'Quick and easy' trick helps cactuses flower indoors and 'keeps them as active as possible'
Keep the succulents in a cool area during winter for a better yield in spring
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Cacti are popular among plant enthusiasts because they are drought-proof and low-maintenance.
The plants thrive in arid environments and perform just as well in many Western countries. Understanding their unique needs is essential, however.
Grace Lapenat gets her cactus to bloom with a few simple steps that help succulents push out flowers.
“I’m going to give you some quick and easy steps to get your cacti and succulents to bloom inside," she said on TikTok.
Cactuses have unique needs
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“First, they want to be exposed to a couple of hours of direct sunlight, if not a full day of sun. Twelve-hour grill lights work wonderfully too.”
LED grow lights can replace natural sunshine and provide the full photosynthesis plants need to push out blooms.
“They’ll generally bloom between spring through summer, and to keep them active and possible, I recommend watering a lot more, generally a couple of days until the soil completely dries out," she added.
While many cactus species can produce flowers, it should be noted that some may not bloom at all, or only rarely do so.
In most cases, the cacti flower during hot spells if you stop watering in autumn and through winter, and resume watering from spring onwards.
When the plants are kept in a warm space during the winter and watered as usual, they continue to grow as normal.
This consequentially prevents them from blooming the following spring. The plant’s ability to bloom will depend on several factors such as its species and other environmental factors.
To get the most out of your plant, the Royal Horticultural Society recommends using contains with free-draining, gritty compost that won't get waterlogged.
“You can buy ready-mixed cacti compost or use John Innes No 2 compost and mix in up to 30 per cent or fine gravel," it said.
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Cactus are more likely to flower in summer when kept in a cool space during winter
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"A few can also be grown outdoors in sunny, well-drained conditions. Readily available in great diversity, these often inexpensive plants are fascinating and highly collectable.”
While some cacti produce flowers for only a day or two, others push out flowers that last several weeks.
One of the most popular species of cactus, produces flowers for around two months from late November to late January, pushing little buds in red, white, yellow, pink and purple.