Terrarium Cactus Plants

Star Cactus Plants

• Star cactus plants are spineless cactus plants with white flakes on the outer portion of the ribs. Bishop’s cap (Astrophytum myriostigma) and goat’s horn cactus (Astrophytum capricorne) are two plants to grow together in a terrarium. The goat’s horn has red to wine colored throats and the bishop’s cactus has yellow flowers. Other spineless star cactus plants include the star cactus (Astrophytum ornatum) and sea urchin (Astrophytum asterias).

Barrel Cactus Plants

• Barrel cactus plants usually grow 1 foot tall with a width of 5 to 6 inches. In summer, with the right growing conditions, the barrel cactus plants will produce large, colorful flowers. The compass barrel cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus) is a dense plant with flaming-red spines and orange or yellow bell-shaped flowers. Two other companion cactus for the terrarium include the candy barrel cactus (Ferocactus wislizeni) with white spines and red, orange or yellow flowers and the crow’s claw cactus (Ferocactus latispinus) with red spines and colorful flowers ranging from cream to purple.

Hedgehog Cactus Plants

• Hedgehog cactus plants are smaller globular type cactus plants that have short spines and flowers. The claret cup hedgehog cactus (Echinocereuse triglochidiatus) has bright scarlet colored flowers and distinctive ribs. These cactus plants can grow to 2 feet wide. Another companion cactus for the terrarium is the rainbow cactus (Echinocereus rigidissimus v. rubrispinus). This cactus has magenta or pinkish flowers and short spines.

Pincushion Cactus Plants

• Pincushion cactus plants that will thrive in an open terrarium include the low-mounding giant snake cactus (Mammillaria matudae) or the snowball pincushion cactus (Mammillaria candida), which is a small mounding cactus with white spines with pink tips. Other pincushion cactus plants to use in a terrarium include the rose pincushion cactus (Mammillaria zeilmanniana) and powder puff cactus (Mammillaria bocasana), which has woody spines and small yellow or white flowers.