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Cactus Gardening
All cactus plants are succulents, but not all succulents are cactus plants. Being able to tell the difference is one of the concerns in the cactus gardening section. Other questions to be asked and answered include the specifics of a cactus plant's adaptability, environmental impact, growing conditions, harmful stresses, native habitats, propagation methods, and value for people and wildlife.
918 Questions
A niche is a particular area that a particular organism favors within the broader environment. In the case of the desert cactus plant, it tends to be the point of least vegetative competition. Depending upon the particular cactus, specific elevations may be favored more or less. For example, the saguaro cactus [Carnegiea gigantea or Cereus giganteus] prefers an elevation of 600-3,600 feet/180-1,080 meters. But in terms of the jungle cactus, the niche is above ground. A jungle cactus doesn't grow in soil. Instead, it anchors itself from a tree or a tree branch. So it's higher up in the canopy, to get as much of the filtered sunlight as possible.
How do cactuses adapt to their environments?
A cactus plant preserves water by the cooperation of select body parts and body functions. For example, above ground, its stem is flexible and encased in a thick outer covering. Its flexibility allows it to contract with lesser amounts of water intake through the roots, and to expand with greater amounts. The result is a snug fit that keeps greater amounts of water from feeling confined and in need of escape.
A cactus plant's pores for breathing, or stomata, find their behavior controlled by guard cells on either side of their openings. The guards make sure that the least amount of water or water vapor gets lost from inside. They control gas exchange. So they also make sure that the most amount of carbon dioxide is taken in, for the photosynthetic interaction that produces energizing starches and sugars for the plant.
A cactus plant's modified leaves make sure that little above ground moisture is lost. There's a reason for their thin shapes as thorns, spines, spikes, quills, prongs, needles, hairs, or bristles. These shapes are the most cooperative in channeling condensation or moisture in the form of dew, fog or rain to the ground, where it's taken up by the underground water table or by the plant's underground roots.
Below ground, a cactus plant's roots are always spreading, shallow, and fibrous. This helps the plant to have first access to water precisely where it first enters, at the soil surface. The roots take in water and dissolved nutrients, for the previously mentioned photosynthetic interaction with sunlight.
The cactus is vascular and contains phloen and xylem for transpiration and sap flow.
Why does cacti have thick stem?
In cacti the leaves have become reduced ( to prevent water loss via transpiration) and the stem has become the photosynthetic body. Being in the stem there are no or very few stomata ( where water is lost from) and the water is able to be stored in the stem to help it survive long times without water.
I researched this online this is not my work!
A cactus gets its water from its roots. Whatever moisture is available in soil may be taken in by the cactus plant's shallow roots, and sent up to the stem for the photosynthetic interaction with the sun. A cactus also gets its water from the pores in its stem. The pores accept moisture in the form of water vapor.
Why is a cactus covered with spines?
Cacti have spikes to use as their defense mechanism to animals that may try to eat them. The spikes deter the animals by pricking them in the nose and mouth putting them off trying to eat it. The spikes also help collect water vapor by increasing the plant's surface area and the spikes also help stop transpiration loss of water through pores.
What cactus is the symbol of the southwest?
Carnegiea gigantea is a tall cactus that's native to the southwestern United States of America. The cactus' common name is the giant saguaro cactus. The plant also is native to northwestern Mexico.
Cacti are pollinated by the animals so that why they need animals tto help them in pollination
Can you drink the water from saguaro cactus plants?
It probably isn't a good idea to drink the water from the saguaro cactus [Carnegiea gigantea]. A cactus plant tends to store its water in bitter or toxic forms. This discourages predators from raiding precious water supplies. So a wiser choice are the saguaro's fruits, flowers, and seeds as sources of nutrition and water. Particularly the fruits and the seeds are succulent sources of drink and food.
What is the size of the barrel cactus?
The size of the barrel cactus [Echinocactus and Ferocactus spp] depends upon the particular kind of cactus. For example, there are about 35 species within the genus Ferocactus. The species ranges from small, such as the 10 inch/25 centimeter crow's claw cactus [Ferocactus latispinus] to the tall, such as the 10 feet/3 meters candy barrel cactus [Ferocactus wislizeni].
Depends on how big the cactus is supposed to be. They normally take soil and a small amount of water because they can suck the water molecules out of the air so they need some water but not much and a lot of sunlight.
Where do cactus plants grow best?
A cactus plant grows best in its native habitat. But it's an adaptable survivor. So it grows just as well in indoor and outdoor environments that are controlled for heat, light, moisture, and vegetative competition.
What is a cactus characteristics?
There are several physical characteristics to a cactus. First off, they are shades of green. the reason why i say shades, is because not every one cactus is going to be the same color or green, some may look more brown. Another characteristic is it can get to be really tall. Some are shorter but still, if you look at some of the ones in deserts, you will see how big they really are. Lastly, they have thorns on them. These thorns are obviously very sharp and will hurt you if you touch them. hope this helped! remember, do not copy this word for word, rearrange the order of things and use different wording styles. Teachers have ways of finding out you cheated. Don't learn it the hard way. Its not that hard to write things in your own words. Its better to rearrange things and make it so it sounds like you, than to get a zero on your assignment.
Yes, cactus plants can be brown. For example, the living rock or fossil cactus [Ariocarpus spp] is gray brown in color. It isn't the only cactus that isn't green. In the way of another example, the yellow peanut cactus [Echinopsis chamaecereus f. lutea] lacks greenness of color, because it lacks chlorophyll. It has to be grafted onto a green cactus to be able to supply itself with energizing photosynthetic products.
Yes, cactus plants have roots.
Specifically, a cactus plant needs roots to take in moisture and dissolved nutrients from the soil. It is upon this underground supply of moisture and dissolved nutrients that the entire plant depends for survival and growth. Additionally, roots keep the plant anchored in the ground or - in the case of epiphytic cactus plants - to the branches of trees.
What is the harmful effect of cactus plant?
Cacti are considered types of succulents (all of which fall under the broad category of "plant"), and are often regarded as harmful because of their spines. Many cacti have sharp spines or hooks that stick out from their surface and serve as protection against other animals. These spines can be very sharp and may pierce the skin if hit. Some cacti like Opuntia have small fuzzy spines that seem harmless but when brushed up against or put into contact with human skin may string and look/feel like many tiny splinters. Like thorns, cactus spines have the potential to draw blood and scrape, pierce or cut and therefore may be considered harmful.
What happens when you fall in a cactus and spikes go in your hand?
Scream "ouch!", shake your hand, probably utter a few profanities and then wash the wound and cover it with a band-aid. Don't forget to use tweezers to remove any spines stuck in your hand.
Then decide how to get revenge on your older siblings who told you to do it, insisting that it's all soft and fluffy and wouldn't hurt at all.
What environmental pressure does a cactus has?
Cacti occasionally suffer from the pressures of drought and other animals. Birds and mammals try to get the water from the cacti so THEY can survive. This is why cacti have thorns.
What stops the cactus blowing away in the wind?
deepinto the Earth searching for water. Since they go so far, they must be very strong. The stronger the roots, the deeper they search for water. Roots secure plants to the ground, but some can't.
Do saguaro cactus plants grow in sandy conditions?
A saguaro would probably quickly get root rot and die as the soil in Florida is much too moist for a saguaro to remain healthy. They need a fast draining soil that does not remain wet for long after a rain.
Why would a cactus shrink in the middle?
When water is available, cacti absorb more than they need for the present use. Their tissues, particularly in the thick body or trunk of the cacti, and in the thick pads of the Prickly Pear, swell up like sponges. When the weather dries and no water is available through their roots, cacti use this stored water. Their tissues then shrink up as the moisture is used, and the stem and/or pads become noticably smaller and wrinkled.
How do you care for Christmas cactus plants?
You can care for a Christmas cactus by putting it in indirect sunlight, keep it humid, check the moisture in the soil for the need to water and use fertilizer. Giving the plant the proper light will allow it to bloom at just the right time for the holiday.
