There's a lot to love about having low-water, easy-care cacti and succulents in your home. One of my favorite things
about them is the amount of variety they offer. There's a wealth of colors, shapes, and sizes, so it's easy to get
just the look you want. Not sure where to start? Here are four favorites.
(Euphorbia trigona Rubra) (Opuntia microdasys var. Pallida) (Kalanchoe thyrsiflora) (Echeveria First Lady)
Red African Milk Cactus
Hailing from Africa, look to this succulent
to add height and color to your home. It can grow more than 5 feet tall in time (it's slow growing, though, so you
don't need to worry about it outgrowing its space anytime soon). It's characterized by impressive stems flushed with
burgundy-purple. The tops of the branches have small, oval leaves popping from the sides. It often branches as it
grows, creating an elegant candelabra look.
Just give it lots of bright light and water as the potting mix
dries out. Buy it now!
Bunny Ears Cactus
Providing a softer, more whimsical look
than a lot of other common cacti, Bunny Ears Cactus is a relative of Prickly Pear Cactus. It grows rounded, flat
pads dotted with clusters of tiny short yellowish spines. When happy, it produces little yellow flowers, but the
architectural forms the pads grow into is the main attraction. While it's easy to grow, this cactus is also easy to
propagate, so you can readily share starts with your friends and family.
Like most other cacti, it wants an
abundance of bright light and watering only as the potting mix starts to dry out. Buy it now! 
Paddle Plant
Like Bunny Ears Cactus, Paddle Plant gives a strikingly
different look than a lot of other common cacti and succulents because of its large, flat, paddle-shaped leaves.
They're a lovely blue-green color that can act both as a complement or a contrast to other varieties you grow it
with. Or display it on its own as a focal point on your favorite desk or tabletop.
Keep it happy by
giving it plenty of bright light and water it as the potting mix dries out. Buy it now! 
First Lady Echeveria
Showing off large, ruffled leaves, this low-water
Echeveria is a standout in any home or office. Indoors, it's usually a gray-green color, but give it enough light
and the frilly edges take on a pink blush. Provide even more light and you'll see the pink tones extend farther into
the foliage. It's a fairly large plant that can eventually grow about 12 inches wide, helping it to become even more
eye-catching as it ages. It can produce clusters of pinky-orange flowers.
Get the most from it by giving it
lots and lots of light. Avoid overwatering; only water as the soil starts to dry out. Buy it now!
Written by Justin Hancock
