Despite common belief there are expansive varieties of desert plants that grow in dry conditions. These plants are tough, surviving on little water, a great deal of sunlight, and conditions that would wither or kill most living things. However, just because these plants can endure in a terrain many creatures cannot, desert plants don’t necessarily make lasting house plants inside your herb garden.
But, those who can raise their own desert plants indoors get the rewarding experience of nurturing them a type of plant that many people do not usually get to see up close. Such plants can become conversation starters, and they can also add a unique atmosphere to your own home.
If you are looking to keep desert plants in your home, there are a few key things that you need to remember. Plants like the Apache Plume, the Arizona Poppy and the Blue Phacelia require a great deal of sunlight and heat. While they can survive the cold spikes of the desert night, these plants need an environment that resemble the desert in order to survive. If you plan to keep any one of these plants in your house, you should take care to give them a great deal of light and be wary of over-feeding.
When you think of desert plants, the most well-known desert plant to come to mind is the cactus. Native cacti can grow to several feet tall, and usually do not handle home life very well. Many require special greenhouses with artificial lighting to live. Don’t be concerned, there are cactus species that survive indoors for your pleasure. These include the Acanthocalycium klimpelianum, the Acanthocalycium spiniflorum, the Acanthocalycium thionanthum v. variiflorum and the Acanthocalycium violaceum, as well as several other varieties. All of these cacti tend to be tiny, round in shape, and have one or several blossoms at the top of the plant.
In planting them in your herb garden, like desert wildflowers, cacti need delicate care in order to endure. Unlike common belief, you can’t just forget your cactus and water it infrequently. They need a set amount of exposure to the sun, and planned watering. Without this, your wildflower will wither and be destroyed. Cacti are among some of the most difficult plants to keep in a home, so you will need to approach their care with caution.
Should you follow the few rules of desert plants – scheduled watering, proper temperatures and exposure to sunlight – you will be able to adore your cacti and wildflowers for years to come inside your herb garden.
