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Holly & Scott 10.30.21
Cactus Care Guide
ROADKILL CACTUS
Opuntia rubescens ‘Consolea’
Cactus ideal for container growing and may be kept outside in a full sun position during the warmer months. The pads are covered with small glochids (spines) which are a little uncomfortable so be careful when handling. Be careful not to overwater, Opuntia require very little attention with just the occasional drink needed during hot spells. Bright orange flowers in spring.
CARE: Easy, Thrives on Neglect
WATER: Sparingly in colder months; once or twice weekly in summer months.
LIGHT: Bright Light (South-Facing Indoor Window in Colder Months) to Full Sun in Warmer Months.
POTTING NEEDS: Well-draining soil. Does great in containers. Should do well in smaller pot for several months.
BLUE TORCH CACTUS
Echinopsis chamaecereus
Blue Torch Cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus) (Ritter): A branching, columnar cactus with glaucous, olive stems that turn blue with age. The stems are lined with 5-19 ribs with coppery yellow spines. This species is native to Brazil where it can reach an astounding 33.0' tall after decades of growth. It can produce wide flowers (often white) that develop into magenta fruit.
CARE: Easy
WATER: Sparingly in colder months. Increase watering to once or twice weekly in summer months.
LIGHT: Bright Light (South-Facing Indoor Window in Colder Months) to Full Sun in Warmer Months.
POTTING NEEDS: Well-draining soil. Does great in containers. Should do well in smaller pot for several months.
*Over-winter indoors.
PEANUT CACTUS
Echinopsis chamaecereus
An interesting cactus natively found around bushes and rocks in the mountains of Argentina.
The common name “peanut cactus” comes from the long, creeping cactus stems resembling a pile of fuzzy peanuts.
Echinopsis chamaecereus is a low-growing plant with bright orange or red flowers, making it a popular houseplant or addition to a cacti garden.
CARE: Easy
WATER: Sparingly in colder months (once per month). Increase watering to once or twice weekly in summer months.
LIGHT: Bright Light (South-Facing Indoor Window in Colder Months) to Full Sun in Warmer Months.
POTTING NEEDS: Well-draining soil. Does great in containers. Should do well in smaller pot for several months. Will eventually trail.
*Over-winter indoors.
OPTUNIA MAVRICK
Opuntia monacantha f. monstuosa
Prickly pear cactus with pad-like stems. Given full sun, infrequent water, and room to grow, it can produce offshoots and develop into a large shrub. It can take a bit more frequent water than most cacti, but it does need full sun and excellent drainage to thrive.
CAUTION: Opuntia species have fine, barbed bristles called glochids. Glochids easily detach and can become loose in the box during shipping. They will pierce skin and leather gloves, so use tongs when handling.
This cactus variety will not survive a hard frost, but if there is a risk of freezing temperatures it can be brought indoors to grow on a sunny window sill or under a grow light.
CARE: Easy
WATER: Sparingly in colder months. Increase watering to once or twice weekly in summer months.
LIGHT: Bright Light (South-Facing Indoor Window in Colder Months) to Full Sun in Warmer Months.
POTTING NEEDS: Well-draining soil. Does great in containers. Should do well in smaller pot for several months.
*Over-winter indoors.
GYMNOCALYCIUM
Gymnocalycium horstii ssp. buenekeri
A large, globose cactus from Brazil that resembles a green tomato. Each stem has shiny, green skin and 5-6 wide, round ribs. Mature areoles usually have five spines that lie flat in a star-shaped pattern. It blooms with large flowers that range from cream to pale pink. This species grows quickly and can reach 8.0" in height and diameter at maturity.
This cactus variety will not survive a hard frost, but if there is a risk of temperatures below 40F, it can be brought indoors to grow on a sunny window sill or under a grow light. Cactus need bright sunlight, great drainage, and infrequent water to prevent rot.
CARE: Easy
WATER: Sparingly in colder months. Increase watering to once or twice weekly in summer months.
LIGHT: Bright Light (South-Facing Indoor Window in Colder Months) to Full Sun in Warmer Months.
POTTING NEEDS: Well-draining soil. Does great in containers. Should do well in smaller pot for several months.
*Over-winter indoors.
PINE CONE CACTUS
ephrocactuus articulatus
A spineless variety that does in fact resemble a silver to powdery blue pine or spruce cone. This Argentinian species has knobby stem segments shaped like potatoes and can eventually reach over 1.0' tall. It has moved around between many Latin names, but T. articulatus remains a must-have for any cactus collector. This plant is fully rooted in a 2.0" square plastic pot.
This variety of cactus will not survive a frost, but if there is a risk of freezing temperatures it can be brought indoors to grow on a sunny window sill or under a grow light. Cactus need bright sunlight, great drainage, and infrequent water to prevent rot.
CARE: Easy
WATER: Sparingly in colder months. Increase watering to once or twice weekly in summer months.
LIGHT: Bright Light (South-Facing Indoor Window in Colder Months) to Full Sun in Warmer Months.
POTTING NEEDS: Well-draining soil. Does great in containers. Should do well in smaller pot for several months.
*Over-winter indoors.
THIMBLE CACTUS
Mammillaria vetula ssp. gracilis
Small pincushion cactus densely covered with white spines. It grows in prolific clusters that, if given space, can spread into a mounded mat. The stem segments fall off easily but readily re-root. It is native to Mexico and produces miniature, pale cream to pink blooms.
This cactus variety will not survive a hard frost, but if there is a risk of freezing temperatures it can be brought indoors to grow on a sunny window sill or under a grow light. Cactus need bright sunlight, great drainage, and infrequent water to prevent rot.
CARE: Easy
WATER: Sparingly in colder months. Increase watering to once or twice weekly in summer months.
LIGHT: Bright Light (South-Facing Indoor Window in Colder Months) to Full Sun in Warmer Months.
POTTING NEEDS: Well-draining soil. Does great in containers. Should do well in smaller pot for several months.
*Over-winter indoors.
RED-HEADED IRISHMAN
Mammillaria spinosissima
A solitary, cylindrical cactus with rusty red spines. The dark green stems are covered with angular tubercles that bear thin, white to reddish brown spines. It blooms with a crown of bright, magenta flowers atop its stem in spring. In its native habitat in Mexico it can reach 20.0" in height and 3.0" in diameter. This plant is fully rooted in a 3.5" pot.
This cactus variety will not survive a hard frost, but if there is a risk of freezing temperatures it can be brought indoors to grow on a sunny window sill or under a grow light. Cactus need bright sunlight, great drainage, and infrequent water to prevent rot.
CARE: Easy
WATER: Sparingly in colder months. Increase watering to once or twice weekly in summer months.
LIGHT: Bright Light (South-Facing Indoor Window in Colder Months) to Full Sun in Warmer Months.
POTTING NEEDS: Well-draining soil. Does great in containers. Should do well in smaller pot for several months.
*Over-winter indoors.
HEDGEHOG CACTUS
Echinocereus species
A cylindrical cactus with golden spines. Creates new "babies" along sides as it grows. Blooms in Spring and Summer.
This cactus variety will not survive a hard frost, but if there is a risk of freezing temperatures it can be brought indoors to grow on a sunny window sill or under a grow light. Cactus need bright sunlight, great drainage, and infrequent water to prevent rot.
CARE: Easy
WATER: Sparingly in colder months. Increase watering to once or twice weekly in summer months.
LIGHT: Bright Light (South-Facing Indoor Window in Colder Months) to Full Sun in Warmer Months.
POTTING NEEDS: Well-draining soil. Does great in containers. Should do well in smaller pot for several months.
*Over-winter indoors.
RAINBOW HEDGEHOG CACTUS
Echinocereus rigidissimus ssp. rubispinus)
An extraordinary globose cactus with bright pink spines that turn yellow as they age. It is usually solitary with stems growing to 10.0" tall and 2.5" wide. They have 15-26 ribs and the spines lie flat against the stem. It produces pink, funnelform flowers and is native to the southwestern US and northwestern Mexico.
This cactus variety will not survive a hard frost, but if there is a risk of freezing temperatures it can be brought indoors to grow on a sunny window sill or under a grow light. Cactus need bright sunlight, great drainage, and infrequent water to prevent rot.
CARE: Easy
WATER: Sparingly in colder months. Increase watering to once or twice weekly in summer months.
LIGHT: Bright Light (South-Facing Indoor Window in Colder Months) to Full Sun in Warmer Months.
POTTING NEEDS: Well-draining soil. Does great in containers. Should do well in smaller pot for several months.
*Over-winter indoors.
VARIEGATED JOSEPH'S COAT
Opuntia monacantha f. monstruosa variegata
Prickly pear cactus with interesting green and creamy white variegation, sometimes flushed with pink. The pad-like stems of this cactus create offshoots and stack up if given room to grow. This plant can take a bit more frequent water than most cacti, but does need full sun and excellent drainage to thrive.
CAUTION: Opuntia species have fine, barbed bristles called glochids. Glochids easily detach and can become loose in the box during shipping. They will pierce skin and leather gloves, so use tongs when handling.
This cactus variety will not survive frost, but if there is a risk of freezing temperatures it can be brought indoors to grow on a sunny window sill or under a grow light. Cactus need bright sunlight, great drainage, and infrequent water to prevent rot.
CARE: Easy
WATER: Sparingly in colder months. Increase watering to once or twice weekly in summer months.
LIGHT: Bright Light (South-Facing Indoor Window in Colder Months) to Full Sun in Warmer Months.
POTTING NEEDS: Well-draining soil. Does great in containers. Should do well in smaller pot for several months.
*Over-winter indoors.
BUNNY EAR CACTUS
Opuntia microdasys var. pallida
This is a must have prickly pear cactus for any collection. The pads of this cactus create offshoots that develop into a bush-like structure. The yellow dots on the stems of this cactus are glochids, or clusters of very fine barbs that cause irritation when touched, so this cactus requires caution when handling. Large, bright yellow to orange trumpet-like flowers sprout from the top of this cactus.
CAUTION: Opuntia species have fine, barbed bristles called glochids. Glochids easily detach and can become loose in the box during shipping. They will pierce skin and leather gloves, so use tongs when handling and see our Opuntia Care Guide for more tips.
This cactus variety will not survive a hard frost, but if there is a risk of freezing temperatures it can be brought indoors to grow on a sunny window sill or under a grow light. Cactus need bright sunlight, great drainage, and infrequent water to prevent rot.
CARE: Easy
WATER: Sparingly in colder months. Increase watering to once or twice weekly in summer months.
LIGHT: Bright Light (South-Facing Indoor Window in Colder Months) to Full Sun in Warmer Months.
POTTING NEEDS: Well-draining soil. Does great in containers. Should do well in smaller pot for several months.
*Over-winter indoors.
SNOW BALL CACTUS
Mammillaria senilis
A spiky, snowball of a cactus. This clustering species has distinctive, long white spines, some with hooked tips. Each globose stem can grow to 6.0" tall and 4.0" wide. With time they produce clusters of offsets. M. senilis is native to Mexico and blooms with orange-red flowers perched on tall, narrow floral tubes. This plant is fully rooted in a 3.5" pot.
This cactus variety will not survive a hard frost, but if there is a risk of freezing temperatures it can be brought indoors to grow on a sunny window sill or under a grow light. Cactus need bright sunlight, great drainage, and infrequent water to prevent rot.
CARE: Easy
WATER: Sparingly in colder months. Increase watering to once or twice weekly in summer months.
LIGHT: Bright Light (South-Facing Indoor Window in Colder Months) to Full Sun in Warmer Months.
POTTING NEEDS: Well-draining soil. Does great in containers. Should do well in smaller pot for several months.
*Over-winter indoors.