Cactus Archives - Cactus Jungle

The Column Cacti of Peru: Giants of the Desert

Tall columnar Echinopsis pachanoi (San Pedro cactus) with large white flowers blooming, surrounded by various potted cacti and succulents in an outdoor plant nursery on a sunny day.

Column cacti, towering sentinels of the desert, are among the most iconic and fascinating plants in Peru. These plants belonging to the family Cactaceae, are characterized by their tall, cylindrical stems, which can grow to impressive heights. Peru, with its diverse range of ecosystems, from coastal deserts to Andean highlands, provides a unique habitat for these remarkable plants.

Cactus Flowers in the Desert

A close-up of an Echinopsis, known as Big Rosy, displays a pale pink cactus flower with many layered petals and yellow stamens at the center, blooming among green cactus stems and dry brown grasses.

In the arid, forsaken stretches of the earth, where the sun’s rays scorch the barren land and the parched air offers no reprieve, there exists a marvel of nature—cactus flowers. Amidst the formidable spines and the grotesque forms of these desert sentinels, the blossoms emerge as radiant epistles of life, defying the desolation that surrounds them.

Behold, as the first light of dawn kisses the saguaro and the prickly pear, a transformation of the most profound sort begins. These sentinels, guardians of secrets whispered by the winds across eons, unveil their delicate treasures. In hues of crimson, gold, and alabaster, they bloom with a fervor that belies their harsh environs. Each petal, a whisper of defiance, speaks to the resilience of life itself, thriving against all odds. Read More…

The Green Thumb’s Guide to Cactus Soil: Growing Happy, Healthy Cacti

Three Cactus in 3" Chive Minute Pots—one yellow, one blue, and one green—are displayed on a white background. Each ceramic planter is filled with brown pebbles.

Cacti may come from harsh desert environments, but that doesn’t mean they thrive in just any soil. These prickly pals have specific needs regarding their living environment, and cactus soil is key to their success.

Join us as we explore the ins and outs of cactus soil. Read More…

Prickly Perfection: The Ultimate Guide to Cactus Soil

Tall and short cacti, including silver torch cactus and other columnar cactus varieties with fuzzy, hairy surfaces, are grouped in black pots on gravel. More potted cacti and clay pots appear near a CACTUS sign against a gray wall.

Are you ready to dive into thе wonderful world of spiky and low-maintеnancе plant companions?

Wеll, bucklе up and gеt rеady to lеarn about thе bеst cactus soil out thеrе!

Wе’ll guidе you through thе top cactus and succulеnt soil options on thе markеt and еvеn throw in some nifty tips on how to whip up your own mix.

Lеt’s gеt our grееn thumbs dirty. Read More…

Ruby Hedgehog Cactus

Echinocereus rubispinus, large and ruby-red, now in stock at your local Cactus Jungle. There’s something kind of, what’s the word here, kind of…. interesting… about these red-spined little cactus. Or not so little as it happens.

Cactus Flower

A small potted Echinopsis ancistrophora ssp. arachnacantha cactus with three vibrant orange flowers, spiky petals, and white stamens sits on a bed of pebbles beside a metal fence in bright sunlight.

Echinopsis arachnacantha has some amazing and variable flowers, coming in generally in the yellow to orange range, like these, but sometimes white and even sometimes vibrant red. Genetics!

Cactus Flowers

Several potted flowering cacti with vibrant cactus blooms in yellow, red, pink, and white bloom outdoors on a sunny day. The cacti are arranged on a concrete surface, surrounded by small gravel in their pots.

Cactus flower season!

Echinopsis grandiflora hybrids in full bloom for your enjoyment.

Blooming Cactus

A small round flowering cactus in a pot, covered with white spines, has a vibrant red flower blooming on one side. The rocky soil adds contrast, while another pot is blurred in the background.

It’s blooming cactus season right here at your friendly local Cactus Jungle

Rebutia marsoneri

San Pedro Cactus

It’s true! Our new crop of 1g San Pedros are in stock!

Echinopsis “Big Bob”

I have no idea if this is just something someone told us this was called, but we’ve been growing a few of these extra fat San Pedros and they are ready for sale. Echinopsis pachanoi “Big Bob”. Is this a real name? Did we just make this up? Don’t know! But since we are not currently cultivating them and since I can’t get a confirmation on the name, I’m not adding it to our online encyclopedia. Enjoy them while you can!

Cactus!

A small succulent plant with long, pointed green leaves grows in a pot filled with light brown pebbles, set against a solid black background.

Leuchtenbergia principis really throws that whole artichoke discussion out the window. This one is the Agave Cactus. The Cactus Agave? The Artichoke Agave Cactus? I can’t keep it all straight anymore. These are small right now, but will grow big and fat. Like an articho… agav… …like a cactus.

Prickly Pear San Francisco

A cluster of Prickly Pear cactus grows on a dry, grassy hillside near San Francisco, with tall, slender trees in the background under a bright sky. The foreground is sharp, while the background is softly blurred.

Prickly Pear, Delta Street in Visitation Valley, San Francisco

Repotting a Cactus

A tall, fuzzy cactus with several curved stems sits in a cream-colored pot indoors next to a mountain bike, cat tree, and orange extension cord—perfect for anyone interested in cactus care or learning how to repot a cactus.

Hi there,

I don’t know if you can help me, but I need some advice on cactus care so I figured I’d give it a shot. I inherited this big girl (she is about 3.5 feet high) when a friend of mine abruptly left town. I was advised by a plant ID group that this is an Espostoa senilis. It seems to me that the cactus should be transplanted, either into a larger container or into the ground? I live in Portland, OR (8b) and although we don’t typically get down past 25F, it is quite wet here and often cool or gray. If I transplanted it, is it likely to survive? And should I wait until the hot, dry summer to transplant or would Spring be a good time (just had our likely last frost)? Also, any tips for transplanting are appreciated. She is SHARP.

Thank you so much!
Jenny

Cactus Leaves

Cactus leaves, they’re real! Tubular on the opuntiods. This one is Austrocylindropuntia subulata Monstrose. Myrtillocactus cresting in back.

Spring Cactus Blooms

A close-up of a round cactus in a pot with reddish-brown rocks, featuring a single bright yellow flower blooming on top.

Parodia chrysacanthion.

Golden Barrel Cactus

A cluster of round, spiky golden barrel cacti growing in a raised wooden planter, with sunlight casting shadows and a green metal fence in the background.

That is one supreme Echinocactus grusonii clump. It’s one plant! Practically a whole planet’s worth, I think. 🌏 🌐 🌍

Echinocactus grusonii

Come see our planet shaking Cactus at our Marin store now!

Cactus San Francisco

A garden with tall cacti, agave plants, and spiky palm trees in front of a modern building with green window shades and beige walls.

It’s San Francisco’s latest Cactus garden up in the air at the Salesforce Park and that’s a San Pedro cactus and there’s an agave, oh and a yucca…. Nice!

Austrocylindropuntia subulata

A close-up of a cactus flower with pink-tipped petals fading to yellow at the center. The flower has prominent stamens and is surrounded by green, spiky cactus leaves in the background.

It’s blooming alright. Also known as Eve’s Needles.

Nice.

New Cactus Garden, Marin

A modern Marin house with a concrete wall and driveway features a vibrant New Cactus Garden of tall and short cacti—some blooming with red flowers. Bright pink bougainvillea grows to the right, all under a clear blue sky.

We planted a new planter bed with a lot of really big cactus in Marin – we do have a store there now! I see a spectacular San Pedro and some gorgeous blooming grandiflora hybrids too. Nice!