Growing cactus indoors is a relatively simple process. Although, most of the cactus plants tolerate neglect, they thrive properly when given good care. These plants are mostly adapted to dry conditions. Most of the cacti varieties differ tremendously in shape, size, color and flowering habits. Although, most of these cacti are found in the desert regions, some are also observed in jungles. As much as two thousand different species of cacti are present in nature. This opens tremendous opportunities for those people, who are especially interested in growing cactus indoors. Majority of the cactus are native to Americas only. These plants normally differ in size from few inches to giants, which normally exceed the household space.
Most of the cactus plants grow at a moderate rate as houseplants. Normally, they grow only to a few inches each year. However, they can live for umpteen numbers of years. The best part of the cactus is that, it does not require excessive care. However, care needs to be taken not to supply more water to the plant. In addition, mites and insects pose a serious problem. But the main reason for people growing cactus at home is that, cactus exhibit beauty not only in their form but also in their bright colored flowers.
Tips to Grow Cactus:
Proper watering is the most important parameter in the successful growth of cactus. In addition, the soil needs to be properly drained. It is essential to water the cactus properly during the growing season from March to September. It is this period, when the cactus plants grow at a rapid rate. On the onset of winter season, these plants mainly lie dormant and do not grow. On such occasions, it is essential to keep the plant dry between watering. These are the main steps involved while growing cactus at home.
In addition, a light watering for few weeks would suffice. The plant need not be filled with water. This is because water logging results in the quick rotting of the roots. Most cacti require bright sunlight. An ideal climatic condition would be, to subject these cactus plants to direct sunlight for several hours each day. In addition, it is also recommended to supply artificial light for supplementing natural light. Normally, cactus plants prefer rich soil. However, it is always better to use commercial and packaged cactus potting soils for growing cactus at home, by combining very coarse grit or sand and peat-based potting soil.
Steps to be Followed:
Generally, cacti like to be pot bound. Hence, they need to be repotted only when the need arises. The best period for repotting the cacti is in the month of April. This is mainly because cactus plants grow well during summer.