Desert cacti are almost impossible to kill because they have evolved to survive the harshest conditions.

If you care for indoor cacti as you do other houseplants, your cacti are doomed to failure. But once you understand their needs, your indoor cacti will thrive under your care.

How Do I Grow Indoor Cactus?

Cacti do well indoors. You should try to place indoor cacti in a window facing south, if possible. Choose an east- or west-facing window otherwise.

Give extra bright light for 12 to 18 hours a day. Do this during the cacti growing season. This will encourage flowering.

Keep a relative humidity of 10% to 30% and a temperature between 65°F and 90°F.

The Less Light = Less Water

Move the cacti to a place where the temperature ranges from 45°F to 55°F. This will help them go dormant for the winter.

During Winter, water cacti sparingly and from the bottom, just often enough to keep the plants from shriveling.

Even watering once a week is excessive, depending on the plant and growing medium. Stop feeding cacti during their dormant period.

Is It Time To Repot Your Cactus?

Things You Will Need
Peat moss (optional)
Garden soil (optional)
Sand (optional)
Cactus potting mix (optional)
Pots
Hygrometer and Thermometer
5-10-10 fertilizer

Use a mix of 1 part peat moss, 1 part garden soil, and 1 part sand. This combination is ideal for potting a desert cactus. Alternatively, use a prepackaged mix designed specifically for cacti.

Transplant in the spring after the cactus has grown within 1/4 inch of the sides of the pot. Do not allow it too much extra space.

Plant the cactus in the next pot size up. Do not fertilize right after transplanting.

Do All Cactus Bloom?

Desert cacti (the spiny kind) are a challenge to get to bloom indoors. This is because we can’t supply as much light as a sun-drenched desert. 

Moreover, to light, another important factor for blooming is age.  Some plants take years to mature. 

Dormancy: Many desert cacti bloom in response to a cool, dry, dormant period. During the winter, you should reduce watering to only about once a month.

Water just enough to keep the plant from shriveling up. Move your cactus to a bright, sunny, cool spot, around 50° F.

When water uptake increases and buds develop, the plant is no longer dormant. It will need care during the growing season.

Tip: Watch for flower buds to form and check the moisture level.

Warning… Do not allow water to stand or pool on the flesh of any cacti, especially barrel cacti. This practice can lead to a variety of rots and problems.

Fertilize cacti only in the spring and early summer. Use a cactus-specific fertilizer or a highly diluted fertilizer. Make sure it is lower in nitrogen and higher in phosphorus and potassium.

Overfeeding will not make your cactus bloom!

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Old-hand gardeners know for best success indoor cactus and succulent plants need a certain amount of neglect.

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