While the brutal the desert may seem, there are expansive varieties of desert plants that survive in arid conditions. These plants are strong, living on little nourishment, a great deal of sunlight, and conditions that would wither or kill many living things. However, just because these plants can endure in a terrain many creatures cannot, desert plants do not necessarily make good house plants.
However, those who manage to raise desert plant indoors get the rewarding experience of nurturing a type of plant that many people do not usually get to see up close. These plants can serve as conversation starters, as well as adding a unique atmosphere to your home.
When you think of desert plants, the most common desert plant to come to mind is the cactus. Wild cacti can grow to several feet tall, and usually do not handle home life very well. Many require special greenhouses with artificial lighting to survive. Don’t be discouraged, there are cactus species that can be grown indoors for your enjoyment. These include the Acanthocalycium klimpelianum, the Acanthocalycium spiniflorum, the Acanthocalycium thionanthum v. variiflorum and the Acanthocalycium violaceum, as well as many other varieties. All of these cacti tend to be small, round in shape, and have one or several blossoms at the top of the plant. Like desert wildflowers, cacti require delicate care in order to survive. Unlike common belief, you cannot just neglect your cactus and water it infrequently. They need a certain amount of exposure to the sun, and scheduled watering. Without this, your plant will wither and die. Cacti are among some of the most difficult plants to keep in a home, so you will need to approach their care with caution.
If you are looking to keep desert plants in your home, there are a few key things that you need to keep in mind. Plants like the Apache Plume, the Arizona Poppy and the Blue Phacelia require a great deal of light and warmth. While they can survive the freezing spikes of the desert night, these plants need an environment that resemble the desert in order to live. If you intend to keep any one of these plants in your home, you should take care to give them a great deal of light and be cautious of over-feeding.
Should you follow the few rules of desert plants – scheduled watering, proper temperatures and exposure to sunlight – you will be able to enjoy your plants for years to come.
