Cacti are spectacular plants that are widely used today to decorate gardens, offices, and homes, thanks to their great beauty and the fact that they are very easy to grow and care for. Learn about some species of flowering cacti and discover the care they require.
What are Cacti?
Cacti are very famous plants with exclusive characteristics, they constitute the family of juicy plants named Cactaceae, they are used to plant in pots as decoration, green areas and in gardens, these plants went through a process of evolution which allowed them to adjust to climates arid and desert, and despite the poor conditions, many cacti have very beautiful and stunning flowers.
These species have a cylindrical and round shape, this has been in order to demarcate their space and also allows them to preserve the Humidity in their structure, that is to say that they store water and nutrients inside, and this is the reason why they adapt easily to any place.
Flowering cacti develop spines, which help them protect their water reserves. These species may all look the same at first glance, but they are not. These succulent plants are particularly special, boasting beautiful flowers in a variety of spectacular colors, which has greatly increased their use in decoration.
A curious characteristic is that these do not remain open for many days, in most cases they only last 24 hours or less, which is why it seems that many of them do not bloom, but it is not that they do not give flowers, but that the They last very little time to be able to show their bud, although this will always depend on the type of cactus, there are even some that bloom during the day and others at night.
Flowering Cactus Species
As we mentioned earlier, there are many species of flowering cacti, all with their individual characteristics and different types of flowers that make them part of an incredible family of plant species.
echinopsis
Echinopsis are plants that come from the South American region, more specifically from Chile, Uruguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador and Paraguay. This group includes about 150 species, all of which can reach a maximum height of about 2 meters and are cacti with red flowers , among other colors.
Its flowers are one of the largest among cacti, they can measure up to 5 centimeters in diameter and are one of the most beautiful on planet earth, red, white, yellow and pink, they come out in the shape of a trumpet. They usually develop with a cylindrical and elongated structure, they are usually in groups of three or more
star cacti
The star cactus with the scientific name astrophytum, whose name is representative of the shape they have, which is similar to that of a star, has flowers that come out in pairs or more, have colors such as green and yellow, is native to the region from North America, it adapts very well to almost all pavements and substances.
Ferocactus
These are very substantial plants with small flowers, which are not very showy because they are hidden by the cactus spines. They are often used for interior decoration, and the beautiful flowers of this species are orange. They originate from the desert regions of Arizona, Baja California, Southern Nevada, Mexico, and California.
Gymnocalycium
The name comes from the Greek "naked calyx". These plants are native to Uruguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay. This group includes about 70 species. Their structure is compact and globose, and they can reach about 15 or 20 centimeters in height. They are easy to flower and are cacti with red , pink, lilac, and white flowers.
The Gymnocalycium baldianum are cacti that are born mainly in places where there is shade, such as in places of bushes or grasslands, however, some grow in totally uncovered places.
coryphantha
The Coryphatha is a medium-sized sphere-shaped cactus, it has many thorns and these give flowers of yellow, white, purple, pink, orange and red, one of the main characteristics that they have is that the flowers are very large, In turn, they contain some combinations in the internal part of the yellow and white flower, they have more than 40 different classes and these multiply through their seeds, although some of their species do so through their offspring.
Mammillaria
They come from the Antilles, Mexico, the South of the United States and the Venezuelan coasts, places where the largest cacti are located, they have more than 350 kinds and can reach a height between 15 and 60 centimeters, their flowers small but distinguished are white, pink and red. They are widely used to decorate the home and offices, they are also durable plants, with a lot of water accumulated inside.
the prickly pear
The Prickly pear with the scientific name Opuntia ficus-indica, comes from America, however, it was nationalized in the African regions and in the Mediterranean Basin, it has a structure like that of a weed, they develop quickly and can have 4 meters high and wide, its leaves are different from those of a common plant and they give their flowers in the shape of crowns once a year.
Parodia
These are cacti from the natural regions of Colombia , Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay. They are globular and have at least 50 varieties. They can reach 35 centimeters in height with large flowers that can reach 4 centimeters in diameter or even more, in yellow, pink and white. Their beautiful and resistant flowers appear on the stems of three-year-old plants, and they usually bloom in large quantities.
christmas cacti
This plant, with the scientific name Schlumbergera truncata, comes from the tropical areas of Brazil and is a plant that blooms in December, for that reason it is called Christmas cactus and is used to decorate interiors.
Its leaves are durable, flattened and its flowers are red, pink, white and purple, it is a substantial plant that grows mostly in shaded areas, because the less light it receives, the more beautiful its flowers will be, since these are It develops better in very humid places.
Rebutia
The Rebutias are from Argentina, Bolivia and Peru, they are small cacti that can be planted in pots, and include some 28 kinds of species that grow to a height of 30 centimeters at most, they also have spectacular flowers that can reach cover all the cactus and its colors are yellow, orange, red and pink.
Aporocactus
These plants grow with an elongated cylindrical shape that can be vertical or creeping, all depending on the conditions of the place where they live, they have many thorns, their flowers are very small but abundant, elongated and fleshy, with colors such as fuchsia, yellow , white and pink.
tephrocactus
The Tephrocactus are substantial plants of the Tephrocactus Geometricus species, they have flowers that are large pink and white, which can reach up to 4 centimeters in diameter and a height of 20 centimeters. They come from Argentina, where they are very showy thanks to their structures and stems, as well as being excellent for planting in pots and using to decorate interiors.
The mother-in-law's seat
The Cactus popularly called the seat of the mother-in-law or hedgehog with the scientific name Echinocactus grusonii, is native to the Mexican region. It is one of the substantial plants that are planted the most on planet earth, although unfortunately it is in danger of extinction due to the loss of its natural habitat.
It has many thorns, it is similar to a barrel and it has very evident green areoles with resistant thorns, this type of cactus usually blooms in summer. It has yellow and red flowers, they are easy plants to care for and maintain, like almost all cacti, however, among their care we can say that they should remain in places such as terraces, balconies and in the garden, since they are desert plants They grow in places with a lot of sun.
We also have that these do not survive frost or cold temperatures, they develop better in soils made up of leaf manure and coarse sand, they can be planted in pots or in garden soil, in addition to being watered according to the weather. or the season of the year. During the summer time it will be enough with 1 or 2 times a week, the rest of the year every 15 days and in winter it is best to do it once a month.
Lithops
It is also called a living plant or stone plant, and it is a plant which adjusts to the place where it lives, it has a structure like that of a stone as its name indicates, it is one of the most particular cacti that exist today , the reason for its stone shape is to protect itself from animals or predators. Its flowers are of different colors and occur in summer seasons.
Aeonium
The Aeonium is a cactus native to the Canary Islands, Morocco, Africa and Madeira, it has substantial leaves, and it does not actually bloom, but its shape is similar to that of a flower and this is the reason why they receive their name, its class includes about 40 different species and all correspond to the Crassulaceae group.
echeveria
It belongs to the Crassulaceae group, whose decorative floral shape makes them perfect for pots or gardens. Like the Aeonium, it resembles a flower and is ideal for decorating interiors.
Obregonite
Obregonita corresponds to the group of Cactaceae, these are currently in danger of becoming extinct in their original habitat, however they are planted and used throughout the planet as a decorative plant, although they are also used as a medicinal plant. This is not resistant to low temperatures, nor to excess humidity, so it is recommended to water it every 15 days and place it in a place with moderate light.
Basic Care of Cacti
If you want to plant cacti in your garden or in pots to give life to the decoration of your home, you need to know that these are plants that are very easy to care for and preserve, and although among all the types of cacti that exist there are infinities of differences, They all have some general characteristics that allow the care of cacti to be very similar, we just have to allow them to develop in conditions similar to the natural habitat.
- Cacti are plants that can be watered, however they should not be soaked, for this reason cacti should be watered at least once a week in summer and once a month if it is winter, always avoiding the pot has accumulated water. To know more precisely if it should be watered or not, it is advisable to check for yourself if it is moistened, inserting your finger into the ground up to where they are planted before proceeding to water them.
- They require a lot of light, if it is necessary that it be direct, and that they be kept in places such as gardens or open areas, it can also be in places that are close to windows in the case of being in an interior habitat. Cacti are plants that cannot withstand cold or frost, which is why we must protect them from these types of climates, especially during the winter season.
- The land where these plants are grown must have adequate water drainage, otherwise the roots will be damaged by water and rot, they adapt to any terrain, however the ideal is to be in soils sandy and porous, like river sand, and in this way the roots are always aerated and will be able to perform their functions properly.
- Watering cacti during the winter is one of the most common questions related to the care of a cactus, so it must be said that as long as it needs water, it should be watered whatever the season, it should only be verified if they need to be watered when the weather is very cold and in frost it is recommended, although in these seasons it is always more advisable not to water, but if at the time of carrying out the test to check its humidity it is noted that it is dry, then it can be watered.
- The cactus with flowers They must receive fertilizer throughout their growth and development period, from the spring season to the end of the summer season and during the fall if they require it, although in all these cases mineral fertilizers must be used.
- These must be moved or repotted, during the summer or spring season, to a space that is a little larger, in this way a good development can be guaranteed.
- These plants can be planted outdoors, as long as the temperatures of the place are not lower than -2 ° C, so if we live in a place where there are very cold temperatures, we must place the cactus in a warm place, such as a greenhouse, inside the house, or they can be covered with plastic or thermal mesh used in gardening.
Cactus with flowers according to colors
If you want to get a cactus for your home or office, below we show you the classification of these according to the color of their flower:
Cactus with Red Flowers
It is said that these types of plants can be used as a perfect gift to convey love, romance, and passion. For this reason, we will mention some cacti with beautiful red flowers that can be used on these occasions:
- Rebutia
- Gymnocalycium
- Mammillaria
Cactus with White Flowers
We can also find cacti with white flowers , which are perfect for decorating homes and offices. These generally convey peace, harmony, and tranquility. The only drawback is that they take a long time to bloom, but when they do, it's well worth the wait, as it's truly a beautiful experience. Among these species, we can find the following cacti:
- Echinopsis oxygona
- Echinopsis subdenudata
- peyote cacti
Cactus with Pink Flowers
Pink- flowered cacti possess beautiful and delicate petals; they are very small but striking, so much so that they are sought after by collectors and people in general for decorating homes and offices, as they create an atmosphere of tranquility and beauty. Among these cacti are:
- Mammillaria gracilis
- Echinopsis eyriesii
- Mammillaria bocasana
Cactus with Yellow Flowers
These cacti with yellow flowers are quite popular and easy to find. They are like sunshine wherever they are, shining brightly and filling the space with light. Among them we can find the following:
- asterias
- Capricorn
- Myriostigma