Styling tips for artificial cacti & succulents

Cool, quirky and packed with personality, cacti and succulents are the perfect plant pals!

In this article, we're revealing how to get the most out of them with our best tips and tricks for styling artificial cacti and succulents.

Where is the best place to put an artificial cactus or succulent?

Going faux has a number of benefits, the big one being that you can put your artificial cactus in the shadiest place in your home and it’ll still look fabulous.  

Does that mean that you should? It all depends on how realistic you’d like your plant to look.  

If you simply want to fill in an empty spot in a dark room, go for it! But if you really want to pull off the look, you’ll want to find your cactus or succulent a home where its natural self would be happiest. That means somewhere that receives plenty of indirect sunlight, but not direct, as this would burn a real cactus or succulents leaves.

In the kitchen, you can use your artificial cactus or succulent to accompany any herbs you might have growing, helping to create the look of a full and thriving kitchen garden.

Elsewhere, try sitting them near your entrance as a friendly little ‘welcome home’, or pop them on shelves, tabletops or on your desk to grant your space some cool desert vibes and reap in the mental health benefits of plants!

What plants should I put with an artificial cactus or succulent?

Sure, you can simply put your new plant in your home and leave it there, but if you want to unlock its full potential, it's best to style it with other plants.

Exotic plants

Naturally, your cacti and succulents will look brilliant when you sit them with other exotic artificial plants.  

Top choices include monstera plants whose unique leaves will perfectly complement your cactus or succulents' funky foliage.

You could also try a calathea which sport gorgeous, uniquely patterned leaves or even a pachira money plant, which would pair nicely with the exotic element while adding height to your artificial cactus arrangement.

Tropical flowers 

Similarly, you can go down a floral route and pair them with tropical faux flowers like anthuriums, exotic lilies, colourful orchid stems or even our pre-made exotic bouquet. Partner up your flowers with some tropical foliage including palm fronds and monstera leaves to bridge the gap between your plants and flowers, helping them to blend seamlessly.  

Create an artificial cactus or succulent arrangement 

When it comes to your spiky friends, it’s a classic case of the more the merrier! Make a fake succulent or cactus arrangement by teaming them up with other cacti and succulents (check out our succulent trio) for a stylish pick-me-up!  

Go for a vibrant sansevieria, for a slightly taller dose of colour, a mini aloe, a rare monstera albo and perhaps some hanging greenery to tie it all together. The options are endless!

Expert tip: The rule of three

When you’re building your family of fauxs, try using a variety of different heights and foliage types to create more eye-catching succulent and cactus arrangements and make sure to choose at least three plants, as science shows that our brains perceive odd numbers as being more attractive.

For more tips, read our guide to choosing an artificial houseplant.

How to choose a pot for your faux cactus or succulent

Anything with vibrant colours, quirky shapes and unique textures are great choices to accentuate your plant's character."

Cacti and succulents tend to have big personalities with their interesting shapes, colours and patterns, which means they look even better when you pair them with a pot that’s just as cool. 

Anything with vibrant colours, quirky shapes and unique textures are great choices to accentuate your plants character.  

On the other hand, if you’re planning to sit your plant in a minimally styled space, you may wish to choose a more subtle pot which lets your plant speak for itself. To do this, stick to neutral tones and simple, elegant shapes to avoid overwhelming your interior. 

We think our cacti and succulents look fab in our jazz or vibes pot ranges! 

when you've chosen your planter, it's time to pot your faux. Sit your plant and the included starter pot inside and fill the extra space with soil, sand or stones. Earn extra style points by topping it off with moss!

How to care for your artificial cacti and succulents

Being the proud owner of a faux cactus or succulent grants you the peace of mind that you’ll never have to water it, worry about light or pests, disease, re-potting, humidity...the list goes on! 😅

There are just a couple of things that your new plant buddy will appreciate, one being a gentle dust as part of your usual routine. As with a real cactus, a paintbrush is an excellent way to get around all those spikes. For succulents, however, you can simply give them a quick wipe with a damp cloth and call it a day.

For extra tips, check out our guide to cleaning artificial plants and flowers.

The other is to spend a minute or two to arrange your faux plant's foliage. This doesn't really apply to an artificial cactus which usually doesn't have leaves, but if you have a faux succulent like a snake plant, you may be able to bend the leaves a little to help your plant fill your space and look full of life.

One last thing! Like most real plants, your artificial ones aren’t overly keen on a full day in direct sunlight. Try to minimise full sun and stick to indirect light to avoid any fading issues. For more info, read our guide to UV resistance.

Have a crack at styling your artificial cactus or succulent with our tips above and tag us in your plant snaps over on the 'gram with #bloomingartificial 📸