Hello, just bought these 3 cactuses and wondering what kind they're? Is the 1 on the right of the picture healthy with the brown on top? I'm planting them together in a long thin window planter, would I need drainage holes or would using gravel in the bottom with charcoal be adequate (like a terrarium)
Many thanks for any advice..
Jake

That one with the very fluffy white hair is Oreocereus celsianus, it has a nickname: Old man of the Andes. It's natural habitat is in the high altitude area of South America. Let others id the other two.

It is never advisable to put them in a terrarium set-up, so if those were mine, I would maintain them in their individual containers for now; do not ever block the drain holes with rocks, always use containers with drain holes, and use grittier, coarser media when you plant them. If you do repot, do not water right away. Got to allow the plant's roots to heal and recover from the disturbance at the root level. Since they are succulents, they have enough moisture in their body to sustain them till it gets to grow newer roots to better anchor themselves. Your plants still looks quite young, and typically their root systems are shallow, so they do not need very deep containers.

I would revisit the plants again, this time next year if there is any need to repot, if you choose to leave them as is for now.

I would suggest get to know first the plant as they are right now. They would be happier outdoors, in a part sun/part shade area weather permitting. If your summers are too rainy, then make sure they are protected, or keep them indoors but by your sunniest window, ideally a south facing or west facing window.

The one at the top is Opuntia called Joseph's Coat. Left is probably something like Espostoa (Old Lady cactus), and right is most likely a Mammillaria. Yes, the brown spines are normal.

None of these plants will be happy in the same pot (different watering needs). No cactus will be happy in a pot without drainage. Rocks on the bottom is no substitute for drainage. You can place the pots in the window box and cover the tops with decorative moss or something. Put gravel in the bottom of the box to lift them to the right level and to keep them from sitting in water.

Thank you both for your replies, the help identifying them and advice on best way to plant them, think I will definitely stick with my 30cm window planter but have them individually potted inside. Would I need to use the activated charcoal that came with the cactus soil and if so where does that go? Thanks again. Jake

JakeA007 said:Thank you both for your replies, the help identifying them and advice on best way to plant them, think I will definitely stick with my 30cm window planter but have them individually potted inside. Would I need to use the activated charcoal that came with the cactus soil and if so where does that go? Thanks again. Jake

You may just mix it in to the cactus soil, or not use it. Either way is fine, just make sure container has drain holes.

A opuntia monacantha
An espostoa(lanata)
and a mammillaria...maybe Mammillaria xaltianguensis subs. bambusiphila , mayvb

That's brilliant thank you for all your help.
Best wishes
Jake

Do these look ok now I've planted? I didn't have any pots the next size up as the roots were coming through the small ones so I made these as I'll hiding them in the window planter. Thin gravel in bottom with lots of drain holes, cactus mix soil with a little charcoal.

JakeA007 said:Do these look ok now I've planted? I didn't have any pots the next size up as the roots were coming through the small ones so I made these as I'll hiding them in the window planter. Thin gravel in bottom with lots of drain holes, cactus mix soil with a little charcoal.

Ive been told not to use charcoal...you may need to replant them...

No gravel in the bottom either if you decide to replant.

Both cause moisture retention.

DaisyI said:Both cause moisture retention.

I was told charcoal was caustic..

Oh no that's annoying, what I read suggested using the gravel and charcoal to ensure it drained quickly. Looks like I'll have to replant. Do the pot sizes look ok for the size plants? The original pots they came in had the roots growing out the bottom.

To me it all looks okay. I would not touch it anymore. As always discipline in watering. That charcoal is too little to damage it, not unlike when it is used in other types of planting. You will still exercise watering intervals anyways.

Ok thank you Tarev, so you personally wouldn't be worried about the gravel in the bottom?

JakeA007 said:Ok thank you Tarev, so you personally wouldn't be worried about the gravel in the bottom?

Му soil is made from gravel. I wouldnt worry. I dont loose many plants...and when i do...its usually for other reasons..

I believe the one on the (bottom) left is some type of snow cactus, right @skopjecollection?

Johannian said:I believe the one on the (bottom) left is some type of snow cactus, right @skopjecollection?

I dont know what a snow cactus is. Most nicknames mean nothing to me. I know its an espostoa, under "peruvian old lady"

Jake, your homemade pots are brilliant! I need to make some of those.

skopjecollection said:

Му soil is made from gravel. I wouldnt worry. I dont loose many plants...and when i do...its usually for other reasons..

Ok thank you