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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
Are there any flowers or fruits produced on a prickly pear cactus?
No, cactus pears aren't fruits. The term refers to the spiny pads of the prickly pear cactus [Opuntia spp]. The pads may be prepared and served as vegetables. It's the plant's berries that are the plant's fruits.
What do the stems on a cactus do?
The stem is the cactus body part in which water is moved, processed and stored. It also is the body part where breathing pores called stomata allow for the gas exchange necessary for keeping proper temperatures and stopping water loss. It takes on various forms. For example, it may look like a thick column, such as in the case of the giant saguaro cactus [Carnegie gigantea]. Or it may look roundly compact, such as in the case of the birthday cake cactus [Mammillaria hahniana].
What is the name of the Christmas cactus?
Cactus plants are native to North and Latin America.
They may be found natively in desert and jungle environments.
Both biomes represent challenges to survival.
Desert and jungle cactus plants are alike in their handling of conditions of high heat, and in their aversion to cold dampness.
They're unlike in their differing responses to humidity, light, moisture, and vegetative competition.
For example, a desert cactus prefers low humidity and vegetative competition, and high light.
In contrast, a jungle cactus prefers the reverse.
Whatever their native biome, cactus plants have a presence and an impact far beyond their original homeland.
They're survivors and adapt to many different environments, as long as their basic aversion to overwatering and waterlogging is respected.
Where their demands aren't met by the natural environment, they almost always adapt to container and indoor living.
Wherever they grow, they add beauty and unusual interest to the landscape, the home, and the business.
They attract worldwide attention because of their environmental friendliness.
They're role models for the efficient use of resources and the cooperative specialization of body parts and body functions.
For example, their leaves tend to be modified into thorns, spines, spikes, quills, prongs, needles, hairs, or bristles.
They're modified to channel any available moisture - be it dew, fog, or rainfall - into the plant's immediate area, to be taken into the soil for water table replenishment or for intake by cactus roots.
They take on diverse sizes and shapes, and live diverse life spans.
But whatever the height or width, whatever the age of death, a cactus adds beauty, oxygen, use, and value to its immediate environment and beyond.
On the inside, a cactus plant has tissue. Central transport tissue takes water up from the shallow, fibrous roots and into the stem. Storage tissue within the stem holds water, dissolved nutrients, and photosynthetic products such as starches and sugars. The amount of water within the tissue may be guessed from the outside. The outer surface of the cactus has ribs that expand or contract with more or less water reserves.
Although, along with other native plants, the saguaro is protected by the state of Arizona, it is neither endangered nor threatened.
Cactuses grow by storing water inside them. They barely need water, so it would be even easier.
How often does a succulent need watering?
During the growing season, a succulent may need to be watered every 10-14 days, depending upon the type of soil and the amount of heat, light, and moisture. A moisture meter shows when the soil is almost, but not completely, dried out. It's at that point that the watering needs to be done. During dormancy, a succulent needs no watering.
How does human impact affect Saguaro?
Yes, humans affect the life of the giant saguaro cactus [Carnegiea gigantea]. That effect may be harmful or beneficial. Examples of harmful effects are impervious surfaces, pollution, and traffic. Examples of beneficial effects are protected lands and protective legislation.
What type of plant do prickly pears grow on?
One adaptation of the prickly pear cactus [Opuntia spp] is its closeness to the ground. This proximity means that little moisture is loss on the way from the plant's water channeling spines, to the ground, and into the cactus' roots. Another adaptation is its defense mechanism, in the intimidating aspect and the painful impact of its barbed spines and bristles. Still another adaptation is the flexibility of its stem. The stem moves, processes and stores water, nutrient solutions, and energizing photosynthetic products. It gets larger with greater amounts of stored supplies, and smaller with lesser. Yet another is the spreading, shallow, fibrous nature of its roots. A cactus' roots are most effective and efficient in aggressively seeking out and capturing available soil moisture.
The Eastern cactus [Opuntia humifusa] may be found in the United States of America and in Canada. In Canada, it grows in southwestern part of the province of Ontario. In the U.S., it grows across the north westward from Massachusetts to Minnesota. It grows southward down through Oklahoma and Florida.
What is the cactus species name?
Exudate is the scientific name for 'cactus juice'. The fluid appears when cactus plant tissues are damaged or opened. The term also refers to the solutions that the roots release into the soil, as the cactus plant's waste products.
How many meters long is a saguaro cactus?
Three (3) feet (0.9144 meters) may be how tall a saguaro cactus plant (Carnegiea gigantea) is after 15 years.
Specifically, the saguaro is a slow-grower among plants in general and cactus plants in particular. But it makes up in mature height and longevity for what it lacks in speed! For example, its expected life span may reach 100-200 years. Also, its expected mature height may range from 15 - 50 feet (4.52 - 15.24 meters).
How much water do cactuses hold?
cactus's need minimal water and if you under or over water the can die. you should water a cactus once every 8 to 9 days if 60 degrees or more(inside or out), and should water it every 12 to 13 days in the fall or winter(inside), keep in mind that you should give the cactus 5-6 drops of food (fertilizer) each water. you can buy the cactus food (fertilizer) at you local plant store.
Cacti should be watered whenever the soil has dried out, if you water them to much they will get root rot. When it comes to cacti its a good idea to water them sparingly than to much, they can thrive on small amounts of water but will die from to much water.
Where does the name Prickly Pear cactus come from?
The prickly pear cactus [Opuntia spp] originated in North America. Its native environment runs from central and western Mexico, northward through the United States of America, and into Canada. In the United States, its native range includes the desert southwest, the dry northwest, the drier low elevations of the Rocky Mountains, and the Great Plains. In Canada, the prickly pear cactus is found only in the province of Ontario, at Point Pelee National Park and on the southern tip of Pelee Island.
Additionally, the cactus is perceived as forming western populations, as identified above; and eastern populations, which include the Canadian locations, also identified above. In addition to southwestern Ontario, the eastern prickly pear population includes the eastern United States, from Wisconsin eastwards through New England, and southwards down through Texas and Florida.
It's simple, go to Wal-Mart or Lowe's and buy the plant of your choice or plants. Go online and order there or maybe you have a friend with cactuses most likely they would give you a start off theirs, but remember NOT to say thank you.
Which plant has adaptations similar to those of a cactus?
All cactus plants are succulents, but not all succulents are cactus plants. So it's to be expected that cactus and succulent plants remind one another of each other. For example, the Caralluma socotrana of Africa and India resembles the totem pole cactus [Pachycereus schottii v monstrose] in similarly knobby stems. In the way of another example, Echinopsis spp resembles the African hat cactus [Hoodia spp] in similarly short, branching stems.
There are a number of euphorbias that are native to African deserts that closely resemble cacti from the New World.
How do you get rid of prickly pear cactus?
When I transplanted mine I put on gloves, pulled up some of the plant and laid in on the ground in a dry place with mostly morning sun putting just a little dirt around it. The plant will also root by laying the plant on the ground. New roots will form under each piece - it is easy to start them. Although they look dead in the winter, they bounce back. (I had a hard time getting mine to bloom until someone told me I needed a male and female).
Why does Christmas cactus only flower at Christmas?
The Christmas cactus [Schlumbergera and Zygocactus spp] blooms in response to appropriate heat, light and moisture levels. At the same time, it blooms in response to its genetic inheritance. It's a native of the Brazilian rain forest, where its growing season corresponds to northern winters. The appropriate environmental conditions, the genetic inheritance, and the growing season combine to make the Christmas cactus bloom when it does.
How does a cactus live with little water?
A cactus plant needs water just like any other plant. They have several methods for conserving the little water they get from the occasional rains.
1. They have roots which spread out near the surface to quickly catch as much water as possible before it drains away or evaporates. Large, column-like cacti also have a long taproot which goes down deep, primarily for support, but also to access groundwater and minerals.
2. They have thick, waterproof exteriors to preserve internal moisture.
3. They have spines, which not only protect the cactus from animals, but also shade part of the plant to reduce the small amount of remaining evaporation.
Cactus are so well adapted to dry conditions they will rot and die if they remain moist too long. They must be dry most of the time, especially their roots. That is why they grow in sandy, well drained soil that dries quickly after a rain.
Thirteen cactus plants can be watered once with a 4.2 liter capacity watering can. There are 4,200 milliliters in 4.2 liters. Thirteen plants use up 4,030 milliliters of water from the can. That leaves 170 milliliters, which won't meet the watering needs of cactus plant number 14. So it's at cactus plant number 14 that the gardener needs to refill the watering can.
