Another Pet Cactus

The pet cactus I wrote about several days ago now has a new brother. When I opened a stocking stuffer Christmas gift from my son, the gift message read, “Mom, bet you don’t have this kind of cactus. Merry Christmas!” It was a Mini Pet Cactus to use on a key chain, jacket, or cell phone. This tiny unidentified cactus is the real thing, captured inside a plastic dome. The only care it needs is a once a month watering, accomplished by placing it in about a ¼-inch of water for a minute. There are tiny holes in the bottom of the dome that absorb the water. The dome measures 1¾-inches high and 1-inch in diameter.

I won’t be using this cactus as a key chain, and certainly not on my cell phone or a jacket. That’s more appropriate for the young people in Japan who have made the Mini Pet Cactus quite popular there. I’ve placed mine on a suction cup hook hanging in my kitchen window where I can keep an eye on it. In a way, I feel sorry for this imprisoned miniature cactus. In my view, cacti should grow wild and free, or at least in pots out in the open. I'll let you know if I plan a prison break.