How do I care for a cactus?

The Cactus.
With a Cactus you bring a touch of desert to your living room. The plant is ancient, sturdy and surprising, thanks to its striking shapes and flowers.
May contain: a small cactus in a cement pot on a wooden table
The care of a cactus.

  • Cactus likes a light and warm position and can withstand full sun.

  • Water very moderately, rather too little than too much water, avoid foot bathing. The root ball is allowed to dry out, but watering once a month is better than a little every week.

  • Add some cactus food in the summer months.

  • The plant can best rest in winter. Then give less or no water, as the cactus will then produce flowers (seeds) to survive.

  • Still got a sting? You can remove a large one with tweezers. You can remove small spines by sticking duct tape on them and pulling it away, or by making a ball out of old pantyhose and quickly rubbing it over the area. Rub out the last fine spines with olive oil.

Colors and shapes.

No plant is as decorative and surreal as the Cactus. A bright pink bulb can grow from a gray-green base and beautiful flowers can appear between the spikes. Mammillaria are flowering Cacti, Echino is spherical with beautiful even ridges. Gymnocalycium appears to be made up of green balls and has a funnel flower, Opuntia grows in flat disks. And Cereus is a column that can grow up to ten meters high in the wild.

The thorns of Cacti form their own ecosystem. In nature they protect against being eaten by animals, nighttime cold and bright sun. They also provide some cooling, dew absorption and drainage of precipitation. Furthermore, the plant is pleasantly self-reliant. Cacti have a large root system with which they store moisture in their roots, leaves and stems and thus largely regulate their nutrition.

May contain: three cactus plants in pots on a table next to a mirror and wall hangings

Symbolism

Cacti have been a revered source of food, drink, medicine, tools and building materials in Central America for centuries. Cactus is so common in Mexico that the plant has even made it into the national coat of arms, along with a snake and an eagle. Together they depict the Tenochtitlan legend.

Origin

In the wild, cactus grows in Africa and Central and South America, both in cold high mountains and in the tropical Caribbean. They have existed since prehistoric times; excavations in Mexico have shown that people grew Cactus for the fruits. Although Cacti are often associated with the desert, only a few can withstand extreme drought. Most Cacti grow in areas with 5-50 centimeters of precipitation per year. There are over 1800 different species. The largest cactus in the world is the saguaro, which can grow to 1 meter thick and 20 meters high, making it comparable to a large tree.