Today’s photos come from Josh in Virginia and show his ever growing collection of cacti and other succulents.

His interest in cacti started with trying to find houseplants that his very curious cats would leave alone. It has grown as he has found out more about this very diverse—and easy to care for—group of plants.

This tall cactus came without a label but is probably a species of Pilosocereus. It was only a couple of feet tall when Josh first bought it, and with good care it has grown to nearly three times its original size. It spends the winters indoors by a sunny window, but during warm weather, it lives outside where the warmth and abundant sun keep it growing rapidly.

This golden barrel cactus (Echinocactus grusonii, Zones 9–11) will eventually get quite large, but for now, it lives on a shelf by a sunny window. The round basket echoes the shape of the cactus. Because the basket would break down if kept in contact with wet soil, the cactus is growing in a plastic pot inside the basket. View the Golden Barrel Cactus plant guide here.

Cacti come in all shapes and sizes. Cereus forbesii is a tall, columnar cactus from Argentina, but this form—Cereus forbesii ‘Ming Thing’—is a monstrose selection, meaning that instead of growing up tall and narrow, it grows into this intricate, mounded form.

It isn’t all cacti, as other succulents have joined the party. This haworthia (Howorthia sp.) is growing in a mixed pot with cacti and provides a contrasting shape.

Aloe vera is best known as a medicinal plant, but it is a beautiful and easy-to-grow succulent. This large plant is growing with Angelina sedum (Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’, Zones 5–9). Once frost threatens, the aloe will move back inside as a house plant until spring.

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