Eight Potted Cacti Suitable for Indoor Care That Also Bloom Ornamentally

The hardest part of growing plants indoors is maintaining air humidity. When the air at home is fairly dry, it is difficult to grow tropical foliage plants; even pothos and ivy easily develop yellowed, withered leaves because of dry air. However, the eight desert plants below are especially easy to care for, and they can grow healthily indoors too.

The first type, white peach fan

White peach fan, also called white-haired prickly pear, is a variant cactus cultivar of the yellow-haired prickly pear. Its plant grows very evenly and has no sharp spines, so keeping it indoors is completely fine. Its plant is relatively short, and its pads have small white hairs that feel very soft. It likes ample light but is also fairly shade-tolerant, does not need frequent watering, and prefers a dry environment.

The second type, rat tail cactus

If you have a windowsill with fairly ample sunlight, you can grow a pot of hanging cactus, and you can consider this rat tail cactus. It is a native plant originating from Mexico, and people greatly like its stick-like leaves and its magenta flowers.

To care for rat tail cactus, it needs appropriate scattered light every day; in summer, avoid scorching sun, and when grown indoors in winter, avoid frost damage, but also avoid temperatures that are too high, otherwise it will affect winter dormancy and make blooming difficult the next year.

The third type, African milk tree

The plant above is the red African milk tree, a very easy-to-care-for indoor cactus variety. In a warm, dry environment with ample sunlight, it will grow to several meters tall, but when grown indoors the plant is generally very short, and with insufficient light it grows slowly. The African milk tree has red leaves and red stems.

If the air is not circulating, or if it is overwatered, the leaves easily drop, so when caring for it you must use soil with very good drainage.

The fourth type, columnar cactus

Columnar cacti are also very suitable for growing indoors, without all kinds of sharp spines, such as the common Wanzhongshan, three-angled column, or lunar cactus. Grown indoors, they all grow especially slowly and do not need frequent care. Generally, one thorough watering a month is enough. For care, use soil with very good drainage, and in a warm, dry spot, it is best to give a little scattered light.

The fifth type, old lady cactus

The old lady cactus is a cactus variety full of character. Its whole body is covered with white hairs, and it is completely non-prickly to the touch. This very warm-looking plant also blooms very easily, with a ring of pink flowers growing at its top.

To care for the old lady cactus, use very well-drained sandy soil. Generally, water thoroughly once every 2 to 3 weeks, and in cold winter, water thoroughly once a month.

The sixth type, bishop's cap

People also call it the beautiful star, and it is a cactus plant that looks very distinctive. You can spread some granular soil on the surface, and grow it in a mix of well-drained potting soil and sand. Its round body has sharp spines, so pay attention to where you place it for care.

The surface of this cactus grows some white frost-like coating that looks like disease, but it is actually very healthy. This is a defense mechanism of the plant to avoid sunburn. If you want it to bloom, water it less and give it more light.

The seventh type, Christmas cactus

The Christmas cactus is a potted cactus plant very suitable for growing indoors. It is an epiphytic plant of tropical rainforests, likes a warm, humid environment, has slightly higher requirements for air humidity, and does not like a dry environment. In addition, it likes scattered light and does not like scorching sun or direct sunlight.

In winter, keeping the care temperature in a cooler environment of 12~18 degrees makes it easy to bloom and allows a longer flowering period. The Christmas cactus is very afraid of overwatering; too much water easily causes root rot, so use well-drained soil for care.

The eighth type, golden barrel cactus

The golden barrel cactus is a common potted cactus. It has very hard golden-yellow sharp spines, and it is an edible cactus variety. It can be grown indoors in shade or in a spot with ample sunlight. When grown indoors with insufficient light, control watering, be sure to grow it in sandy soil, ensure drainage, and make sure the flower pot has relatively large drainage holes.