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Cactus care guide

There are more than 2000 species in the cactus family, and while most have similar care, be sure to find info specific to the plants you choose. These tips will give you a general idea of how to take care of your favorite cacti.

Light: Direct sun; some species will do fine with very bright indirect light.

Water: water the cacti when soil is dry all the way to the bottom.

Soil: use fast-draining potting mix, like cactus/ succulent soil.

Search for hundreds of cacti and learn key information about each including photos, sun needs, water needs, hardiness zones, soil pH and so much more. Your ultimate cacti guide by following the link below:

132 Types of Cacti (A to Z Photo Database)

The round type cactus: the most common is the Echinocactus grusonii. In addition to the columnar shape of the Cereus, the other typical cactus shape is round. Among the globular cacti the Echinocactus are very popular and representative, and in particular the Echinocactus grusonii.

The 10 Most Popular On Earth

Easter cactus.

Old lady cactus.

Bunny ear cactus.

Blue columnar cactus.

Star cactus.

Barrel cactus.

Fairy castle cactus.

Saguaro cactus.

How long can a cactus live for?

In the wild cacti can live for hundreds of years. Indoors they may survive for 10 years or more. The trouble with old ones is that every single knock, scratch or blemish they get stays with them, so they tend to look less appealing as they get older.

What is the easiest cactus to grow?

Orchid Cacti (Epiphyllum Oxypetalum)

This gorgeous blooming variety is one of the easiest types of cactus to grow. Its leaves are beautifully colored, and it can grow up to 10 feet tall with enough space and the right conditions.

Does Cactus purify air?

Cacti is the best in reducing radiation and bacteria.

In addition, cacti absorbs carbon dioxide at night to release oxygen. Putting cacti in the room is helpful in sleeping and supplementing oxygen.

If you are looking for a plant that will add a bit of a desert charm to your space and an easy one to take care of, then get yourself a cactus. They do not require much care, which makes it an ideal choice for someone with a busy lifestyle. Plus, they only require some basic maintenance, whether they are grown in an indoor setting or outdoors, as long as you know that you’re doing. But in case you don’t, then we got you covered with all the tips above.

If you want to try to grow your own cactus, then you can stop by Printhousedesign.com and pick up your own packet of cacti seeds!

Best low-light indoor plants

Looking for the best low-light indoor plants that will thrive in a dim area of your home?

There are plenty of indoor plants out there that are easy to care for, forgiving, and low-light tolerant. Some even do better in shadier spaces, if you can believe it. If you’re not a full-blown plant parent yet because you haven’t found the right low-maintenance greenery, then you’re in the right place. We’ve compiled a list of the best plant varieties that won’t want anything to do with your already-crowded windowsill—or at the very least, houseplants that can handle being in a shady corner of your space even if they prefer brighter conditions.

Rattlesnake plant is native to the jungles of Brazil and will add a touch of the tropics to any home with its bright-green topside leaves that contrast beautifully with the rich purple undersides. The rattlesnake plant needs a rich and humid environment, so try to replicate this as closely as possible. The lighting condition: “Keep your rattlesnake plant in a shady spot with indirect sunlight, as too much sunshine can discolor the leaves, turning them brown and crispy.”

Perhaps one of the most diverse of the Ficus family, the weeping fig gets its name from the narrow, arrow-like leaves that line the delicate woody stems. “These are a great plant for beginners, but remember that with Ficus benjamina, much like a larger tree, the leaves will drop in winter, which is normal.”The lighting condition: “The weeping fig will enjoy basking in a few hours of morning sun, but move it before the sun gets too strong, and keep away from the afternoon sun.”

With its remarkable painterly leaves, the Fittonia is well-favored among the smaller trailing houseplants, “They are, however, not the easiest to keep alive in normal home conditions, as they like constant humidity, so they will be at their best housed in a terrarium or bottle garden.”

The lighting condition: “Native to the jungles of Peru, the Fittonia is found under the canopy of other plants and is used to having dappled light, so keep your Fittonia out of direct sunshine and place in a shady spot. Too much sunlight can bleach the leaves and fade their bright pink veins.”

Pretty slow-growing, this bushy plant will eventually reach around 4 to 6 inches in height. The Peperomia will produce curious ‘rat-tail’ stalks from the base, which do not necessarily flower but do add a funny feature to the plant!”The lighting condition: “In its natural habitat, this plant would be found under trees in a bright but shady spot, so it is best to try to replicate this in your home. As it is small, you could easily place it under a taller plant to shield it from direct sun, which can scald the leaves and leave permanent damage.”

Take into consideration these low light plants listed above when you want to add an easy care plant in your home with little sun light.

Humidity and plants

Humidity is often a missing element in the environment we except plants to thrive in. Many houseplants are tropical and live in naturally humid conditions. While some plants can do fine without humidity, even in dry climates, most will thrive best with some added humidity. As an added bonus, humidity is also a beneficial to humans it can help with respiratory health and dry skin. Understanding how to add humidity to your environment will give you a wider range of options when choosing your plants to bring home.

A few misconceptions of humidity:

“Misting occasionally creates humidity”- TRUTH: Misting can create a temporary humidity, but for lasting water vapor in the air, this is not enough. Misting can also cause problems with leaves.

“humidity is hard to provide”- TRUTH: Some plants do need an extreme level of humidity, which can be a challenge to provide, but for many plants that benefit from humidity, something as simple as a pebble tray or a small humidifier can be enough.

“Humidity is the same as dry heat”- TRUTH: While many people just think of heat when they hear humidity, this term actually refers to water vapor in the air. Both warm and cool climates can be humid, though warm air can hold more water vapor than cool air.

There can be ways to add humidity in your home for your plants. Three simple ways is naturally humid room, for example the bathroom is a good place for your plant to have a boost of humidity. A pebble tray is simple to make and is easy way to provide humidity for a single plant. The most effective way to add moisture to the air , especially if you have several plants that need it is adding a humidifier.

Here is a list of plants that need that extra bit of humidity to help them thrive!

Pilea Peperomioides thrives in tropical environments, making it the perfect bathroom plant candidate. However, it will do better in a bathroom that has a window with bright to indirect light. Also referred to as a pancake or a UFO plant, the plant has flat, round leaves.

The golden pothos will make itself and all its vines at home in your bathroom, where it will thrive in a more humid environment (the tips of its leaves will turn brown if the air is too dry!). This plant can handle anywhere from low to bright sunlight, so long as the light is indirect.

The stunning calathea plant in medium indirect light and a moderate to a more humid environment, and it’s sure to do well. Think of it as a symbiotic relationship: Your bathroom’s environment will help it live a healthy life, and its beautiful foliage will give your bathroom new life, too.

If you love the whimsical, secret garden vibes of ivy outside, why not bring that same aesthetic into your bathroom with English Ivy? With a classic British countryside charm, potted English Ivy is super resilient and grows pretty much wherever it can find room to do so. This plant likes medium light and humidity.

Orchids are a little fussy when it comes to watering, but even though they prefer their soil to be on the drier side, they also like humidity—they are tropical plants, after all. Orchids tolerate low light but will fare much better in brighter indirect light, so they’re better kept on your bathroom windowsill.

Just choose the right varieties for your space, and these humidity-loving plants will be content.

Propagating Jade Plants

“The Jade plant is one of the easiest plants to grow and care for. So are you wondering “can jade plants grow in water?”

A jade plant can be propagated and grow in water either by the stem or leaf propagation. After the new plant develops roots in water it can grow and stay in water indefinitely or transferred to the soil. That said, let’s dive into why you should try it. And how you can do so.

There are two methods of jade plant’s water propagation. The first one is stem propagation. Cut part from your established jade plant’s stem and place in water vase.

The taken part should have at least 2 inches bare stem and at least 2 leaves. The second method is the leaf method.

When starting a jade plant from a leaf, start by selecting a healthy leaf from the plant. Snip the leaf from the plant. The next step in propagating jade plants from leaves is to lay the jade leaf onto a potting mixture of half vermiculite or perlite and half soil. Water the potting mixture once after you lay the jade leaf down and water sparingly until the leaf puts out roots.

Once the leaf has taken root, the leaf will start to grow plantlets, or tiny plants, from the edges of the leaf that touch the soil. It should take anywhere from two weeks to two months for plantlets to appear. Once the plantlets are a few inches (7.5 to 10 cm.) tall, you can treat them as normal jade plants. Growing jade plants from cuttings or leaves is easy to do. Knowing how to root jade plant cuttings and leaves can help you to make more plants for friends and family. Good luck with starting a jade plant in your garden.

Attracting Hummingbirds to your Garden

Nectar is the only reason that hummingbirds visit flowers in the first place. They need this sugar solution to fuel their high energy lifestyle. (They flap their wings around 60 times per SECOND)Also, a common trait of many flowers that attract hummingbirds is that they are long and tubular. Insects have a hard time reaching the nectar in these types of flowers, but hummingbirds, with their long beaks and tongues, are perfectly adapted.

I wanted to find hummingbird flowers that were common and typically supplied by your local nursery or easy to buy from a reputable company online.

Trumpet Vine is an excellent flower to attract hummingbirds (it’s even commonly referred to as “hummingbird vine”), as it features long, tubular, bright flowers with lots of nectar.

It’s native to the southeast United States but is easy to grow in most of the country. And I do mean GROW. It has a reputation for growing like crazy, and I can second that with my first-hand experience. It needs to be trimmed regularly, or it will take over an entire area. The vine gets so big that many birds will even nest in its dense foliage! It is widely available, and I can always find Trumpet Vine at my local nurseries. Typically, it takes a year or two after planting to start getting bright and beautiful flowers.

Another vine that is native to the eastern United States, Trumpet Honeysuckle is a favorite of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. The birds love the bright clusters of red and orange flowers. It has similar features to the Trumpet Vine, and many people get the two mixed up. A benefit of the Trumpet Honeysuckle is that it’s not as aggressive and does not get as big as the Trumpet Vine. Because of this, Trumpet Honeysuckle may fit better in your hummingbird garden.

Bee Balm is a smaller, perennial flower. Hummingbirds, along with bees and butterflies, love visiting these plants to get nectar. It’s native Bee Balm is a smaller, perennial flower. Hummingbirds, along with beBee Balm, is a smaller, perennial flower. Hummingbirds, along with bees and butterflies, love visiting these plants to get nectar. It’s native to eastern North American and the Pacific Northwest. They are easy to grow, deer resistant, and drought-resistant!

If you have ever seen a Rhododendron in full bloom at the end of May, you will agree that their display is incredibly beautiful. You can’t blame hummingbirds for being attracted. One of the most popular plants at any nursery, there are over a thousand different species of Rhododendron that have been identified, with the majority of them originating from Asia.

But the Rhododendron species that I recommend for hummingbirds is native to North America.

This small flower list is the start to help you attract beautiful hummingbirds to your little flower garden this season.