Large cactus plants can make a truly eye-catching statement piece in your home, bringing a bit of the desert’s drama indoors. They come in a staggering variety of shapes, sizes, and textures, adding spice, flair, and style to any living space. Beyond their unique aesthetic appeal, cacti are often considered low-maintenance houseplants because they are perfectly adapted to warm, dry conditions and require minimal watering. In fact, it’s always better to underwater a cactus than to overwater it, as they can survive months without a drink if necessary.
However, those looking to add a sizable specimen might encounter a common challenge: most cacti are famously slow-growing. Some varieties can take decades, or even over a century, to reach maturity. This often means that if you want a large cactus now, the most practical approach is to purchase a well-established, mature plant rather than waiting for a young one to grow. Their slow growth is a survival strategy adapted to harsh desert environments, conserving energy and resources.
But what if you want to experience the growth process and see your plant mature within a reasonable timeframe? Fortunately, while many cacti are slow-paced growers, certain fast growing cactus plants offer a quicker path to achieving that impressive size and presence. Varieties like the Blue Myrtle Cactus, Mexican Fence Post Cactus, Blue Columnar Cactus, Easter Lily Cactus, and Dragon Fruit Cactus are noted for their more rapid development compared to their notoriously sluggish cousins like the Saguaro or Golden Barrel Cactus.
In this article, we will explore some of the best fast growing cactus plants that can bring the dramatic look of the desert into your home without requiring you to wait a lifetime. Keep in mind that even for these faster varieties, growth rates can vary depending on the specific climate, soil conditions, and the care they receive.
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Why Most Cacti Take the Slow Road: A Peek into Desert Adaptation
Many gardeners are captivated by the striking forms and architectural presence of cacti. They often hear that these are easy, low-maintenance houseplants, which is true in terms of watering needs. But if you’ve ever grown a young cactus, you might have noticed something else: they can be incredibly slow to get bigger.
This leads many people who want a large specimen right away to purchase a mature plant, sometimes because a young one might even outlive the gardener before reaching the desired size. This sluggish growth isn’t a flaw; it’s a truly remarkable survival strategy, honed over millennia in some of the planet’s most challenging environments.
Think about where most cacti originate: arid and desert regions. These are places where resources like water and nutrients are exceptionally scarce for long periods. To survive and thrive in such harsh desert environments, cacti have evolved a suite of fascinating adaptations, many of which directly contribute to their famously slow growth rate.
One of the most significant adaptations is their incredible ability to store water. Their thick, succulent stems are essentially living reservoirs, designed to soak up any available moisture during rare rainfall events and hold onto it for months. Growing quickly requires a lot of water, something the desert doesn’t reliably provide. By growing slowly, they conserve this precious stored water.
Cacti also operate on a much lower metabolic rate compared to many other plants. This slow metabolism means they require less energy and fewer resources overall to maintain their life processes. Growing rapidly demands a high metabolic output to build new tissues, which is simply not feasible when resources are limited. This lower rate contributes significantly to their unhurried development.
Even their root systems play a part. While some cacti have surprisingly shallow, widespread roots to quickly capture surface water from brief showers or even dew, this design isn’t optimized for deep soil exploration to find abundant, consistent nutrients. Limited nutrient uptake also puts the brakes on rapid growth.
Furthermore, the spines that protect them from hungry animals also provide crucial shade, reducing the amount of direct sun exposure on their surface and minimizing water loss through evaporation. This focus on water conservation above all else dictates their pace.
Varieties like the iconic Saguaro cactus ( Carnegiea gigantea ) are prime examples of this slow road strategy; they can take roughly a decade just to reach an inch in height and might not even develop their characteristic arms for 75 years or more, eventually reaching towering mature sizes of 40-60 feet.
The Golden Barrel cactus ( Echinocactus grusonii ) also reaches an impressive size but does so extremely slowly. Similarly, the stately Organ Pipe cactus ( Stenocereus thurberi ) is known for its very slow growth. These are plants designed for endurance, not speed.
Understanding these adaptations helps explain why most cacti take their time. It underscores just how remarkable the fast growing cactus plants we discussed in the introduction are, as they manage to maintain many of these drought-tolerant traits while somehow pushing past the typical slow-motion growth of their desert cousins.
Understanding “Fast” Growth in the Cactus World: Managing Expectations
When we talk about “fast” in the context of plants, we usually think of things that sprout and grow noticeably within weeks or months. With most cacti, that timeframe stretches considerably; some don’t reach maturity for a century or more. For many popular large varieties like the Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea), reaching even an inch in height can take around a decade. Developing their characteristic arms might take 75 years or longer. This is the standard pace for survival in their native, often harsh desert environments.
However, when we discuss fast growing cactus plants, it’s crucial to adjust our perspective. “Fast” for a cactus is wonderfully relative! It means growth that is significantly quicker than their notoriously slow cousins, but still likely a journey measured in years rather than just months to achieve substantial size. You won’t plant a seed today and have a towering specimen next year, even with the fastest types. Growing a 6-foot cactus, for instance, can easily take 10-20 years or more depending on the species and the conditions provided.
But there’s good news! Certain fast growing cactus plants do offer a more satisfying growth rate for the home gardener who doesn’t want to wait a lifetime. Species like Echinopsis peruviana, sometimes called San Pedro Macho, are noted for growing much quicker than related types, potentially adding one to two feet in height per year under optimal conditions.
The Blue Myrtle Cactus (Myrtillocactus geometrizans), Mexican Fence Post Cactus (Pachycereus marginatus), and varieties within the Echinopsis genus (like the Easter Lily Cactus group) are also described as fast-growing or relatively fast-growing. Even Cylindropuntia imbricata can grow about a foot a year.
To encourage even these faster varieties to reach their potential, providing the right environment is key. Fast growing cactus plants generally need ample direct sunlight, often at least six hours a day, though some can tolerate bright indirect light. Well-draining soil is non-negotiable to prevent root rot.
While they are drought-tolerant, appropriate minimal watering when the soil is dry is necessary for growth, avoiding the common pitfall of overwatering. Temperature and occasional fertilization can also play a role. It’s worth noting that growth rates experienced outdoors in sunny desert conditions can be very different from growing indoors or under artificial lights.
So, while “fast” in the cactus world means a different scale of time than you might be used to, choosing fast growing cactus plants allows you to actively participate in and observe their development over a period that feels achievable, bringing that striking desert presence into your home sooner than you might think, relatively speaking.
Alright, let’s dive into the fundamental care for these desert beauties.
The “Low-Maintenance” Foundation: Essential Cactus Care Principles
Cacti are often lauded as the ultimate low-maintenance houseplants, and in many ways, they are. They don’t demand daily fussing and are remarkably resilient, especially when it comes to skipping a watering or two (or twelve!). However, “low-maintenance” doesn’t mean “no maintenance.” These are plants perfectly adapted to very specific, often harsh, desert environments, and mimicking those conditions is key to their survival and, importantly for those interested in fast growing cactus plants, their ability to actually grow.
The foundation of successful cactus care boils down to a few critical factors:
- Light, Light, and More Light: This is perhaps the most crucial element. Most cacti are native to areas with intense, direct sunlight. To thrive indoors, a large cactus typically needs at least six hours of direct sun every single day. A sunny windowsill, ideally south-facing, is usually required. Without adequate light, they won’t grow well, and even fast growing cactus plants will become weak and leggy. If natural light isn’t sufficient, supplemental grow lights are essential.
- Watering Wisely – Less is More: This is where many well-intentioned plant parents go wrong. Cacti store water in their thick stems and are built to survive prolonged periods of drought. Cacti tolerate drought far better than excess moisture. The golden rule: Always wait until the soil turns bone-dry before rehydrating. Overwatering is the most common cause of root rot, a death sentence for most cacti. In fact, during winter dormancy, some species may need no water at all.
- Perfectly Drained Soil: Just as crucial as minimal watering is the soil they live in. Cacti require well-draining soil that allows excess water to escape quickly. Standard potting soil retains too much moisture. Use a specialized cactus mix or amend regular soil with plenty of grit, perlite, or coarse sand to improve drainage. The container is also important; unglazed terracotta pots with drainage holes help wick away moisture and are highly recommended.
- Temperature and Environment: Cacti are adapted to warm conditions, often flourishing between 70-90°F (21-32°C). They tolerate the warm, dry air of heated homes well. While adapted to heat, their slow growth in the wild is partly a strategy to conserve water in those harsh conditions. Providing optimal light, water, and drainage helps mimic a favorable environment that encourages growth, even for fast growing cactus plants.
Beyond these core needs, occasional, sparing fertilization during the growing season can support healthier and potentially quicker growth for some fast growing cactus plants, like the Blue Columnar Cactus. Also, remember that cacti have spines or prickly glochids, so handle them with care to avoid injury and stress to the plant.
Understanding and consistently providing these essential conditions sets the stage for your cacti to not just survive, but to potentially thrive and exhibit the desired growth rates, especially those labeled as fast growing cactus plants.
Okay, let’s look at some top contenders that combine a faster pace of growth with that desirable low-fuss nature we love in cacti. While “fast” is relative in the cactus world, these varieties offer a more noticeable increase in size compared to their exceptionally slow-growing cousins. When searching for fast growing cactus plants that don’t demand constant attention, these five often rise to the top.
The Top 5: Our Picks for Fast Growth & Low Fuss
Choosing the right cactus means considering not just its mature size and appearance, but also how quickly it will get there and what level of care it truly requires. While all cacti share fundamental needs like excellent drainage and ample sun, some are better choices for those seeking fast growing cactus plants that remain relatively easy to manage. Based on their documented growth rates and straightforward care, here are five excellent candidates to consider:
- Echinopsis Hybrids (Easter Lily Cactus): This group is explicitly described as fast-growing. While many Echinopsis vary, the Easter Lily Cactus (Echinopsis oxygona) within this group is noted for reaching heights of up to 3-4 feet. They are highly sought after for their magnificent springtime blossoms, which are large, trumpet-shaped, and come in various colors. Care is relatively straightforward: they thrive in well-sandy soil, need bright, indirect sunlight or partial shade, and require sparing watering to prevent root rot. Propagating them is also easy via stem cuttings.
- San Pedro Macho (Echinopsis peruviana): Closely related to the San Pedro cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi), this columnar species stands out because it grows “much quicker”. Sources indicate it can grow one to two feet per year under optimal conditions, making it a true contender for fast growing cactus plants. It forms attractive, branching, tree-like specimens with bluish-green foliage and reddish-brown spines. It works well as a specimen plant in large containers or alongside tall walls for vertical form, requiring typical cactus care.
- Blue Myrtle Cactus (Myrtillocactus geometrizans): This columnar cactus is described as “fast-growing” and becomes treelike with age. It can eventually reach over 16 feet tall at maturity. To keep it happy and growing relatively quickly indoors, ensure it’s planted in gritty, well-draining soil and receives at least six hours of direct sun daily. Watering should be minimal, given conservatively once the soil is dry.
- Mexican Fence Post Cactus (Pachycereus marginatus): A stunning blue-green columnar variety, this cactus is called “relatively fast-growing”. It can grow up to 20 feet tall and grows quicker with supplemental irrigation. Its common name comes from its use in Mexico to construct living fences. Like many cacti, it needs direct sun and minimal watering, only requiring water once the soil is dry. Its ability to grow to a decent size from a smaller plant makes it appealing.
- Blue Columnar Cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus): Known for its delicate blue skin complemented by bright yellow spines, this is listed as a “fast-growing cactus variety”. While it can reach impressive heights outdoors (up to 33 feet), it grows much shorter indoors. To reach its full potential inside, it needs lots of bright light, occasional watering, and regular fertilization. While fertilization adds a step compared to some others, its explicit mention as fast-growing makes it a top choice for noticeable progress.
These selections offer a more dynamic growth experience than many traditional, slow-motion cacti, allowing you to see tangible progress over a reasonable timeframe, all while adhering to those fundamental, low-maintenance care principles like ample light and conservative watering. They represent some of the most promising fast growing cactus plants for home gardeners.
Alright, building on that essential foundation of care, let’s talk about how to really see some movement with those more ambitious fast growing cactus plants we discussed. It’s not about forcing them against their nature, but giving them absolutely everything they need to perform at their peak. Think of it as providing the perfect, luxurious desert spa treatment, rather than just basic survival rations!
Boosting Growth (the Right Way!) and Keeping Your Cactus Happy
While cacti are admirably resilient and fit the bill for a low-maintenance lifestyle, encouraging noticeable growth, especially in varieties touted as fast growing cactus plants, requires optimizing their conditions rather than just meeting the minimums for survival. This isn’t about magic, but about understanding what truly makes these desert dwellers thrive and respond with vigor. Keeping your cactus “happy” is the prerequisite for seeing faster growth; a stressed plant simply won’t perform.
Here’s how to provide that extra encouragement and keep your cactus content:
- Maximize That Light! We touched on light as fundamental, but to boost growth in fast growing cactus plants, you need more than minimums. Most large cacti need intense, direct sunlight – think six hours or more daily. A south-facing window is often necessary indoors. If natural light is limited, especially during shorter winter days or in northern climates, supplemental grow lights are essential. The intense light of the desert sun is hard to replicate indoors, and online information based on outdoor growing often shows faster rates than typically seen under grow lights. Aim for the brightest spot you can offer.
- Strategic Watering: Mimic the Rain Cycle. Yes, overwatering is the cardinal sin. Ensure the soil is entirely dry before watering again. However, for some fast growing cactus plants like the Mexican Fence Post or Blue Columnar Cactus, providing “supplemental irrigation” after the soil has fully dried can encourage quicker growth. The key is “appropriate” watering, which means giving a thorough soak when they are thirsty (dry soil) but never letting them sit in soggy conditions. Water conservation is built into them, so don’t push it too far.
- The Right Pot and Potting Mix: A well-draining soil mix designed specifically for cacti and succulents is non-negotiable. Standard potting soil holds too much moisture. Combine this with an unglazed terracotta pot with ample drainage holes. Terracotta helps wick away excess moisture, further reducing the risk of root rot. Repotting every few years into a slightly larger container gives roots room to grow.
- Feed Sparingly, But Feed: Cacti in their native habitat don’t get pampered with nutrients, hence their slow growth. However, for varieties aimed at being fast growing cactus plants, a little fertilizer during their active growing season (typically spring and summer) can provide the boost they need. Use a low-nitrogen fertilizer specifically formulated for cacti, diluted to half or quarter strength, and apply it only a few times during the growing season. “Fertilize sparingly” is key – too much can burn the roots.
- Temperature Matters: Cacti prefer warm temperatures, ideally between 70-90°F (21-32°C) during their growing season. The dry air of heated homes is generally fine. Some growers find that moving their cacti outdoors for the summer, if possible, exposes them to stronger light and ideal temperatures, which can significantly accelerate growth.
- Less Stress, More Growth: Simply put, stressed plants don’t grow well. Avoid excessive handling. Ensure the plant is getting consistent conditions – avoid sudden temperature fluctuations or drastic changes in light. Keeping them clean by gently removing dust with a soft brush can also help them photosynthesize efficiently.
By optimizing these environmental factors – providing abundant light, watering wisely to encourage growth after soil dries, using the correct well-draining soil, offering occasional fertilizer, and maintaining appropriate temperatures – you give your chosen fast growing cactus plants the very best chance to live up to their name and add significant structure and beauty to your space more quickly.
Alright, we’ve talked about picking out those speedy growers and giving them the perfect environment to thrive. But let’s be honest, the defining feature of many cacti isn’t just their drought tolerance or unique shapes – it’s those spines! Handling these spiny friends, especially as your fast growing cactus plants start to gain size, requires a bit of forethought and the right approach to keep both you and the plant safe.
Handling Your Spiny Friends with Care: Practical Tips
Part of the charm of cacti lies in their formidable armament – those impressive spines, thorns, or even tiny, barbed glochids that replace typical leaves. While they’re beautiful and serve a crucial protective purpose for the plant in their native habitat, they also present a practical challenge for the gardener.
As your chosen fast growing cactus plants increase in size more rapidly than their slow-growing cousins, you’ll find yourself needing to handle them for tasks like repotting, cleaning, or simply moving them for better light. Safe handling is paramount to avoid discomfort or injury.
Here are some practical tips for safely interacting with your spiny collection:
- Understand the Spines: Not all spines are created equal. Some are large and sharp, while others are shorter or more hair-like. The most insidious, however, can be the glochids – those small, fuzzy-looking clusters found on plants like Prickly Pear or Bunny Ears (Opuntia species). These barbed bristles detach easily and can lodge in your skin, causing irritation that can last for days. Knowing what you’re dealing with helps you assess the risk.
- Invest in Protection: While some gloves can be pierced by glochids, thick, sturdy gardening gloves are your first line of defense against larger spines. For plants with particularly vicious spines or a lot of glochids, consider using layers or specialized puncture-resistant gloves.
- Use Physical Barriers: When moving or repotting, don’t try to cradle the plant directly. Use folded layers of newspaper, cardboard, or even a piece of carpet wrapped around the body of the cactus. This creates a barrier between you and the spines and helps distribute the pressure, protecting the plant’s delicate structure too. For larger columnar fast growing cactus plants, straps or specialized tongs can be helpful.
- Gentle Does It: Cacti don’t appreciate excessive handling. When you need to move or adjust them, do so carefully and deliberately. Plan your movements to minimize contact time and avoid bumping the plant. If removing dust, use a soft paintbrush rather than your hands.
- Beware of Sap (Especially with Euphorbia): Remember that some plants commonly called “cactus,” like the Candelabra cactus (Euphorbia ingens) or Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii), are technically succulents or belong to the Euphorbia genus. Many Euphorbia species contain a milky sap that can cause skin and eye irritation. Be particularly careful when pruning or if a stem breaks. The Crown of Thorns, for example, has half-inch thorns and a poisonous latex sap.
- Strategic Placement: To minimize the need for frequent handling, place your spiny cacti, especially fast growing cactus plants that will get large, in locations where they won’t be easily bumped or touched, particularly if you have curious children or pets. Varieties like the Thanksgiving Cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) that lack sharp spikes are better choices for high-traffic areas.
By being mindful of the unique defenses of your cacti and using appropriate tools and techniques, you can safely care for and fully enjoy the dynamic growth and striking presence of your fast growing cactus plants. A little caution goes a long way in preventing painful encounters.
So, we’ve journeyed through the fascinating world of cacti, from selecting specific varieties known for their get-up-and-go to understanding the fundamental care that keeps them ticking, and finally, how to give them that extra nudge for noticeable growth while minding their prickly defenses. It’s clear that while the stereotype of the slow-as-molasses cactus holds true for many, there are indeed wonderful exceptions – true fast growing cactus plants that can bring dynamic life and architectural interest to your space more quickly than you might expect.
Conclusion
Cultivating fast growing cactus plants isn’t about rushing nature, but rather about providing the absolutely optimal conditions these unique desert beauties crave. By choosing species known for quicker growth, ensuring they receive ample direct sunlight (supplementing with grow lights when needed), watering appropriately after the soil has fully dried out, providing a perfectly draining soil mix, and offering a little fertilizer during their active season, you empower them to reach their potential.
Remember, successful growth is tied directly to a happy, unstressed plant. And while you admire their progress, a few simple precautions when handling will keep both you and your spiny friends content. Embracing these practices allows you to enjoy the rewarding process of watching your fast growing cactus plants thrive and transform your home or garden.
Frequently Asked Questions about Fast Growing Cactus Plants
Here are some common questions that often pop up when people are interested in finding fast growing cactus plants:
Q: What is considered a fast growing cactus plant?
A: While many cacti are famously slow growers, several species are noted for growing faster than the average. These include varieties like the Blue Myrtle Cactus (Myrtillocactus geometrizans), Mexican Fence Post Cactus (Pachycereus marginatus), Blue Columnar Cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus), and many Echinopsis hybrids, such as the Easter Lily Cactus (Echinopsis oxygona) and San Pedro Macho (Echinopsis peruviana), which are described as relatively or very fast-growing species. Some Opuntia species (Prickly Pear) can also be relatively quick to spread. Even the iconic Saguaro is listed as a fast-growing type, although its initial growth is extremely slow.
Q: How fast do fast growing cactus plants actually grow?
A: Growth rates vary significantly by species and conditions. Some columnar types like Echinopsis peruviana can grow one to two feet per year under ideal conditions. The Saguaro, while listed as fast-growing, might only reach an inch in its first 10 years before picking up speed later to grow 1-2 feet tall over a decade, eventually reaching 40-60 feet. Golden Barrel cacti can grow up to one foot in diameter in a few years. Organ Pipe cacti can reach heights of 20 feet or more. Keep in mind that growth indoors, often under grow lights, will typically be slower than outdoor growth in their native desert environments.
Q: Why do most cacti grow so slowly?
A: Most cacti grow slowly as an adaptation to their native arid and desert environments where water and nutrients are scarce. This slow growth conserves energy and resources during droughts or unfavorable conditions. They have specialized tissues to store water, and many have relatively low metabolic rates, requiring less energy for growth and other processes.
Q: Can I make my fast growing cactus plant grow even faster?
A: You can optimize conditions to encourage their fastest possible growth rate. This includes providing ample direct sunlight (6-8 hours daily or using grow lights), using well-draining soil, watering appropriately (letting soil dry out completely then soaking), fertilizing sparingly during the growing season (spring/summer), providing appropriate warm temperatures (70-90°F during growth), avoiding excessive handling, and ensuring good drainage in the pot.
Q: Do all fast growing cactus plants have sharp spines?
A: Many cacti, including fast-growing types, have spines, thorns, or tiny, barbed glochids which are their defense mechanisms. However, some plants commonly called “cactus” may have different types of defenses or less prominent spines. For example, holiday cacti like the Thanksgiving Cactus don’t have sharp spines. Even within spiny types, the nature and severity of spines vary. Being aware of the type of spines (or glochids) on your particular plant is important for safe handling.