brightly flowering yellow and pink cactus plants in an orange pot, sitting on a shelf

Planting cactus is easier than you think, and are excellent, low-maintenance plants for indoors. Follow these step-by-step directions to learn how to plant a colorful and bright cactus container garden.

How to Plant a Cactus Container Garden

My grandmother always grew cactus. My grandmother had a very green thumb (which I was fortunate to inherit!) She grew things that should not have grown this far north, in places they should never have flourished, and yet they did.

She has quite the collection of miniature cacti. They were planted in several containers, and during the summer she kept them on the basement windowsill that faced no direct sunlight, and a driveway. I swear!! And these little guys never died (my sister took them when she passed away).

In the winter she did bring them upstairs to a window that had winter lighting, but my oh my, if I told most people how she grew these (and they were adorable… always having “babies” and flowering), they would look at me like I had three heads. So, it is probably a good thing that I cannot see your face right now.

While I would never suggest anyone takes care of their cactus plants that way, but it worked for her!

Tips for Planting a Cactus Container Garden

● Planting cacti is easy. You just have to use the right soil mixture (MUCH easier today since you can buy it prebagged instead of mixing it), use gloves, and well, that is it.

● Colorful plants and containers are the key! Get flowering cactus, use colorful planters (either purchased or painted), and either the same or varing height plants.

● Since cactus do not need a lot of water, lightly water, let dry out and repeat.

● I plant in threes because I like the look. You can plant in a long tray too, you do not have to plant in a round container.

How to Plant a Cactus Container Garden. Planting cactus is easier than you think, and are excellent, low-maintenance plants for indoors. Follow these step-by-step directions to learn how to plant a colorful and bright cactus container garden.

How to Plant a Cactus Container Garden Materials:

● Colorful Indoor/Outdoor Craft Paint
● Paint Brush
● Potting Soil Formulated for Cactus
● 3 Miniature Colorful Cactus Plants
● Small Spade or Scoop
● Small Stones or Gravel
● 6″ Terra Cotta Pot
● Thick Gardening Gloves

How to Plant a Cactus Container Garden Directions:

1. Layout a piece of scrap paper to cover your work surface and paint your terra cotta pot a bright color and let dry. If you have purchased colored or decorated pots, skip this step.

2. Place a few small stones (or some gravel) at the bottom of your pot.
3. Fill your pot about ¾ of the way to the top with cactus soil. Dig 3 small holes where you want your cacti to go.

4. Put some thick gardening gloves on (cacti are very prickly) and carefully remove each cactus from the small pots, loosen up the soil/roots and place one cactus in each hole.
5. Add more soil around the plants and carefully pack the soil down.

6. Clean off the soil on the edge of the pot and lightly water the cacti.

Yield: 1

How to Plant a Cactus Container Garden

How to Plant a Cactus Container Garden. Planting cactus is easier than you think, and are excellent, low-maintenance plants for indoors. Follow these step-by-step directions to learn how to plant a colorful and bright cactus container garden.

Active Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Difficulty easy

Estimated Cost 2.00

Materials

Colorful Indoor/outdoor Craft Paint
Potting Soil Formulated for Cactus
3 Miniature Colorful Cactus Plants
Small Stones or Gravel
6" Terra Cotta Pot
Thick Gardening Gloves

Tools

Paint Brush
Small Spade or Scoop

Instructions

Lay out a piece of scrap paper to cover your work surface and paint your terra cotta pot a bright color and let dry. If you have purchased colored or decorated pots, skip this step.
Place a few small stones (or some gravel) at the bottom of your pot.
Fill your pot about ¾ of the way to the top with cactus soil. Dig 3 small holes where you want your cacti to go.
Put some thick gardening gloves on (cacti are very prickly) and carefully remove each cactus from the small pots, loosen up the soil/roots and place one cactus in each hole.
Add more soil around the plants and carefully pack the soil down.
Clean off the soil on the edge of the pot and lightly water the cacti.