Cactus Plant Design Ideas

Cactus have a reputation of being easy to grow, which many of us have proven completely false. Cactus and other succulent plants are specialized houseplants that need certain conditions to thrive. But these conditions can be easily learned and applied to your own plants.

Cactus and succulents are enjoying an overwhelming popularity in the garden design world and even beyond, as their exotic and iconic images appear in pop culture and their fruits and pads are even being made into cocktails, salads, and jellies. Their needles and joints make cactus some of the most interesting and drought tolerant plants to use in the garden. From accent plant to anchor point, here’s how to get it right.

There are 4 tips for how to look after a cactus :

1. Watering

The cactus is often underwatered, but mostly, they're overwatered. The trick to getting this right is to follow the plant’s natural seasonal habits. From April onwards, treat this as the dry season and a period of rest for the plant. During this season, water less often and allow the soil to virtually dry out between each watering. Treat September onwards as the rainy season and water a bit more generously, allowing any excess water to drain away. Be sure to let the soil dry out slightly between watering. This is also the growing season so the addition of houseplant feed or specialist cactus feed will boost growth. Try to use rainwater to water the plant as tap water and filtered water contain minerals and salts that may damage the plant affecting growth and vitality.

2. Potting

When it comes to potting the plant, you are spoilt for choice in terms of planters, but you should take into consideration the size and weight of the cactus - you may need a heavier pot to prevent it from tipping over. The compost should be open and free draining; most garden centers sell a specific compost for cactus so it may be worth checking what they have. In spring, try to repair your cactus into a slightly bigger pot, this allows growth without causing damage to the roots.

3. Position

Another thing to factor in is light. Cactuses like light and airy spaces but sudden extreme light can cause damage and scar for life. On the other hand, too little light can cause discolouring and may misshape the plant. It is important to transfer your plant slowly to brighter areas so it has time to adapt. Keep a close eye on how your plants are behaving. If a cactus or succulent is getting too much light, it can appear bleached or turn odd shades of yellow or orange. It can also burn or scorch in direct sun, so be cautious if locating your plants in a window with intense sun exposure. On the other hand, your plant might start to stretch if it’s receiving too little light, which is also known as etiolation. This is especially obvious in a round cactus, where it looks like the growing point in the center is getting stretched out. Do not leave a plant in conditions like this for long. Also make sure to turn the potted plant somewhat regularly to provide light and promote even growth on all sides.

4. Enjoy it!

The most important tip is to make the most of your plant and to let it do its thing. To keep it looking its best, try taking a soft paint brush to remove dust that collects around the pricks. What makes cactus unique among other succulents is a plant part called an areole. This looks like a patch of cotton with spines, flowers or roots growing out of it. Some other succulents have spines, but they do not have areoles like cactus.