Hi! With all the hot weather we’ve been having where I live I thought it was fitting to discuss none other than the cactus. Cacti come in many different forms and there is one out there for everyone. Cacti are members of the succulent family. They are a good low maintenance houseplant that generally like a lot of sunlight!

My favorite cactus is the fairy castle cactus. It grows a lot of stems making it look like a castle. The stems are green and five sided with white wooly spines. It’s a slow growing cactus, but in time it can become up to six feet tall! Rarely if the plant is very healthy and mature it will bloom with white flowers. To take best care of your fairy castle cactus, water when it’s soil is completely dry and place it in direct sunlight.

Another great cactus is the rat tail cactus. Don’t let the name fool you, the plant is very beautiful! It has long trailing stems that hang down. The stems can grow to be up to four feet long. Max growth is one foot per year. It flowers are bright violet-red and appear in the spring lasting for only a few days. To keep indoors it is best grown in a hanging basket. It likes to be in full sun. During the spring and summer the cactus likes to be water frequently but taper off with the watering in the fall and winter for best results.

The angel wing cactus is another one of my favorites. It has stem like pads that have glochids with small spines. This gives it a furry look. Don’t be fooled though it is very spiky still. It flowers infrequently with yellow flowers. It can get up to three feet tall and 6 feet wide! It’s a slow growing cactus that prefers full sun and water when it drys out.

What is your favorite cactus? How big have your cacti grown?