Cacti aren’t just for outdoor gardens or balconies; they make for some of the coolest, most exotic accents right on your windowsill. Whether you’re setting them up in a stylish sand-filled bowl or a rugged rock garden, these desert dwellers look amazing when they start showing off those vibrant blooms.
Cacti That Love Life in the Sand: An Overview
While some cacti actually hail from the mountains or even the (rain)forests of Central and South America, a huge number of these heat and drought specialists come from deserts and steppes. In those regions, the ground is mostly made up of mineral components, which is why these specific types thrive in sandy substrates.
Here are a few popular cacti that feel right at home in sandy soil:
- ‘Astrophytum myriostigma’ (Bishop’s Cap)
- ‘Cephalocereus’ (Old Man Cactus)
- ‘Cleistocactus’ (Silver Torch)
- ‘Echinocereus’ (Hedgehog Cactus)
- ‘Echinopsis’ (Sea Urchin Cactus)
The super low-maintenance group known as ‘Opuntia’ (Prickly Pears) also has zero complaints about living in sand. With over 190 species to choose from, you’ve got plenty of options for your planting project. On the flip side, you’ll want to steer clear of Leaf Cacti (Epiphytes)—these guys are definitely not built for growing in sandy environments.
How to Grow Cacti in Sand: A Step-by-Step Guide
Before you grab a bucket and head to the nearest playground, hold up! You can’t just use any old sand for your prickly friends. Most succulents can’t handle lime, so using construction sand, play sand, or bird sand is a major no-no. Instead, you’ll want to grab some lime-free quartz sand and follow these steps:
- Grab a seedling tray or a pot that has drainage holes at the bottom (this is crucial!).
- Lay down a thin drainage layer using lava rock, pumice, or even small styrofoam beads.
- Fill the container with your sand, leaving about half an inch of space below the rim.
- Carefully remove your cactus from its old pot and nestle it right into the center of the sand.
If you’re planning to plant your cactus in a sunny spot in your garden bed, you can skip the drainage layer as long as your garden soil is naturally well-draining. Just a heads-up for outdoor growers: wait until the last frost has passed in the spring before putting them outside. Also, remember that even hardy varieties usually need to be brought back indoors around September to prep for their winter dormancy.
