there, unchanging year after year, it's very unlikely to flower. What you should do is to get the plant to follow its natural growth cycle. It needs to go dormant in winter and then wake up in spring. So, put it somewhere dry and cold – but not dark – over winter, and stop watering all together. In spring give it as much sunshine as possible and start to water it.
Fotografie Wilfried Overwater/TheJoyofPlants.co.uk/Flower Council Holland
5. So how often should you water a cactus?
It's best to give more water in spring/summer and less in winter. Remember, avoid over watering. It's better to allow the soil to dry out a bit before watering the plant again.
6. Types of cactus: what are the most common species?
The species that are most commonly sold are Echinocactus, Ferocactus, Gymnocalycium, Opuntia and Mamillaria.
7. And what are the best varieties for beginners?
Moon cactus (Gymnocalycium) have very colourful tops, usually red or yellow. These aren't flowers so the colour is there all year round. Bunny ears cactus (Opuntia), also known as polka dot cactus, have spots of golden bristles against a green background so they look modern and geometric. And the spiny Pincushion cactus (Mammillaria) is easy to grow and has lovely little pink flowers.
John Lewis & Partners
The Little Botanical Cactus Plant Family
The Little Botanical johnlewis.com
£34.00
8. How to look after a cactus: what's the best way to handle them?
Carefully! Either with very thick gloves or use folded newspaper to loop around the top. If you've been stuck with a spike, you can remove large ones with tweezers. Remove small spikes by sticking duct tape on them and then pulling it off, or by rolling an old pair of tights into a ball and rapidly rubbing this over the spot. The final fine spikes should be worked out using olive oil, advise the plant experts at Thejoyofplants.co.uk.
Westend61 Getty Images
9. What pests do you need to look out for?
Check that your cactus is free of mealybugs on both the plant itself (the body) and the root system. With its woolly white wax coating containing oval insects, it's one of the most common pests in cactuses, and difficult to get rid of. Additionally, red spider mite (eight-legged insects that weave a delicate and dense web over the plant), aphids, scale insects and thrips can also occur. Also, check for damage and that the root system is intact. If cacti have been kept too wet for a long time they may have rotted 'from the pot', which can also be caused by fungi and bacteria. The green part – the actual stem – can then feel soft.
10. Are all cacti prickly?
No. What we usually think of as cacti are desert cacti, but there are also forest cacti without the bristles, however, please note that the range available as houseplants is quite small.
Fotografie Wilfried Overwater/TheJoyofPlants.co.uk/Flower Council Holland
11. How long does a cactus plant live?
In the wild cacti can live for hundreds of years. Indoors they may survive for 10 years or more. The trouble with old ones is that every single knock, scratch or blemish they get stays with them, so they tend to look less appealing as they get older.
12. Is a cactus the same as a succulent?
'Every cactus is a succulent, but not all succulents are cacti,' explain Thejoyofplants.co.uk. 'Like many other succulents, cacti have succulent properties – the ability to store moisture in their thick fleshy trunk and stems. These reservoirs are used to bridge periods of drought.' A difference, however, is that cacti are 'defined by the presence of areoles (specialised sites where spines form) whereas succulents have none', explain the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
Bloombox Club
13. What is a Christmas cactus? And how is it different?
A Christmas cactus is a popular Christmas plant during the festive season. The Brazilian coastal plant, known as an epiphyte, grows on top of other plants, trees or rocks, and there are two species: Schlumbergera truncata and S. × buckleyi. A Christmas cactus flowers for around two months from late November to late January, with lots of little flower buds – in red, white, yellow, pink and purple – appearing throughout the Christmas period. Find more Christmas cactus care and growing tips here.
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Pictures of Different Types of Cactus Plants
Source: https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/garden/plants/news/a295/7-things-you-may-not-know-about-cacti/