If you have space constraints and still want to buy some beautiful plants for your home there is no better choice than cacti and succulents. They are low-maintenance plants that are ideal for summer because they can survive high temperatures and drought.

These plants are adapted to harsh conditions and can add some color and texture to your indoor or outdoor space.

 Here are five of the best cacti and succulents to buy in summer:

Star cactus (Astrophytum ornatum)

Queen Victoria Agave

Queen Victoria Agave also known as the Royal Agave is a rare succulent. It has a rosette of dark green leaves with white margins and spines at their tips. It is very slow-growing and reaches only up to 1 to 2 ft in height, therefore ideal for growing in small pots. It requires bright direct sunlight and sandy soil. It is a fairly low-maintenance plant that requires watering only once or twice a month.

Ox Tongue plant (Gasteria carinata)

The Ox Tongue Plant is a small succulent that has thick, oval leaves that resemble the tongue of an ox. They are covered with white spots and stripes that give this plant a coarse texture. It is a low-maintenance plant that can do well in different light and humidity conditions. Like other succulents, it requires watering only when the soil is completely dry. All these factors make it an ideal choice for gifting.

Living stones (Lithops spp.)

Lithops are also known as living stones because they look like colorful pebbles or rocks. They are small in size and can fit in the palm of your hand. They have two fleshy leaves that split open to reveal colorful flowers in winter. They need bright indirect sunlight as direct light can burn their leaves causing discoloration and damage. It needs minimal water and should be planted in the succulent mix.

Pencil cactus (Euphorbia tirucalli)

The pencil cactus is a succulent and not a cactus as the name suggests. It grows well in hot and humid conditions of the tropics and is perfect for summers. It has a branching stem that gives out cylindrical pencil-like branches, hence the name pencil cactus. It can grow up to 6 feet tall when grown indoors in pots. It also produces small, greenish-yellow flowers at the tips of the stems in summer. It needs full sun and well-drained soil and watering every 2 to 3 weeks.

These are some of the best cacti and succulents for summer in the tropics. Some other succulents that can thrive in summer are Aloe vera, Crassula ovata, Haworthia spp., Kalanchoe, and Sedum.

Here are some other blogs which make your Green Space more Greener!

1. Gardening Calendar Blogs
2. Sustainable Gifting Ideas
3. Gardener Stories
4. Garden Care Blogs
5. Miniature Garden Decor
6. Gardening Workshops

Have a look at some amazing Videos on Gardening that might help you!

1. Tips on planting homegrown plants and creating art with them as a beginner.
2. How to preserve, plant, and grow flower seeds in monsoon, winter, and other seasons.
3. Growing different vegetables, winter vegetables especially, and tips and tricks to preserve.
4. Preserving fruits such as strawberries, Papaya, watermelon, muskmelon, etc.
5. Know all about microgreens using examples such as microgreen spinach, microgreen sunflower, microgreen mustard, microgreen flax, etc.
6. Using gardening tools such as pots, trays, growing bags, moss sticks, watering cans, etc.

Here are some Workshops that might help you if you are new to Gardening!

1. Convert your small space into a green jungle.
2. How to upcycle DIY’s for home decor
3. Watch our workshop on using biochemical enzymes  instead of chemicals in gardening.
4. Workshop on stepping towards sustainability.

Happy Gardening!