Here's How to Grow Low-Maintenance Cacti at Home
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Cacti are a fun addition to any houseplant collection! They vary in size, shape and bloom time, so they add plenty of interest, texture, and color to any brightly-lit room.
Best of all, cacti are forgiving if you sometimes forget to water. Because these easy-care plants (like those that don't need a lot of light) store water in their leaves, stems and roots, they can go weeks without a drink.
One thing to note is that most cacti grow extremely slowly, maybe an inch per year. They also take years and years to grow from seed, so buy a plant to enjoy now, rather than trying to start seeds (unless you're extremely patient).
How to Care for Cactus Plants
As with any plant, the right amount of light is essential. If you're growing cacti indoors, they'll need direct sunlight, such as on a sunny windowsill. If you don't have the right natural light, keep your cacti under LED grow lights instead.
Watering is easier than you think. Most need to dry out completely before you water them again. If your cactus get soft and mushy, you've overwatered it, and it's unlikely to recover. Live and learn and head back to the plant store!
Also, remember that many cacti have sharp spines so keep them away from curious kids and pets. For less prickly types, choose cacti such as holiday cacti, which don't have sharp spines.
One more comment: Some plants that are called "cactus" belong to a different or related group of plants, such as succulents or euphorbia. We've included them in our list, however, because they're often commonly referred to as a cactus and their care is nearly identical to most types of cacti.
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Read on to learn about our favorite types of cacti you can grow:
Chin Cactus (Gymnocalycium baldianum)
This petite cactus maintains a clumping habit and maxes out at 3 to 5 inches tall. It has the most lovely pink flowers that grow atop a long stem.
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How cool is this? This succulent plant forms a miniature structure that looks like the columns of an ancient temple. Give this plant bright light. It has pretty pinkish flowers, though it rarely blooms indoors.
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Tiger Jaws (Faucaria tuberculosa)
The jaw-like leaves of this succulent give them their fierce name! But the spines of this plant are softer than many others. It keeps a clumping form. Give it bright, indirect light, and water only when completely dry.
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Crinkle Leaf Plant (Andromischus cristatus)
Aptly named crinkle leaf plant, this cute succulent comes from South Africa. It can actually reach heights of 18 inches, but it's a slow grower. Give it bright light, and let it dry out completely before watering again.
Old Lady Cactus (Mammillaria hahniana)
The name may not be the most flattering (but it does look like gray hair), but it's an adorable cactus that's super-easy to grow. It gets a ring of pretty hot-pink flowers in spring if it receives cooler temperatures (45 to 55°F) in winter. Water when mostly dry.
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Rainbow Hedgehog (Echinocereus rigidissimus)
With a rounded form and a striking geometric pattern of spines, the rainbow hedgehog cactus lives up to its name! The colors shift from pink to yellow as it ages. It needs bright light to form bright pink blooms. It also prefers drought, so be sparing with the water.
Ric Rac Cactus (Epiphyllum anguliger)
How could we not love a cactus nicknamed after one of our favorite trims to decorate with? It grows especially well indoors in a sunny window. It's also sometimes known as fishbone cactus.
It has stunning night-blooming fragrant flowers, though they rarely occur indoors. Give it bright, indirect light and water when mostly dry.
Lithops (Lithops spp)
Lithops, also known as living stone plants, are actually a type of succulent. But they like similar conditions to most cacti: Plenty of direct sunlight and infrequent water. And they're so cute!
Turk's Cap Cactus (Melocactus spp)
This cute little cactus looks like it's wearing a tiny hat! It needs full sun to thrive. Water when the soil has dried out completely. Overwatering will kill this plant, so err on the side of too dry, rather than too wet.
Cereus Cactus (Cereus peruviana)
The cereus cactus has an interesting upright form. It prefers very dry conditions. Give it bright, direct sunlight and water only when completely dry.
Organ Pipe Cactus (Stenocereus thurberi)
The organ pipe cactus has a unique form that resembles, well, organ pipes! Give this cactus full sun and water only when the medium is almost completely dry. Do not water at all in winter.
Little Mouse (Rebutia miniscula)
This small clumping cactus is too cute! There's lots of variation in its appearance, but it typically has rounded clumps with slender funnel-like flowers that may be red, yellow, orange, or white. Water when mostly dry.
Scarlet Ball (Parodia haselbergii)
This small rounded cactus has a profusion of delicate spines, giving it an almost fuzzy appearance. The gorgeous orange-red flowers are a beautiful contrast to the white spines. It needs bright sunlight and infrequent watering.
Thanksgiving Cactus (Schlumbergera truncata)
Thanksgiving cactus is a long-lived cactus 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. Water when mostly dry.
Read more: How to Tell a Thanksgiving and Christmas Cactus Apart
Tom Thumb (Parodia mammulosa)
This cactus has a rounded shape and flattened top with 18 vertical ribs and sharp spines. This cactus prefers bright, indirect, rather than direct, sunlight. Water when mostly dry. The golden yellow flowers are 2 inches wide.
Two-spined Cactus (Mammilaria geminispina)
This cylindrical cactus often grows in groups. Give if full sun to encourage thick spine formation. Let it dry completely between waterings. The magenta flowers are striking against the white spines.
Bunny Ears (Opuntia microdasys)
Also called angel wing cactus, this handsome plant has big, flat stem-like pads with cottony-looking dots called glochids.
But these barbed bristles can pierce gloves, so handle with care. The pads are produced in pairs (like ears or wings!). Give it full sun and water sparingly when mostly dry. Yellow cup-shaped flowers appear rarely.
Easter Cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri)
Easter cactus blooms in early spring, but even without the bright flowers, the green segments make for an attractive plant year round. Like other holiday cacti, Easter cactus prefers bright light but not direct sunlight, which will burn its leaves, which are technically flattened stems. Water when mostly dry.
Read more: Easter Cactus Care Tips
Mistletoe Cactus (Rhipsalis baccifera)
Pencil-thin, trailing stems make this succulent a real showstopper as it matures. It's a tropical epiphyte, like orchids, which adapts well to indoor care. Give it bright, indirect light and water when dry to the touch. The blooms appear on the tips of stems.
Monkey Tail Cactus (Cleistocactus colademononis)
This cute cactus is long and slender with fuzzy, hair-like spines. At first, the stems are upright, but as it matures it begins to trail up to 5 feet long. Give it full sun to part shade, and water when completely dry. Its orange-red flowers are tubular.
Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii)
Like its relatives, Christmas cactus is a lovely, arching plant with no spikes, so it's a great choice for families with kids and pets. It has profusions of gorgeous bright flowers in early winter. It's often mistaken for the other two related types of cacti, but it has more rounded, scalloped stems. Give it bright indirect light, and water when the top inch or two of soil feels dry.
Read more: How to Tell a Thanksgiving and Christmas Cactus Apart
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. Give it full sun to part shade. Water when mostly dry.
Ladyfinger Cactus (Mammillaria elongata)
Ladyfinger cactus is a sweet addition to a succulent garden. This petite cactus has clusters of cylindrical stems and yellowish spines that give it an overall golden appearance. Give it direct sunlight, and water when mostly dry. Small yellow flowers appear if conditions are ideal.
Golden Barrel Cactus (Echinocactus grusonii)
This type of cactus is relatively 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. Give it full sun, and water when mostly dry. Bright yellow flowers appear when the plant is at least 15 years old.
Feather Cactus (Mammillaria plumosa)
The white "feathers" on this cactus look fluffy and soft, but be warned: the younger, shorter spines below that innocuous-looking facade are super-sharp! Its cute rounded shape and sweetly scented flowers make it worth growing. Give it full sun and water when completely dry.
Moon Cactus (Gymnocalycium Mihanovichii )
Moon cactus is a popular addition to a succulent garden thanks to its bright color. The hybrid plant is actually two types of cacti grafted together. Give it morning sun, afternoon shade, and water when completely dry. It produces pink flowers, though rarely.
Sand Dollar Cactus (Astrophytum asterias)
The distinctive markings on this cactus give it its name because it resembles a sand dollar. It also keeps a somewhat flattened shape. Give it full sun to part shade, and water when completely dry. Its pink or yellow flowers have orange centers.
Fairy Castle Cactus (Acanthocereus tetragonus)
Who knew a cactus could be charming? The varied stems resemble the turrets of a castle, making it the perfect addition to any whimsical garden. Heads up: It's a very slow grower. Give it full sun, and let it dry out completely between waterings. The large flowers, which don't occur until the plant is about a decade old, open at night and close in the morning.
Bishop's Cap Cactus (Astrophytum myriostigma)
The star-shaped bishop's cap cactus features a short-blooming yellow flower. Its silvery sheen gives it an interesting appearance. As you'd guess, it gets its name from the shape resembling a bishop's cap. Give it bright, indirect light, and water when mostly dry. It produces pale yellow flowers with a bright orange center.
Rat Tail Cactus (Aporocactus flagelliformis)
The distinctly unattractive name isn't really fair to this plant! Rat tail cactus has long trailing stems and pretty pink flowers, so it's a fun addition to any houseplant collection.
It's actually a succulent. Give it bright, indirect light, and water when mostly dry. It develops gorgeous flowers on the ends of stems in shades of pink, red, or purple.
Peanut Cactus (Echinopsis chamaecereus)
With a name this cute, you simply have to grow this one! Peanut cactus is an adorable clumping cactus with stems that can curl up to 10 inches long.
It's easy to grow and is especially appealing in a pot. The spines are softer to the touch than many other cacti. Give it bright sunlight and water when mostly dry. It gets large orange flowers if conditions are right.
Easter Lily Cactus (Lobivia ancistrophora)
These small rounded cacti have many ribs and stout spines. They're known for their wooly areoles and large pink or white lily-like flowers on wooly stems; they open in the evening and close by mid-day. Give it direct sunlight and water when mostly dry.
Blue Candle (Myrtillocactus geometrizan)
This columnar cactus has a blue-ish color. Large showy flowers appear when in bloom. Give it full sun, with part shade in very hot desert climates.
Torch Cactus (Trichocereus grandiflorus)
This columnar cactus is best known for its stunning floral display of midwinter blooms in pink, red, yellow or orange. It needs full sun but will tolerate part shade. Water when it feels completely dry.
Cathedral Cactus (Euphorbia trigona)
This interesting plant may be called a cactus, but it's actually a succulent. It is fast-growing with triangular stems that develop small leaves on its new growth. This columnar plant needs direct sun. Water when mostly dry. It rarely flowers, especially as a houseplant.
Teddy Bear Cholla (Cylindropuntia bigelovii)
This upright, tree-like cactus has a trunk topped with branches covered in silvery spines. From a distance, it looks like the arms of a cuddly teddy bear! Give it full sun and barely any water; it's a true desert cactus that does best outdoors. Greenish flowers appear on the tips of stems.
Prickly Pear (Opuntia spp)
Prickly pear cactus have flat, oval pads covered in spines. Pollinators love the pink blossoms, and the flowers are a beautiful contrast to the the stark spines of this plant. There are many different varieties with varying degrees of cold hardiness. Give prickly pear full sun and water when completely dry.
Miniature Saguaro (Euphorbia aeruginosa)
What a unique plant! This dwarf cactus has copper-green branches with reddish spines. It does particularly well in pots and grows more quickly than some cacti. It needs part sun. Water when mostly dry. It gets tiny yellow flowers between the spines.
Saguaro Cactus (Carnegiea gigantea)
The tree-like saguaro cactus is native only to the Sonoran Desert and can live for 200 years! Its super-slow growth rate (about an inch per year for the first eight years of its life) keeps it petite if grown indoors. Give it direct sunlight, and water when completely dry. White flowers, which only bloom for less than a day, appear at the tops of stems. Interestingly, they are pollinated by bats.
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