When growing cacti, one of the favorites is cactus with pink flowers. There are pink tinted cacti and those that just have pink blooms. If you’re thinking of growing a different type of cactus in your landscape or as a houseplant, consider those that are pink. You’ll have several from which to choose.
Growing Pink Cacti
Ready to get started? Here are several pink cactus plants to
consider:
The grafted moon cactus, botanically called Gymnocalycium cacti, comes with
pink heads. This specimen comes in 80 types and is becoming more common in-home
collections. The most often available of this group is the moon or Hibotan
cacti, found at mass retailers.
“Flowers” bloom on the colorful heads that are grafted onto
a taller, green base. Most are confined to a four-inch (10 cm.) container when
purchased. Repot into a bigger container to allow growth and encourage blooms.
Fertilize a few weeks before bloom time.
Perhaps, the most well-known pink blooms occur on the holiday cacti group. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter cacti are
popular among houseplant growers and sometimes bloom around the appointed time.
Others in this group simply blossom when conditions are right, whether it is a
holiday or not.
Holiday cacti are short-day specific and can be trained to
bloom during holiday times. Once they flower at the appointed time, they are
more likely to bloom at this time in following years. Six weeks of 12-hour
nighttime darkness preceding the holiday encourage flowers. These blooms may
also be white, yellow, and red.
Growing pink cacti and getting flowers is not always so
methodical. Some pink blooms occur after the plant is well established and in
appropriate conditions. Getting cacti to bloom often depends on weather
conditions for those that grow outside in the landscape. While we may know all
the secrets to getting pink blossoms, weather that is too cold or wet may
discourage them from flowering at a set time.
Other Cacti That are Pink Flowering
Some cactus plants have long-lasting, showy flowers while
other blooms are insignificant. Cactus plants that sometimes bloom pink
include:
- Coryphanthas: sometimes have attractive, showy blooms
- Echinocacti: the double barrel cactus sometimes blooms in shades of pink
- Echinocereus: includes the pink hedgehog
- Echinopsis: bloom in various shades and flowers are mostly showy
- Ferocactus: with colorful spines, some are rare, in addition to pink blooms
- Eriosyce: large group of flowering cacti that sometimes blossom in pink
Many other cacti may flower with pink blooms. If you desire
this shade of blooms on your plants, research before planting and make sure to
plant the appropriate cultivar.
When growing cacti, one of the favorites is cactus with pink flowers. There are pink tinted cacti and those that just have pink blooms. If you’re thinking of growing a different type of cactus in your landscape or as a houseplant, consider those that are pink. You’ll have several from which to choose.
Growing Pink Cacti
Ready to get started? Here are several pink cactus plants to
consider:
The grafted moon cactus, botanically called Gymnocalycium cacti, comes with
pink heads. This specimen comes in 80 types and is becoming more common in-home
collections. The most often available of this group is the moon or Hibotan
cacti, found at mass retailers.
“Flowers” bloom on the colorful heads that are grafted onto
a taller, green base. Most are confined to a four-inch (10 cm.) container when
purchased. Repot into a bigger container to allow growth and encourage blooms.
Fertilize a few weeks before bloom time.
Perhaps, the most well-known pink blooms occur on the holiday cacti group. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter cacti are
popular among houseplant growers and sometimes bloom around the appointed time.
Others in this group simply blossom when conditions are right, whether it is a
holiday or not.
Holiday cacti are short-day specific and can be trained to
bloom during holiday times. Once they flower at the appointed time, they are
more likely to bloom at this time in following years. Six weeks of 12-hour
nighttime darkness preceding the holiday encourage flowers. These blooms may
also be white, yellow, and red.
Growing pink cacti and getting flowers is not always so
methodical. Some pink blooms occur after the plant is well established and in
appropriate conditions. Getting cacti to bloom often depends on weather
conditions for those that grow outside in the landscape. While we may know all
the secrets to getting pink blossoms, weather that is too cold or wet may
discourage them from flowering at a set time.
Other Cacti That are Pink Flowering
Some cactus plants have long-lasting, showy flowers while
other blooms are insignificant. Cactus plants that sometimes bloom pink
include:
- Coryphanthas: sometimes have attractive, showy blooms
- Echinocacti: the double barrel cactus sometimes blooms in shades of pink
- Echinocereus: includes the pink hedgehog
- Echinopsis: bloom in various shades and flowers are mostly showy
- Ferocactus: with colorful spines, some are rare, in addition to pink blooms
- Eriosyce: large group of flowering cacti that sometimes blossom in pink
Many other cacti may flower with pink blooms. If you desire
this shade of blooms on your plants, research before planting and make sure to
plant the appropriate cultivar.