Flower Love
Cacti have plenty of personality. They come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and textures, but all of them have similar needs: They need direct sunlight with no drafts. They’ll thrive under LED grow lights.
If they don’t receive sufficient light, they tend to get leggy and unattractive.
Cacti are some of the easiest plants to add to your houseplant collection. These plants survive drought by storing water in their leaves, stems and roots, so they’re the ultimate in easy-care plants!
They grow in-ground in warm climates, but they also make fun houseplants if you give them a sunny windowsill.
Cacti are resilient and forgiving if you’re—ahem—a little forgetful about watering. But they should be watered only when the soil feels dry to the touch. A sure way to kill them is to overwater, so always err on the side of too dry rather than too wet!
It’s worth noting that some types of cacti aren’t the best choices around kids or pets. Those with sharp spines are better grown outdoors, away from curious kids and pets. Or choose types of cacti, such as holiday cacti, that don’t have dangerous prickly spines.
Read more: 29 Pet-Friendly Houseplants You Can Grow Without Worry
Ahead, the best cacti you can grow at home:
Thanksgiving Cactus (Schlumbergera truncata)
Thanksgiving cactus is a long-lived type that doesn’t have prickly spikes, so it can be grown around kids and pets. It can live for decades with the right care.
It’s related to Christmas cactus, which is more difficult to find because it’s more fragile to ship, and Easter cactus, which has more star-shaped flowers.
All three types need similar care with bright light and total darkness for 12 to 14 hours, starting in the fall, to rebloom.
Thimble Cactus (Mammillaria gracilis fragilis)
This adorable little cactus has short spiny stems and yellow flowers in spring or summer. It’s a good choice for new plant parents because it’s not too fussy.
Golden Barrel Cactus (Echinocactus grusonii)
This type of cactus is fast-growing and keeps its cute rounded shape. They can grow up to five feet tall outdoors, though they make a fun windowsill plant indoors.