Cacti, Crassulaceae and other succulents

What does the succulent growing set include?

Includes 1 plant, 1 pot (6 cm diameter) and 1 pack of soil.

How to plant your succulent:

• Step 1: put the dry soil into a glass and add 50 ml of water. Allow the soil to absorb the water.
• Step 2: transfer the damp soil from the glass into your plant pot.
• Step 3: plant the succulent.

Types of cactus

The different types of indoor cacti fall into the categories below:

Flowering cacti

There are many types of cacti that flower in spring, coinciding with the higher temperatures and increased sunlight. Types of flowering cacti include:

Echinopsis

Echinopsis is a genus of cacti native to South America and has over 150 species. Its flowers are beautiful. Trumpet-shaped and yellow, pink or white in colour, this genus has some of the biggest flowers of all cacti.

Rebutia

Rebutia is a genus native to the easternmost and southernmost regions of South America. It has over 40 known species and the large number of seeds it produces makes it easy to propagate. This makes Rebutia the most common flowering genus of Cactaceae family in the gardening world.

Astrophytum

This genus of six species of cacti is native to Mexico and the southern United States. Etymologically, its name means 'star-shaped plant', because some of its species are in the shape of a five-pointed star. The bloom usually appears at the very tip of the cactus and these cacti tend to produce just one flower per season.

Tephrocactus

Tephrocactus is a genus of cactus native to Argentina, with over 15 species. The etymology of its name refers to the Greek 'tephra', meaning 'ash', given the pale colour of this genus of flowering cactus.

Euphorbia cactus

Although the Euphorbiaceae are a family in their own right and different to the Cactaceae plant family (which groups together all cacti), given the close morphological similarities between the two families, the Euphorbia genus is always referred to as the Euphorbia cactus when it comes to gardening. With over 2,000 species, the Euphorbia genus is both complex and extensive.

This genus is found acrosstropical and subtropical regions in Africa and America.

Mini cacti

A mini cactus is simply any type of small cactus, whether it's small because it's not been long since it was propagated, be it by germination or by cutting, or because the morphology of the genus itself determines the size of the cactus Mini cacti are also formed when their growth is stunted due to being placed in pots that are too small, with this lack of space stopping the roots from growing.

Mini cacti can be seen adorning offices worldwide thanks to a false myth that they absorb radiation. However, there are no studies to back up this supposed benefit. Whatever the case may be, the one thing that is indisputable is that mini cacti make excellent decorations.

Artificial cacti

Did you know that cacti are on trend in home decor? This is why there is an endless array of decorative items featuring cacti – from prints of these eye-catching plants, to cactus-shaped ceramic figurines and, of course, artificial cacti.

In our FEJKA range of artificial plants you will find amazingly lifelike and beautiful cacti. Mix and match them to create your own pretty arrangement of cacti and succulents. The best part is that they're artificial – you can put them anywhere you want without worrying about how much direct sunlight they are getting.

Types of succulent

Succulents are fleshy plants that are popular in both home and office decor. To be exact, cacti are part of the succulent familiy. Some people mistakely use the terms 'Crassulaceae' and 'succulents' interchangably as though they were synonymous.

Etymologically, this plant family gets its name from the Latin term "succulentus", meaning "juicy". It earned its name thanks to the ability of these plants to store water in their stem, leaves and roots. This adaptive strategy enables them to survive in conditions of extreme heat.

There are different types of succulent, including these genera and families:

Crassulaceae

Crassulaceae are a family in their own right. There are around 1,400 different species of Crassulaceae, which are grouped into 25 genera.

Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe is a genus of succulents native to Europe, Asia and Northern Africa. These plants belong to the Crassulaceae familiy and grow in the wild. Their flowers can vary in colour from very pale whites and yellows, to intense reds and fuchsias.

When it comes to taking care of Kalanchoes, these succulents need direct sunlight and a minimum temperature of 12ºC. These plants are also very sensitive to over and underwatering, which makes it important to monitor the water levels of the substrate to avoid root rot and withering. There are over 125 species of this flowering succulent and their beautiful blossoms mean that they are often used in decor.

Jade plants

Crassula ovata is the scientific name for the plant commonly known as the jade plant. These perennials originate from Mozambique and South Africa, where they grow in rocky areas that experience periods of intense rain during the winter season.

This bush from the Crassulaceae family gets its name from the intense green colour of its leaves, which is reminiscent of jade. A fully-grown jade plant can reach two metres in height, although they are often a lot smaller.

Sempervivums

Sempervivums are a genus of the Crassulaceae family, with over 30 different species. These succulents originate from the Canary Islands, the mountains of the Iberian penninsula and the Caucasus. 

Their unusual name originates from the Latin "Semper vivus", meaning "always alive", in a clear reference to their resistance to adverse conditions and their evergreen qualities.

Sempervivums usually need to grow for a few years first before they flower. This means that these succulents are usually seen without flowers.

Echeverias

Echeverias are another genus of the Crassulaceae family. Also known as the "alabaster rose", this genus includes 393 species and originates from arid regions of the United States, Mexico, Central America and South America.

The most distinguishing feature of the Echeveria is the layout of its leaves in the shape of rose and its green leaves with orange, pink or red borders. This genus of the Crassulaceae family is less sensitive to the cold, making it resistant to frost and lack of sunlight. For this reason, you will find this genus of succulents in gardens just about everywhere in the world.

When and how to repot cacti

In general, cacti and succulents are very sensitive to repotting. This makes it very important to do it at the right time and following the right steps.

1. The best time to repot cacti and succulents is in spring or summer. We don't recommend repotting during the colder seasons because any damage caused to the roots during repotting could cause your cactus to rot due to excessive dampness.
2. Choose a pot that is slightly bigger than the old one. However, be careful not to choose a pot that is too big as this could lead to excessively damp conditions, which could damage your cactus or succulent.
3. When repotting cacti, wear gardening gloves to avoid getting pricked.
4. Line the bottom of the pot with a layer of gravel or other small stones that will allow excess water to drain away. On top of this layer, put your cactus potting mix.
5. Try to make sure that the portion of the cactus or succulent that is buried is the same as in the original pot.