Yes, there are Cactus that Love Moist Soil and flourish in humid environments—keep reading to explore a few such fascinating examples!
Cacti are known for their ability to survive in harsh dry environments. But not all of them belong to the desert, there are some exceptions! There are some cactus that love moist soil and enjoy the humid conditions of tropical regions. Such moisture-loving cacti break the stereotype and can add some uniqueness to your garden!
Types of Cactus that Love Moist Soil
1. Christmas Cactus
Botanical Name: Schlumbergera x buckleyi
Did you know that your favorite holiday cactus, unlike many cacti thrives in loamy, moist soil and also enjoys a little bit of humid conditions? Particularly during its active blooming period from December to January, it prefers evenly moist soil conditions.
However, to keep it flourishing avoid waterlogging in the soil and maintain a good percentage of indoor humidity.
2. Orchid Cactus
Botanical Name: Epiphyllum species
The Orchid Cactus is a beautiful trailing beauty that grows in tropical climates and needs a moist soil mixture to flourish. Just make sure that the soil is porous and loamy for better water absorption and drainage. And with the right care, it will surprise you with bright, large, fragrant, and night-blooming flowers in the spring season.
3. Fishbone Cactus
Botanical Name: Discocactus anguliger
The Fishbone cactus is a beauty with unique requirements as a cactus. First, it is an epiphyte, and being a tropical plant, it tends to grow in warm and humid conditions.
This cactus thrives best in an orchid potting mix containing sphagnum moss or coconut coir. A humidifier can also help mimic its natural rainforest habitat.
4. Mistletoe Cactus
Botanical Name: Rhipsalis baccifera
The Mistletoe cactus requires a moist as well as a well-drained potting mix to look at its best. Additionally, it also prefers a slightly acidic soil type for healthy growth. Ensure that the soil is evenly moist and shouldn’t dry out completely.
Overwatering can lead to root rot, so always let excess water drain out. You can use a shallow pot with drainage holes works wonders for this plant.
5. Easter Cactus
Botanical Name: Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri
Similar to the Christmas cactus, the Easter cactus also prefers rainforest conditions to thrive and bloom beautifully. While you grow it in moist soil, ensure the watering routine is proper and doesn’t cause overwatering. You can also add sphagnum moss to the soil mix to keep it moist for long hours.
Caution: This houseplant is susceptible to pests and root rot so, while you try to maintain a moist soil condition make sure the drainage is good.
6. Pereskia Cactus
Botanical Name: Pereskia species
Pereskia species include colorful, bright flowering cacti that have broad foliage which is usually not seen in cacti. They can tolerate and flourish in high humidity levels and enjoy moist and porous soil with proper water drainage. Just a perfect bright spot with indirect sunlight keeps them thriving throughout the year.
7. German Empress Cactus
Botanical Name: Disocactus phyllanthoides
The German Empress Cactus is a spectacular tropical cactus that thrives in moist, well-draining soil and moderate humidity levels. Its bright magenta-pink blooms, which appear in late spring to early summer, are larger and flatter than those of the Christmas Cactus. This beauty loves indirect sunlight and needs some moisture during its active growing period, that’s why it comes to this list!
To help it flourish, use a potting mix that retains moisture but ensures good drainage, such as a combination of orchid bark and sphagnum moss. Its flowers and long, arching stems are just the bonus for your area!
8. Cruciform Cactus
Botanical Name: Lepismium cruciforme
Cruciform cacti are epiphytes hailing from the Atlantic forest including Northeastern Brazil and Restinga. Showcasing long erect stems that crawl freely forming branches and roots from all sections, these plants love to thrive in humid climates and moist soil conditions because they are epiphytes.
What makes them extra special is their ability to produce bead-like fruits after flowering, which is just the cherry on top!
Fascinating and beautiful, right? Surely these cacti are one-of-a-kind, bearing bright flowers and colorful fruits! Let us know if there are more such moist and humid loving cacti in your region.
