IN THIS guidebook
Cacti are , of form , associated with spines and sticker , but many varieties produce pretty and vibrant flower that can really slip the show .
The only interrogation is about cactus flower frame , size and color !
“ There ’s cacti that can be grown to match most position , from windowsill , to indoor garden , to outdoors in the summer months , ” suggests Master of Horticulture Colin Skelly .
We interviewed several expert cacti growers for this guide , let in :
“ The form and variety of cacti make me passionate about grow them , ” enjoin David .
Mammillaria beneckei
“ I also love the art of propagation and enjoy the challenge of raising these plants from come .
“ The flowers are uplift too ! ”
Cactus plants can be quite finical and demanding but not when it comes to on-going attention .
Mammillaria beneckei
What they are exceptional about is their environmental weather condition , including Sunday , grunge and humidity .
An out-of-door cactus requires very little care if these are met in a once - and - for - all manner .
So if you ’d like a challenge trying to grow a thorny , spiny plant with endearing flowers in your backyard .
Gymnocalycium mihanovichii
Expert Chosen Varieties
We necessitate David Ennals to share his favourite varieties of cacti .
“ There is such a vast kind of forms , so it altogether depends on whatever float your gravy boat ! ” says David .
“ Most people produce them for their flowers , but I tend to like the ones with unattackable supination , such as Ferocactus and Stenocactus . ”
“ However , my favored genus has to be Mammillaria . ”
Dirk also has a soft spot for this genus :
“ Mammillaria and Gymnocalycium are my favored cacti , as they tend to bloom at an former age . ”
However , he loves get most cacti variety for the same intellect .
“ When neglect , cacti still live and look good , ” he say .
“ They are water well-disposed but you do not need to irrigate every solar day . Just once a week in the develop season , once a month in the summer and once every 2 - 3 calendar month in winter . ”
If these pick are n’t enough for you , keep read for our detailed list below .
I have made it a point to include at least one species from a dozen cactus genera , from which two ‘ major ’ ones , Mammillaria and Echinocereus , are stand for by four varieties each .
I ’d encourage you to explore the genus of whatever flowering cactus strikes your fancy .
1) Christmas Cactus
The Christmas cactushas overtly jointed segment with its colouration varying from a dull greyish - jet to a glossy bright green .
This popular works is a favourite for indoor cultivation .
Initially upright , it spreads and trails like a cascading plantyou might see in a hang basket .
During winter and over the Christmas geological period , it acquit pendent efflorescence that are tiered and have flared petal in shade of pinkish , ruddy or purpleness .
This plant is a receiver of the RHS Award of Garden Merit .
2) Common Winter Cactus
Somewhat similar to but not the same as the Christmas cactus , the common winter cactus ’ section are less jagged and its thorns are a little smaller .
It too is a top choice for indoor container and also hasa trailing , cascade habit .
In late fall and early winter , it produces flowers fairly similar to those of the Christmas Cactus in the wraith of pink , orange and carmine .
3) Dwarf Turks Cap Cactus
Only growing to around 8 atomic number 96 marvelous , Turk ’s Cap cactus is spherical and a slow - grower .
It has long , judge thorns set up in a whiz form .
In tardy spring and former summertime , it bears a curious blossom that is oblong and curved , with floral growth that has fine hairs that resemble fur in hue ranging from mid - pink to a inscrutable red .
This endangered cactus can be a challenge to grow.1Thornton , B. ( 2007 , January).Nichols Turk ’s Head Cactus Conservation . Friends of Ironwood Forest . Retrieved March 15 , 2023 , fromhttps://ironwoodforest.org/about/the-monument/nature/nichols-turks-head-cactus
4) Orchid Cactus
Featuring very longsighted segments with prostrate , smooth surfaces and equal to of produce to great superlative , the flowers of the orchid cactus come in various dissimilar chassis depending on the crossbreed .
They blossom for only a few days during the end of spring to early summertime .
However , the blooms are self-aggrandising , fragrant and come in bright tone of pink , yellow and red , so it ’s well worth develop despite the short bloom time .
5) Texas Rainbow Cactus
Usually having only one bow , the Texas rainbow cactus pass less than 40 cm in pinnacle , so its 10 curium flowers look very big in compare .
These are elongate and conical - shaped and are gradated sensationalistic in colour and appear from stems that motley from pinkish to light brownness .
Although the cactus is thorny , its expectant , sunny lily-livered flowers are fragrant and have a long blooming season that covers the months through spring .
6) Klapper’s Hedgehog Cactus
Many clip-clop stems and retentive pricker characterise Klapper ’s hedgehog cactus .
These barbed stem have a variable people of colour , appearing light grey or unripe all over .
During summer , this cactus produce flowers that are funnel - shape with a prominent pistil protrude up .
The colours are in vibrant tones of orange tree and red .
7) Scheer’s Hedgehog Cactus
Scheer ’s hedgehog cactus consist of oblong stems and a clop kind that appear rather like cane .
spark fleeceable in colour , they are keeled and have long , sharp thorn all along the ridge .
The colour of the stems is wide-ranging , from dull to plenteous , sinister green .
Just as variable are the colouring of the trumpet - shaped flowers , which are bear in spring and may be pink , fuchsia , purple or even orangish .
This cactus is a receiver of the RHS Award of Garden Merit .
8) Black Lace Cactus
Black lacing cactus comprises of a very dark fleeceable columniform stem that can look like an elongated bollock , reaching up to 35 cm marvelous .
The outstanding rib , often cut , take over every bit prominent areoles and pricker .
From mid - spring to early summertime it produces attractive funnel shape - shaped flower that are 8 cm wide of the mark .
They are of a purple tint , usually a vivid magenta - purpleness .
A recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit .
9) Silver Ball Cactus
Very aptly named , the silver orchis cactus look the part because its stem is ball - determine and has a silver appearing due to the densely - packed , very fine , argent spur and their areoles .
It may subsist as a single plant or in a cluster .
During summertime it grow vivid yellow salver - mould flowers with ruby-red eyes and is another recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit .
10) Glory Of Texas
Yet another plant on this list to receive the RHS AGM , Glory of Texas lie of a lonely spherical or elliptical stem that is fertile unripe and is covered with sharp spine .
As it is no more than 20 curium high , its 8 centimetre wide bloom see even large than they are .
Borne during summer , they are funnel - shaped to salver - shape and of a racy magenta - purple hue with a yellowy - red centre .
11) Peanut Cactus
The peanut cactus has oblong segment of a obscure green tone with a picture gross numeral and arrangement of spikelet .
Its multiple stem turn have a mat - forming use and , during summer , it produces funnel - shaped to salver - shaped flowers .
valuate about 6 atomic number 96 in diameter , they are a vivacious orange red chromaticity .
With a hardiness rating of H3 , it is comparatively hardy for a cactus , which is perhaps why it also has RHS AGM position .
12) Pond Lily Cactus
Of a semi - erect build but classified as bushy , pool lily cactus get hold of up to 40 centimeter in height .
The stems are dark green , flattish , and , unusally for cacti , not spiny at all .
It bears copious flowers during summer .
These many - petalled blossom are salver - mould and of a Egyptian water lily - pink chromaticity .
13) Easter Cactus
With segmented stems that are arching and well - branched , the Easter Cactus has a straggling yet graceful quality about it .
The flattened stems are a rich green shade which perfectly sets off its pictorial scarlet efflorescence which this floriferous cactus often bears in richness in late outpouring and former summertime .
“ My favorite industrial plant really does bet on what is happening at that time , but at the second it is my Easter Cactus , ” contribution jane Perrone , a Houseplant Expert .
“ It has just finished anthesis and was covered in these gorgeous red-faced prime . I love Florist ’s cacti in general . ”
They are funnel - shaped and appraise about 7 centimetre .
Another recipient of the RHS AGM .
14) Bottle Cactus
The feeding bottle cactus is capably named , with each of its jointed , narrow segments shaped like an upside - down feeding bottle !
It has a bushy , often spreading , habit and is thickly separate which cause the longer stems to swing and sag .
In former outflow and early summertime , it turn out tiny 1.5 curium panoptic flowers at the crown of young shank that are funnel - shaped and orange or chickenhearted in colour .
15) Rose Pincushion
pink wine pincushion is a neat - seem cactus that consists of several cluster spherical stem with a ringing of minuscule flowers , quite like a chaplet , atop each plump prow .
The stems are only several centimetres high and wide of the mark and have an abundance of fine , foresighted thorns .
Just as abundant are the wee 2 curium efflorescence which are of a purplish - pink chromaticity .
Though summertime is the prime blooming time of year , this cactus prime at other times of the yr too .
16) Owl’s Eye Pincushion
Similar to the cactus list above , bird of Minerva ’s eye pincushion is made up of tightly packed clumps of ball - similar halt that , though green , appear grayish because of the profusion of long white spines .
Stems are about 15 cm high and blanket .
In spring , this cactus bears several tiny fiddling flowers atop each stalk that are unremarkably rich scandalmongering or bright pink .
Another RHS AGM recipient .
17) Ladyfinger Cactus
In summertime , the ladyfinger cactus bears very small , loving cup - mold blossom from its rounded stem .
Although they are usually pinkish with jaundiced tinges , what work this cactus quite unusual is that sometimes the colouring material is cream or lily-white .
18) Wine-Fragrant Chin Cactus
Neither fragrant or wine , vino - fragrant chin cactus is a little delight and has been awarded with RHS AGM status .
It is a solitary ball of a greyish - green hue with pronounced longitudinal ridge which have recollective , sharp thorns .
This ball is up to 12 cm across .
In summertime , it bring about funnel - shaped peak measuring about 5 curium in diameter that are often a shining pink shade .
19) Purple Prickly Pear
From the same genus asthe very well - known prickly Pyrus communis , we boast two lesser - fuck species .
First up is the purplish barbed ear .
Like most other members of the genus , it has joint flattish ovoid segments and a bushy strain .
It bears somewhat cup - shaped peak that are lily-livered with a bright ruby center .
The story here is about the stem segments as they are commonly a greyish - pink wine nuance of purple , which is uncommon among cacti .
20) Wheel Cactus
Also from the same genus as the burred pear isOpuntia robusta .
It too is of a bushy wont and the stems consist of jointed flattish ovoid segments that are commonly a wonderful , eye - pulling , rich shade of putting surface .
This one ’s funnel - work efflorescence are of a bright , vibrant yellowy - orange chromaticity .
21) Bishop’s Mitre
lie in of 5 - 7 section in a superstar Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe , the charm is that each section is shaped quite like a bishop ’s lid !
Something that is as charming and rare , this cactus lacks any prickle .
It is a dumb greyish - green and ascend to 15 - 20 cm in height , producing 5 cm extensive yellow flowers throughout the summer calendar month .
The RHS Award of Garden Merit has been award to this cactus .
22) Silver Torch
marvellous , columnar staunch that grow to 1 - 1.5 m and branch from ground level , argent flannel mullein is a cactus you might see in a westerly film .
The profusion of all right thorns are set up in neat upright line along the stems .
During summer , it develop a overplus of tubelike flowers range up and down the stems that are of a striking recondite , full-bodied cherry-red hue .
23) Ground Master
The ground master copy has only one solid barrel - shaped stem do deeply in the soil , which is heavily carinated and projects hard , sharp thorns .
The radical , when fully grown , is about 20 - 30 cm and is flattish at the top .
In summertime , it produces bell - shaped blush that have a frilly , ripple coming into court .
They are unremarkably in a pastel shade of pinko with which the red throat and yellow stamens make a pretty dividing line .
