Are you seeking for houseplants that require less care and attention? In such case, allow me to welcome you to the fascinating world of indoor cactus. People who are new to gardening, those who want hardy plants that require little care, or those who simply enjoy cactus plants would do well to consider purchasing some of these gorgeous and unusual species.

In this article, we will discuss four different types of cacti that are great options for cultivation in an indoor environment. We are going to go through their botanical categories, their native growth range, their traits, and the requirements necessary for them to flourish. Okay, let's get down to business here!

Classification of Cacti According to Their Botanical Names and an Overview of Their Uses in the Home

Cetacea is a family of perennial, blooming, succulent plants, and all cacti, even those that do well as houseplants, are members of this family. Cacti are succulent plants. There are around 130 genera and over 1,500 species of cacti that belong to the family Cetacea. Many species of cactus, which are indigenous to the dry, primarily desert regions of the Americas, have since become naturalized in other parts of the world, such as Australia and South Africa.

These plants have adapted over time to become experts at surviving in extremely dry environments, whereas the vast majority of other plant species would perish in such conditions. Their stems have been changed in order to improve their capacity to hold water, which is the primary factor in their success in such dry conditions. Cacti have evolved modified leaves that emerge as spines rather of the conventional foliage, which helps them avoid water loss through transpiration. These spines can be found on the plant's surface. Their spines not only protect them against herbivores' attempts to eat them, but they also give some shelter from the harsh sun of the desert. You will, however, see that not all cactus have spines that are very long. Some cactus plants, however, generate microscopic hairs known as glochidia that are capable of performing the same function. There are species that do not exhibit any spines at all but instead develop different types of defense mechanisms. Some produce both short hairs and longer spines, while others do not display any spines at all.

Areoles are a universal trait that can be applied to all cacti and serve as a descriptor for the family Cactaceae. Cacti are covered in these tiny nodes, which are the structures from which blooms, new stems, branches, spines, and glochidia arise. These nodes may be found all over the plant.

How to Grow, Native Ranges, and Characteristics of the Four Different Types of Cacti That Can Be Kept Indoors

Cacti can be grown successfully as houseplants by gardeners of any skill level. This is a goal that can be accomplished. If you've never grown a houseplant before, please don't be afraid to give growing one or more of the species listed below a shot, even if you've never done it before! The majority of cacti can only grow when exposed to strong, unfiltered sunlight, when planted in soil that drains extremely well, and when given very little water. It is vital to keep in mind that overwatering any succulent plant, including cacti, is the quickest and easiest way to cause the plant's death. However, you may find that certain species grow differently than the general culture described here.

The following types of indoor cactus will each have their own unique traits as well as specific cultural requirements that must be met.

1. The cactus known as Bunny Ears (Opuntia microtasks)

The bunny ears cactus, also known as Opuntia microtasks, is a plant that is native to the arid areas of Northern Mexico and Southern Arizona. It is a common houseplant due to the fact that it requires little in the way of care and has an interesting growing pattern. This plant is known by its popular name because it develops clusters of stems that resemble rabbit ears and are light green in color. These stems, sometimes known as pads, are covered in glochidia, which sprout from white areoles and cover the whole surface. However, despite the fact that it has very few hairs, you should not assume that you may touch this plant without wearing protective gloves. When glochidia come into touch with the skin, they are responsible for a significant amount of irritation. This slow-growing cactus can reach heights of up to 2-3 feet and widths of up to 4-6 feet over the course of a period of 10-20 years, which makes it an excellent contender for a modest houseplant. Your bunny ears cactus may surprise you by blooming exquisite yellow cup-shaped blooms in the early spring, although this is an unusual occurrence for the plant. Instead, individuals cultivate these plants for the attractive stems they produce. When they do blossom, the flowers give way to the development of fruit that is dark crimson in color and is both edible and delectable.

In order to survive, bunny ears cactus require the following:

• A potting medium for cacti that is sandy and has good drainage.
• At least six hours of direct sunlight each and every day
• Extensive watering during the spring and summer months, with enough time in between watering's to allow the soil to completely dry out. During the fall and winter, water the plant once every month.
• temperatures that do not drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. At least 70 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal.
• A humidity range of 10-30%.

2. Golden Barrel Cactus (Echinocactus grissini)

When you are thinking about different kinds of cacti that you may cultivate inside, the golden barrel cactus need to be at the top of your list. This gorgeous variety has stems in the shape of globes, and it is grown mostly for the attractive golden ribs that run vertically all the way around the plant's circumference. Clusters of spines are produced by yellow areoles that run down the ribs. This plant's growth rate considerably slows down as it matures, and it grows in diameter at a pace of approximately one inch per year. After 20 years, they can potentially reach a height of roughly 1 meter. This plant produces a ring of blooms at its head in the middle of summer, but they bloom infrequently indoors unless they are exposed to intense sunshine that is both strong and consistent. The flowers can have a variety of colors, including yellow, pink, orange, or red.

nah its supposed to look like that! it looks like some sort of mammillaria pilcayensis (common name long pincushion cactus) which naturally grow laying down, its not etiolated at all. i beg you, dont chop it up, its so mature. does look like it needs fresh soil though pic.twitter.com/f5KoKaVPHs

— pickles 👹 (@carrot_andlemon) March 16, 2023

The following are necessities for the healthy growth of the golden barrel cactus:

• A potting soil for succulents and cacti that contains perlite and has exceptional drainage.
• The ideal exposure for this species is six hours of direct, unfiltered sunshine per day; however, it can also thrive in periods of strong, indirect sunlight.
• During the growth phase, you should water the plant around once per week and let the soil to dry out in between waterings.
• You should only water your plant once a month, but make sure it gets a good soaking from fall through winter.
• Temperatures that do not fall below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. At least fifty degrees Fahrenheit is ideal.
• humidity lower than fifty percent

3. An example of a feather cactus (Mammillaria plumose)

If you have a limited amount of space in your home but yet want to cultivate a houseplant that has visually interesting foliage, this cute miniature cactus is a wonderful option to consider. This little plant will only reach a height of about 5 inches, making it ideal for little displays and locations that are limited in size. The feather cactus resembles a young bird because it is completely covered in white feathery spines that sprout from the areoles in a starburst pattern. This gives the plant the appearance of being covered in soft, downy feathers. Due to the fact that these "feathers" can be very irritating to the skin, it is safe to say that coming into contact with this plant would not be a pleasant experience. The cactus, on the other hand, benefits from their presence since they shield it from both the sun and potential enemies.

In order for it to be successful, the feather cactus requires:

• A combination of well-draining houseplant potting soil and sand, sometimes known as a cactus potting mix.
• In warmer areas, there are six hours of direct sunlight every day, with some light shade in the afternoon.
• Maintain a consistent level of moisture throughout the plant's growing season, but let the soil completely dry out in between waterings. In an ideal situation, water should be applied from below so that the spines do not become wet.
• From fall through winter, water the plant once every month.
• Temperatures that very infrequently fall below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures of at least 53 degrees Fahrenheit would be ideal.
• a humidity range lower than fifty percent

4. Cactus with a Rat's Tail (Aporocactus flagelliformis)

Are you a fan of cacti and other plants that hang? You would not think that these two things go together, but there are several varieties of cactus that trail and make excellent selections for eye-catching hanging plants. If you look hard enough, you can discover them. One of these species is the rat tail cactus, also known as Aporocactus flagelliformis, which is indigenous to the semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and Central America. It can either grow as an epiphyte, which means it grows on other plants in a non-parasitic way, or as a lithophyte, which means it grows on rocks. (growing attached to rocks). This intriguing plant has lengthy branches that resemble tendrils and delicately drape themselves over the sides of its container as they grow. When fully developed, the length of these stems can reach up to four feet. This plant, in addition to producing exquisite tendrils, also produces stunning tubular blooms in violet-red, orange, or pink. Although they emerge mostly at the plant's base, these blooms can also spread along the stems of the plant.

 https://animalyst.com/fertilize-cacti-and-other-succulents 

In order to thrive, the rat tail cactus need the following:

• A potting mix for cacti and succulents that is enhanced with perlite to provide good drainage.
• strong direct sunlight throughout the entire year,
• Maintain a consistent watering schedule throughout the growth season, waiting for the top two inches of soil to become totally dry before providing additional hydration. The soil should be allowed to dry out completely in between waterings, which should occur roughly once a month from fall through winter.
• Temperatures that do not drop below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures ranging from 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit are most comfortable.
• A humidity range of 30-50%.