Cacti

Cacti belong to the family Cactaceae. Most have areoles, which are small specialized points that produce spines, flowers, branches, or wool.

Cactus Forms

Form	Examples	Notes
Pad cactus	Opuntia, prickly pear	Flat stem pads, edible forms exist
Barrel cactus	Ferocactus, Echinocactus	Round ribbed bodies, strong spines
Columnar cactus	Cereus, Trichocereus, saguaro	Upright stems, often large over time
Globular cactus	Mammillaria, rebutia, gymnocalycium	Compact collections and small pots
Jungle cactus	Rhipsalis, epiphyllum, schlumbergera	Epiphytic, less desert-like, filtered light

Care Pattern

Desert cacti need high light, gritty drainage, and drying between waterings. Many bloom better with a cooler, drier rest period. Jungle cacti prefer filtered light and more organic moisture than desert cacti.