The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Artificial Cactus Plants In Pots

When I first started my collection, I had no idea that there was such a thing as the ‘best type of pot’ for a cactus.

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I assumed there were all created equal, and simply a matter of personal preference.

So, along with my first few plants, I picked up a few of the fancy plastic pots, that were conveniently located next to the cactus stand, and off I went.

It turns out these pots were a terrible choice for my cacti.

I’ve since learned that choosing the right pot is essential for the health of our prickly babies.

With that said, let’s take a look at the 3 main things to consider when choosing a cactus pot which are;

• Drainage
• Size and shape
• Pot material

Drainage Holes – The Most Important Element When Choosing Your Pot

If you only take one thing away from this article, let it be this;

The most important thing to ensure when choosing a pot is to make sure it has at least one drainage hole.

You see, despite what many people think, cacti do actually like a regular good watering

How often depends on the type of plant, soil type, and pot material.

Once you’ve watered your cactus, the water needs to drain away quickly to prevent the roots from sitting in water for too long.

If it doesn’t, it could lead to root rot which is one of the most common cacti killers.

This is exactly what happened to three out of my first plants. At the time I had no idea what I was doing wrong.

At the risk of repeating myself, more important than the size, shape, or design of the pot, make sure it has a drainage hole!

Of course, if you fall in love with a particular pot that doesn’t, you could always drill your own.

Choosing The Right Size and Shape

This is the second mistake I made. Hopefully, I can help you avoid making the same.

I always thought that choosing a large pot would be a good idea. That way, my cacti would have plenty of room to grow and I wouldn’t have to worry about repotting for quite a few years.

Nope…wrong again!

Cacti actually like to fill their pot out, so choose one that is an inch or two wider than your plant.

It shouldn’t be too deep either.

As a gauge for depth, the best method is to carefully remove your cactus from its current pot, brush away the existing soil, and measure the roots.

Then, just like we did with the width, try to find a pot that is an inch or two deeper than what you measured.

The problem with choosing a pot that’s too big is it will lead to overwatering

If you have a small cactus planted in a large pot, the soil will take longer to dry meaning it’s sat around in water longer than it needs to be which again will lead to root rot.

I’ve left you a guide below for pot sizes. Use this as a rough estimate as you don’t have to get this spot on.

I tend to overthink stuff like this when I first learn about it. Don’t be like me!

• For small cacti (2-4 inches tall), use a pot 3-4 inches deep and 2-3 inches wide.
• For medium-sized cacti (4-12 inches tall), use a pot 4-6 inches deep and 2-5 inches wide.
• For large cacti (over 12 inches tall), use a pot at least 6 inches deep and 5-8 inches wide.

The Best Pot Materials For Your Cactus

Clay and Terracotta

If I could only choose one type of pot for my cacti, it would have to be terracotta.

Especially for my desert cacti which prefer less water than other types such as my hairy old man of the Andes (Oreocereus trollii), old lady cactus (Mammillaria Hahniana), and Star cactus (Astrophytum asterias).

Tip: I can help you identify your cactus here if you’re unsure which type you have.

As they’re made from porous materials, they allow air and moisture to pass through and help to regulate temperature.

If you’re worried about overwatering then these are your best options as they don’t hold water as much as ceramic or plastic which we’ll be looking at next.

The downside is they can be heavy if you require large ones and are easily broken.

I quite enjoy their uniform nature but if you prefer pots with beautiful designs, there’s a risk you may find these a little boring.

Plastic

Every cactus I have was sold to me in a plastic container. There are many reasons for this, the main one being they’re really cheap!

In addition to price, they’re lightweight and come in all kinds of sizes, shapes, and colors.

The main thing to keep in mind is that plastic retains water longer than clay and terracotta.

This means they’re better suited to tropical cacti such as Christmas and orchid varieties as they prefer a little more humidity than their desert cousins.

You’ll need to water less often to avoid root rot.

Ceramic pots

If choosing a pot was simply down to aesthetics, I’d choose glazed ceramic every time.

You can find some beautiful designs in stores and online from sites such as Etsy.

Unfortunately, it isn’t but that doesn’t mean they can’t be used because they definitely can.

I see ceramic as a hybrid of terracotta and plastic.

They have the heavier, more durable characteristics of terracotta, but the glazing keeps the water from escaping in the same way plastic does.

If you’re using plastic, you’ll need to water less frequently than if you use clay as we saw above.

Go for the unglazed ceramic if overwatering is a concern.

Hanging Baskets (Depending on The Type of Cactus)

I’ve learned that it’s best to emulate your cacti’s natural environment as much as possible so hanging baskets are a perfect option for orchid cacti that grow along the tree lines in the forest and for trailing varieties such as monkey tail.

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Two of the most common types of hanging baskets are ones with a coco-fiber lining (allowing for faster draining of water) and plastic.

They’re also great for space savers if you have a large collection and your shelves are full!

The Worst Kind

While I’m sure many people grow cacti successfully in all types of containers, I advise against metal and glass.

Allow me to explain;

Glass

Don’t be fooled by the tons of pictures you find online these days (especially on Instagram) showing people growing cacti in glass terrariums.

Glass terrariums are terrible for cactus.

They don’t usually have drainage holes and some are almost completely enclosed.

This seriously restricts airflow and creates a lot of humidity, especially for desert varieties.

Metal

I actually love the look of metal pots and containers but I won’t use them for my cacti.

The metal heats up in warm conditions and makes temperature control very difficult.

You also stand a good chance of burning the roots in hotter climates if they touch the sides of the container.

Should You Use Saucers?

You’re probably sick of hearing me bang on about drainage holes by now but obviously watering your plants with holes is going to cause a mess.

If your collection is fairly small, you could take them to the sink and allow them to drain before returning them to their usual position.

For larger collections that you want to water in situ, saucers or trays are a great idea to avoid making a mess.

My top tip here is that you don’t want your cacti sat in water so you’ll need to empty away any excess water to avoid rotting.

Finally, What about Larger Plants?

I don’t have any larger plants at this point in time but if you do, you’ll want a large, heavy pot to provide a good solid base and avoid your plant toppling over.

In this instance, I would opt for a heavier material such as terracotta but choose a permanent location as it’ll be heavy to move around in the future should you need to. so.

Key Takeaway

You can plant your cactus in just about any type of pot including terracotta, plastic, and ceramic but make sure they have drainage holes and an inch or two bigger than your plant.

You’ll need to monitor the soil moisture which will vary and don’t water your cactus until the soil is dry.

If I were to warn you against any materials, it’s glass and metal as they’re not ideal for cacti.

Questions??

If you have any questions relating pots or cacti in general, please drop me a message in the comments section below and I’ll get back to you as soon as humanly possible!

By Karen Weir-Jimerson  

Cacti are plants with diverse personalities! They come in a wide array of shapes -- from round barrels to tall cylinders to bubbly clumps. Some stand up straight and across the ground. There are species that measure just inches high and some that grow several feet tall. Some cacti are green and others offer textural exteriors such as white webbing or long golden spines. And (surprise!) cacti species bloom just like other plants ( only perhaps less often). When it happens, it’s a special treat.

Although most cacti have a prickly exterior, they couldn’t be going. In fact, cacti are one of the most low-maintenance plants around. They require so little attention: Give them , a little water, and just enjoy them.

In this Shopping Guide, we’ll tell you the following:

• Is it “Cactus” or “Cacti?”
• What’s the Difference Between Cacti and Succulents?
• Meet the Family: Types of Cacti
• How to Shop for Cacti
• Caring for Cacti Indoors: Light, Water, Feeding, Repotting
• Caring for Containers with Pebble Mulch
• Choosing Cacti for Outdoors

Is It “Cactus” or “Cacti?”

It’s both, depending on the number of plants you are talking about. “Cacti” is the plural form of the word; if you have two plants, you have cacti. “Cactus” is singular; if you have one plant, you have a cactus.

What’s the Difference Between Cacti and Succulents?

You hear these two plant terms throw together a lot. And they are combined a lot in planting situations too (think cacti and succulent bowls). But here’s the difference between the two. All cacti are succulents. But not all succulents are cacti. All succulents have thick fleshy parts that store water. But cacti are different from succulents in that they always have external spines and they never have . If it’s prickly, it’s probably cacti.

Meet the Family: Types of Cacti

The cacti family is a large one. There are more than species. Costa Farms sells more than 50 varieties; we’ve selected fun, unusual, and easy-to-grow cacti so that you’ll have the most success indoors and out. Also, there are two kinds of cacti: desert cacti have spines and are from dry regions and forest cacti are from subtropical areas and include Christmas cactus.

When you think of the classic cacti, a saguaro might come to mind (it’s the cacti in most Road Runner cartoons and an iconic part of the American Desert Southwest landscape—and ). BTW, Costa Farms doesn’t sell saguaros. But many cacti grow in a treelike form like a saguaro, which is tall and singular, such as Mexican Fencepost Cactus (Lemaireocereus ) or Candelabra Cactus (Euphorbia compacta).

Other cacti are more rounded, short, and squat, such as Blue Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus ) or Balloon Cactus (Parodia ). These plants are perfect if you don’t have a lot of space or only grow in containers such as low, dishes. Other cacti grow in clusters, such as Fairy Castle Cactus (Acanthocereus tetragonus 'Fairy Castle') or Lemon Ladyfinger Cactus (Mammillaria ‘Lemon’).

How to Shop for Cacti

Here are some general guidelines for shopping for cacti.

1. Look for Dry Soil

You don’t want to buy cacti that have been overwatered. The soil should be dry to the touch.

2. Check for Leaning

If cacti receive too little light, they may lean toward the light. This is a problem that can be corrected by placing your cactus in the right light and rotating the pot occasionally to even it out.

3. Bring a Container for Transport

Bring a box or plastic bin to set cacti in when driving it home. The soil is very dry and may come out of the pot easily if overturned. A box keeps plants upright and from spilling on the way home.

Caring for Cacti Indoors: Light, Feeding, Water, Repotting

Adding cacti to your interior spaces is easy. These easy-care plants match any décor, adding architectural and sculptural appeal. Pot them up in colorful containers that complement the plants' shape, texture, and color. Add them as single specimens in a pot or group them together. Position them on a bright windowsill or tabletop in any room. Follow these rules for care.

1. Set in Bright Light

Cacti need a bright, sunny spot inside your home. A south window is best. But most cacti are somewhere forgiving and can thrive in artificial light, the type of light that you might have in your office.

2. Watch for Blooms

If they get enough light, over time, your cacti may bloom, producing white, pink, red, orange, yellow, or purple flowers, depending on the species. 

3. Water Sparingly

Most cacti are natives of dry areas and have adapted to little rainfall. Indoor cactus has that same hardy characteristic. Water plants once every two or three weeks. It's best to water too little; cacti will rot if soil is too moist.

4. Feed Occasionally

Most cacti grow slowly and don't require fertilizer the way faster-growing plants do. But if you want to feed your cactus, use a general-purple houseplant fertilizer in spring and summer. Follow the directions on the packaging and don’t overfeed. 

5. Prune or Trim If Needed

Because they're slow growers, you typically don't have to worry about pruning cacti.

6. With Care

Cacti have small root systems so they don’t need repotting very often. Depending on the variety, once every three or four years may be enough. When is it time? When the roots tightly fill the inside of the container or if the plant has grown too large to stay stable in its container. NOTE: When you remove the cactus from the pot, you can do this in a variety of ways: use tongs, gloves, or a folded towel. Take care handling cacti because their spines vary in pokiness and you don’t want to be tweezing spines out of your fingers and hands. Ouch!

7. Give as Gifts

If you are looking for colorful cacti to brighten a windowsill or give as a gift, try Desert Gems.

Caring for Containers with Pebble Mulch

You may buy in a container that has a layer of mulch to cover the potting mix. Pebbles are a stylish mulch option. They add a textural accent to cacti. In many of our , we glue the rocks in place so you can enjoy a more fuss-free plant. Learn more about watering and other care of pebble mulched plants.

Cacti Flowers

If you provide good growing conditions, your cacti may produce flowers. Each species has its own bloom schedule and flower color. It can be magical when your cacti ! For a fun splash of year-round color, some cacti are sold with natural glued on. You can enjoy these dried flowers all year or carefully remove them with tweezers. Note: The glue used does not harm the cacti. 

Choosing Cacti for Outdoors

If you live in a temperate area, you can use cacti as landscape plants. Choose a well-drained spot, such as the top of a sunny slope or a rock garden. Don't plant cacti where they'll be wet for extended periods. Follow the same design rules when planting with cacti as you do when using regular plants. For example, add vertical interest with tall cacti. A series of tall cacti (like a hedge) can be an effective barrier planting. Use tall cacti in the back of the border as a backdrop for other plants. Low-growing, mounding cacti add vertical interest to landscapes and can be combined with other cacti and succulents. For example, you can edge a walkway with short cacti.

Cacti are also ideal containers plantings. Place containers of cacti on sunny decks, patios, or balconies. They love hot spots in your yard. Just make sure containers have drainage holes. 

If you live in a climate where temperatures drop, you can enjoy pots of cacti outdoors for the summer, then bring them indoors for the winter. Use the sculptural shapes of cacti like you do other plants in containers. Use tall cacti as the horizontal or “thriller” element in a container. Add mounding cactus as the “filler” and trailing cactus as the “spiller.”

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Artificial Cactus Plants In Pots.

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