Compared to other breeds of house plants, desert cacti are relatively easier to grow. Like most other plants, cactus plants can clean the air and even boost your productivity. Here are five of the best types of cactus plants that you can grow at home.
Five types of cactus plants you can grow at home
Christmas Cactus
This type of cacti is the one that most resembles another beautiful variant, the Easter cactus. Sometimes referred to as the shrimp cactus, this breed can usually be found in Brazil's southeastern part, where the forests are shady.
The Christmas cactus can usually be found growing on other plants and trees. These can also be found on rocks but never directly on the soil. Christmas cacti typically bloom twice in one year and can be cared for indoors.
San Pedro Cactus
This beautiful cacti breed can usually be found in Bolivia, Chile, Peru, and Ecuador. This breed is often seen in areas between 6,600 and 9,000-ft above sea level.
The San Pedro cactus can also survive in temperate climates and can thrive even during drought. It also does well in extreme rainfall and can be propagated as a houseplant or as landscape cactus.
Saguaro Cactus
There's no better cactus representation of the wild, wild American desert than a Saguaro cactus. In their natural habitat, these cacti can grow really big. Some can even grow up to 40 feet tall in height and 10 feet in girth. A Saguaro cactus this size can reach up to 12,000 pounds in weight.
Though they can grow quite big, these breeds typically grow at a slow pace. The typical age for a cactus-like this to bear flowers for the first time is 50 years old. At around 75, that's about the time for them to grow out branches.
Barrel Cactus
Barrel cactus is a round cactus variety that somewhat resembles a pin holder. These naturally come from the southwest area of the North American desert. These can grow up to 2.9 feet tall and live up to 100 years old.
These are usually used as ornamental plants thanks to their colorful flowers. Some barrel cacti can bloom red flowers while some can bloom pink, yellow, and orange ones. You can typically get these in plant nurseries. While these usually come with spines, there are some types of barrel cactus with few or no spines at all.
Prickly Pear Cactus
This cactus breed is probably one of the most cold-tolerant varieties there is. Some species of Prickly Pear cactus can survive temperatures way below zero degrees. This variety does best in environments most exposed to sunlight, so it's best to keep them in well-lit rooms.
