HOW TO GROW AN INDOOR CACTUS PLANT

Arizona has a huge natural outdoor cactus population but a cactus can thrive indoors if it has the right condition. Two forms of cacti do well indoors, the desert cacti (a more traditional looking specimen) and the forest cacti that naturally grows in wooded areas. Both kinds of cacti can provide beautiful blooms, but they grow in very different ways.

INDOOR DESERT CACTI GROWING TIPS

Desert cacti are not difficult to grow and can produce beautiful flowers and blooms There are many different kinds of desert cacti but the basic rules for their maintenance are the same. Here are some tips for successfully growing desert cacti:

• Desert cacti need a strong light source, especially in the cooler winter months. Conversely, a cactus may scorch in direct summer sun if they have not been hardened first.
• Desert cacti prefer temperatures of 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter they prefer a cooler period of time, to around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. In their usual habitats, many cacti are used to very cold nights.
• In the summertime whenever the compost starts to dry ensure the plant is thoroughly watered. In the winter time, only water if the plant starts to shrivel.
• Pot the cactus into a fast-draining cacti mix. Alternatively, amend regular potting soil with perlite (or similar inorganic agents) that increase aeration and drainage. Seldom do cacti need repotting and some may even grow better is slightly under potted.
• A specialized cactus fertilizer can be a huge help during the growing season. Often owners have seen substandard results with non-cacti fertilizers, so a specialist cacti fertilizer is the way to go.
• The most prevalent concern with desert cacti is overwatering them in the winter. This will cause rot, maybe at the tips of the plant but just as likely at the base. if you discover a cactus already rotting, you may want to establish new plants from cuttings. Cacti are also susceptible to pests, for example, mites and mealybugs.

INDOOR FOREST CACTI GROWING TIPS

Forest cacti most often grow in subtropical and tropical areas of the globe. Often found clinging to trees, their blooms are available in a multitude of colors. They can also make fine hanging plants. The following hints can help you grow forest cacti successfully:

• These plants prefer bright sunlight but not direct sunlight. In the summertime, move them to the outside to a position where they can receive bright light without being in direct sunlight.
• During their growing season, forest cacti thrive when the temperature is anywhere between 55 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. However, during the rest cycle of the plant, a cooler temperature of around 50 degrees Fahrenheit is essential. During the summer you can water the plant as you would any other household plant. When the plant is resting, it only needs to be watered when the soil is dry.
• Unlike desert cactus, the forest cactus needs to be re-potted at the outset of each growing season and use a regular potting mix.
• Forest cactus respond well to standard fertilizers. taper down the fertilizer during the growing cycle.
• If you are fortunate enough to own a Christmas cactus and you want to get multiple blooms from it, a little preparation is needed. Before you want the plant to flower, cut it back and induce a period of rest where fertilizing and watering is reduced and the plant keep in a cool (50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit) environment. After 30 to 60 days, take the plant to a warmer place and then resume the watering process. Shortly, buds will start to show. It is also required to move the plant outside during the summer.
• Forest cacti should not be watered heavily during the rest cycle of the plant. When a cactus does not bloom it is normally because by either not taking the plant outside during the summer months or caused by a rest period that was inadequate.