Let’s be honest, we can seldom go past a plant shop without taking a look at the various succulents.Even though most people take succulents and cacti to be the same plants, there are a few differences. Leaving them aside, taking care of both plant variants is quite similar.Having said that, many people dislike the thorns on cactus plants. This is especially true for households with pets and children. Hence, they often search for plants similar to that of cacti but without the spiky leaves. So, we took it upon us to introduce plants that aren’t cacti but are quite similar in nature.Therefore, do keep reading if you find succulents interesting.If you enjoyed this article, why not also read about poisonous cactuses and do cactus grow here at Kidadl?Types Of Cactus PlantsNow, before we move on to discuss plants that aren’t really cactus, we need to learn a bit about the original varieties. So, the thing that defines cacti is the presence of thorns on the stems, which are actually modified leaves.On top of that, you need to realize that all cacti are actually succulents, that is the plants have the ability to store water in the stems. Hence, whenever you overwater a cactus, it will typically get big and puffy because of storing extra water in the tissues. Similarly, when under-watered, stems of a succulent or a cactus gets limp due to the lack of moisture. Cactus plants are known for the cactus spines or hairs that protect these desert plants from being eaten by animals. On the other hand, cactus plants also have a waxy body to contain moisture. While a cactus plant doesn’t have leaves, but you will find it in other succulent plants that aren’t cactus. So, these are the characteristics of how a cactus looks. As you may know, there are several species of cacti divided over more than 127 genera.Having said that, most cacti are broadly categorized under the divisions of arborescent cacti, columnar cacti, and globular cacti. These divisions are mainly made based on the growth rate or pattern of a species. Sometimes, though not true cacti, other categories like forest climbers and epiphytes are also included in the cacti family. The arborescent cacti grow as tall as some trees and may have a main stem with branches coming out of it. In comparison, the columnar cacti grow in columns but may also reach a tall height. But, globular cacti like the barrel cactus or ball cactus have a spherical shape. Some common cactus species that have been quite popular with people as indoor plants include saguaro cactus, fairy castle cactus, moon cactus, star cactus, barrel cactus, orchid cactus, San Pedro cactus, prickly pear cactus, cholla cactus, feather cactus, jumping cactus, old lady cactus, and pincushion cactus, among others. All the 13 cactus species can be grown at home. Many people have started to keep the spiny cacti for the beautiful cactus flowers that look beautiful during the specific seasons.Plants That Look Like Cactus But Aren’tLet us look at some of the plants that look like cacti but aren’t really in the true cacti family.First of all, let’s talk about aloe vera, one of the most popular succulents that are kept all over the world. On top of that, aloe vera is known for having a lot of health benefits. Aloe plants are widely grown in farms to harvest the aloe vera gel that’s used in making juice, medicines, or beauty products. However, aloe is also commonly grown as a houseplant, and it even has spines on its leaves. During the summer months, mature aloe plants even give out flowers. There are around 450 species of aloe, and you do need to remember that it’s in fact a succulent but not a cactus.Now, another common plant seen in landscaping is yucca. It’s defined as a shrub or tree that grows in drier areas, and yucca has spine-like or needle-like sharp leaves. It’s quite easy to care for yucca and the plant doesn’t even need much water, but it’s definitely not a cactus.Another one of the many plants that aren’t really a cactus species is the Haworthia family. It’s known for the beautiful tall and spiked leaves that grow in a rosette formation that makes it look similar to a cactus. The plant originated in Southern Africa and is often sold in plant stores that specialize in cactus. One of the most notable features about Haworthia is the texture present on the leaves, which can be felt with your fingers. It’s a common mistake to get confused between the aloe and Haworthia plants, but the latter variant mostly remains small compared to most aloes.Adding to the list, another interesting plant variant that looks like a cactus but isn’t really one is stapelia. It’s mostly known for the bright and distinct flowers, but the stems of this plant look eerily similar to many finger-like cactus plants. These stems may also have small spines, but don’t mistake them as cactus spines because the structures are pretty different. Stapelia plants are known for having starfish flowers when the conditions are right.As we are talking about cactus-like plants, you might know about the Euphorbia milii, a plant that has received quite a bit of popularity especially for landscaping in dry areas. If you’re a fan of cactus flowers, then wait and see, as a milli plant has one of the best-looking flowers out there. Compared to most cactus variants, milli plants may flower quite often and the plant originates from Madagascar. Similar to cacti, milli also has spines throughout its stem, but it does have distinct green leaves. Along with being an ornamental plant, the sap of milli is said to be medicinal in nature, and the plant is also associated with the crown of thorns worn by Christ. It’s pretty easy to take care of milli as it can stand hot, dry weather along with requiring little water.Indoor SucculentsWhen it comes to keeping succulents, many people are enthusiastic about knowing varieties that can be kept indoors. So, let’s have a look at some of these plants.First of all, one of the most common indoor succulents that are popular worldwide has to be the jade plant. This succulent can be shaped into different positions, making it a popular houseplant. On top of that, the jade plant is also thought to be a lucky plant species. It looks like a small tree with spongy succulent leaves, making the plant ideal to be kept on tables and as an indoor decoration. When kept indoors, it’s advised to only water the plant when the soil has gone completely dry, and taking care of this plant is pretty easy.Another tree-like succulent that is quite popular is the pencil cactus. This plant has thin, smooth branches and is a part of the euphorbia family. The native place of this plant is arid areas of South Africa and India, but it’s commonly found as an affordable houseplant worldwide. Similar to jade plants, the pencil cactus requires well-draining and little soil. When kept under direct sunlight, the ends of its branches turn red giving it an interesting look.Some of the most popular seasonal indoor succulents have to be the holiday cactus range. This includes the Christmas cactus, Thanksgiving cactus, and Easter cactus. Unlike other cactus and succulents that are kept for the puffy stems, the season cactus plants are valued for their flowers. There are people who have kept these plants alive for several decades and the blooms are spectacular. As you can understand, the Christmas cactus or any of the three-holiday cactus variants aren’t true cacti. These plants have flattened leaves and lack the spiny areoles of cacti. Having said that, you need to be a bit more careful while taking care of these succulents if you want the plants to bloom.Other popular indoor succulents include the burro’s tail, the string of pearls, the string of bananas, hens-and-chick, snake plant, ponytail palm, and kalanchoe. Another common variant that has got quite popular in the last decade has to be lithops also known as the living stones. Compared to other succulents, these have a distinct rock-like look and appear nothing like usual plants. It’s pretty easy to take care of lithops, but these plants are definitely slow growing.How often to water succulents?There’s no definite answer to how frequently should you water succulents, but it’s best to wait till the soil has dried out completely.Even though we can go on for days about how easy it’s to take care of succulents, it’s typical to find people who have killed numerous of the plants. That doesn’t mean you lack a green thumb, rather the mistake often lies in the technique of watering. You may think that people tend to overwater succulents, but there are also an equally large group of people who restrain from watering the plants. If your succulent is growing in the ground, it has a better chance of drawing water from the environment, but that’s not true when it’s confined indoors in a pot. Hence, you have to figure out what’s best for the particular succulents in your home. Yes, that’s true, even though all succulents have the ability to store water in their stem, the water intake might vary between the species.So, whenever you are getting a succulent from a plant shop, ask the salesperson about the care guidelines of the particular plant. But, the simplest way to prevent overwatering or underwatering is to test if the soil is wet or dry. To do this you will need to bury your finger into the soil till the first knuckle to feel the wetness. However, if you are serious about keeping succulents, invest in a good soil tester to get more accurate details. And, make sure to use soil meant for succulents or cactus while potting your plants. Another thing to remember is that succulents go dormant during winter, hence if you are in a cold place stop watering or do it sparingly till the weather turns warm.How much sunlight is required for succulents?When it comes to succulents, most of these plants enjoy direct or indirect bright light.Along with watering, another point of confusion for many people is regarding the light requirements of succulents. Even though most of these plants thrive indoors, the succulents need to have direct access to light for a minimum of six to eight hours a day for having the proper growth. However, make sure that the sunlight isn’t too bright or the succulents can end up fading, especially if it has been recently potted. Similarly, if you are residing in an area that doesn’t get adequate sunlight during the colder months, think about investing in good warm grow lights to keep your plants happy. South-facing windows work best for succulents as it lets in the most amount of sunlight. Having said that, succulents that are grown indoors typically grow slowly because of limited light whereas outside in the dry and bright climate the plants can attain prolific growth.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 137 stunning cactus like plants: you should know about!, then why not take a look at does cactus have water or do cactus have roots?
Let’s be honest, we can seldom go past a plant shop without taking a look at the various succulents.
