Moisture Loving Forest Cacti

Haripriya.S

Horticultural College & Research Institute

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore

Cacti are fascinating groups of succulents widely

grown as indoor house plants in dry condition with

little or no care. Habitually portrayed as desert

plants, they are also found growing in forests as

epiphytes and are categorized as Rain forest or

Holiday or Tropical cacti.

In appearance, most forest cacti have flattened green,

glossy leaf like stems, lack thorns with brightly

coloured large flowers. Usually, they are trailers and

would flower anytime from one to two years on

specific season.

Forest cacti can be grown indoors in east or west

window direction, in hanging baskets covered with

sphagnum moss and outdoors under a tree canopy

through filtered sunlight or in partial shade.

Forest cacti, in contrast to desert cacti, require

regular watering, especially during bud formation

stage and stop watering after flowering for some time.

They require a growing medium rich in organic

matter. Repotting has to be done annually or at pot

bound satge. If properly maintained, forest cacti

would be an elegant beauty on display.

Familiar Forest cacti

species

Christmas cactus

Zygocactus truncata

Thanks giving cactus

Schlumbergera buckleyi

Easter cactus

Schlumbergera gaertneri

These are the most popular

gift plants for special

occassions like Christmas,

Thanks giving and Easter

indicating their season of

bloom and availability.

Besides, they also include

Orchid cactus (Epiphyllum

species), Rat’s tail cactus

(Aporocactus flagelliformis),

Chain cactus (Rhipsalis

paradoxa) and Mistle toe

cactus (Rhipsalis cassutha)

to mention a few.

All cacti belong to the family

Cactaceae and are found in

slightly warm to humid

climatic conditions. Most of

the forest cacti are native to

the New world.