Most cacti prefer bright filtered light, but many of us live in climates with moderate to low sun exposure during the year. In this post, you will find a list of top cacti for low light (indoors or outdoors) and office settings. These will be cactuses that are more tolerant of low light and can survive in offices and low lit conditions.
Low light settings include windowsills that don’t receive much direct light. These are often north facing windowsills, or east facing windowsills that only get few hours of morning light. It can also be office spaces and under the bench in a greenhouse.
If you live somewhere with low sun exposure, you should consider getting a plant grow light like this. They are inexpensive, but will make sure that your plant survives if there’s lack of light. It will especially suit office conditions.
Please remember that if your summers are warm and winters are cold, you need to provide your cactus with dormancy period. During this time, you will need to place your cactus in cool conditions of around 55 F (15 C), and water once in 4-6 weeks. During this winter period, extra light is not required. But place in a spot with maximum winter sunlight.
You can read more about winter dormancy for cacti in this post.
#1: Epiphyllum cacti
Epiphyllum is a genus of 19 cacti that can be suitable for growing in less sunny locations. These cacti are also called orchid and climbing cacti. Epiphyllum cacti don’t require too much care and are rather hardy.
Epiphyllum are tropical epiphytic cacti that have thin branches, and most are also serrated. The most popular species of Epiphyllum are Epiphyllum phyllanthus, oxypetalum, strictum, pumilum and more.
Epiphyllum also produce beautiful fragrant large flowers, some can reach up to 1 foot long! Their coloration can differ, and usually is yellow, orange and pink. The flower blooming time differs from in late spring to mid-summer.
Epiphyllum are tropical and epiphytic, so most of the time are covered by branches and other objects in their natural habitat, receiving less sun.
If you can, place your Epiphyllum cactus on the brightest windowsill you have (if you don’t get much sun during the day) and it should suffice. The morning sun, even for few hours, is often enough for these cacti. For the rest of the day, bright but filtered light is the best.
Because of less sun and probably lower temperature, you will need to be careful with watering. Minimum temperature in winter – 60 F (16 Celsius). Make sure that soil is dry first, before watering to avoid rot. You can check soil moisture with a stick or a soil meter like this.
#2: Eriocereus, or Harrisia cacti
Harrisia is a genus of around 20 cacti that bloom easily and beautifully. These cacti bloom nocturnally (at night), and their flowers reach around 6-7 inches (15-18 cm) long. These cacti have a classic cacti look, with spines present on their stem.
One of the most popular cacti in this genus is Harrisia jusbertii. Other popular species include pomanensis, bonplandii and more.
Harrisia cacti can tolerate partial shade and even some full sun, but can also tolerate light shade and lack of sun. If keeping indoors, place on a windowsill that receives at least some morning to afternoon sun. In winter, protect the cactus from cold, and make sure temperatures in summer are at least 55 F (13 Celsius).
#3: Hatiora cacti
Hatiora is a small genus of epiphytic cacti that mostly have spineless leaves. These cactuses have lots of hanging branched stems, and look beautiful both indoors and outdoors.
If you don’t get much sunlight and are keeping your Hatiora indoors, place it on a windowsill or another spot where it will get as much light it can. The best lighting is bright morning light, and indirect but bright light for the rest of the day. In winter, allow them to go dormant.
Outdoors, these cacti require a shade and not direct sun to avoid burns. Also be careful with watering these cactuses, and only water after soil has mostly dried. These cacti also don’t require high temperatures – in summer, temperatures should be at around 70-72 F (21-22 C).
Hatiora genus cacti species that you will find are epiphylloides, cylindrica, herminiae and other hybrids.
#4: Lepismium cacti
Lepismium is a genus of tropical cacti, that also don’t require direct sun and can tolerate lack of it. These cacti dwell on trees or rocks in their natural habitats. They have lots of branching stems (sometimes they are called trailing plants) and they also bloom.
These cacti will look amazing indoors and office spaces. They do not need direct light (only few hours in the morning), so keep in a bright spot with warm temperatures.
Direct morning sun and full shade for the rest of the day will greatly benefit these cacti. Be careful with watering them, as they hate being waterlogged. Popular species of Lepismium cacti include bolivianum, cruciforme and more.
#5: Gymnocalicium cacti
Gymnocalicium, also called chin cacti, are small and cute cacti with spines. While Gymnocalicium need more bright light than other cacti mentioned in this post, most grow in partial shade in their natural habitat.
You can grow them at home if you generally have lots of bright light, at least for few hours in the morning and shaded light for the rest of the day.
These cacti are not best for offices desks, unless you can keep them on a bright windowsill. Indoors, place them on a bright windowsill to receive lots of bright light. Make sure they are protected from direct sunlight during the middle of the day.
Most Gymnocalicium cacti need shading from bright light. Some of species will need full sun, so you might need to avoid picking them. Full sun requiring species include schickendantzii, mostii and some others.
#6: Schlumbergera cacti
Schlumbergera, also called holiday cacti, is a small genus that contains few cactuses. Christmas cactus and Mistletoe cactus are other common names for these very popular and beautiful cactuses.
Schlumbergera don’t have a classic cactus look – they rather have lots of divided stem leaf segments, joined together. They also flower beautifully, (mostly pink, but also white, yellow flowers), from areoles and stem tips. These cacti have their name due to their flowering time, which is later in the year.
Schlumbergera do well in low light and higher humidity conditions (around 60%), making it very popular in Northern Hemisphere countries with lower sunlight. Make sure to protect this cactus from drafts and cold in winter, and bright full sun in summer.
#7: Rhipsalis cacti
Rhipsalis is a genus of around 43 tropical cacti, which also have many hanging stems. They grow on trees and even rocks in the wild. These are beautiful cactuses that you can grow in bright but shaded conditions.
Mild summers are ideal to grow these cacti – temperatures of above 77 F (25 C) might harm them. Place your Rhipsalis cactus in a bright light, preferably with few hours of direct morning to afternoon sun. After that, shade the cactus to prevent burns and scarring. In winter, allow them to go dormant, and keep at around 59 F (15 C).
Thanks for reading this post on top low light cactuses! If you would like to find a list of spineless cacti, see this post.