0
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
How do cactuses adapt to the climate?
It has a succulent stem (fleshy)which stores water.It has long deep roots to tap underground water. It has small,waxy and thorny leaves to reduce water loss through transpiration.The waxy coating covers the stomata which releases water in the form of water vapour.
How do desert plants other than cactus survive?
I think they have glossy leaves to reduce water loss.
Is it legal to own saguaro cactus?
A permit can't be issued, because it's illegal to collect, damage, or remove cactus plants from the Sonoran Desert National Monument in Arizona. It's illegal regardless of whether the plant is alive or dead. In fact, the law protects all of the cultural and natural resources within the Desert. That includes even rocks and dead things.
Where are cactus plants the dominant vegetation?
Cactus plants are the dominant vegetation in the desert. They grow in harsh, severe environments in which they have no strong plant competitors. This is another way in which they differ from jungle cactus. In the humid, moist environment of the tropical jungle, cactus plants face competition from other vegetation. But they have a working relationship with trees upon whose trunks and branches they anchor their airy, soil-less roots.
The saguaro cactus [Carnegiea gigantea] is found in the Sonoran desert. The desert is so called, because of its main location in Sonora, Mexico. But the desert also stretches into the United States of America.
Do prickly pear grow in the Simpson Desert?
Yes they do.
Along with Barrel Cactus, Organ Pipe Cactus. Saguaro Cactus.
Clarification:
None of the species listed in the above answer are natives to Australia. IF they are growing there it is due to the fact that someone brought them from the United States where they are natives.
How is cactus adapted to survive in desert?
The cacti (in general) have made many modifications to collect, store and retain water. Adaptations include:
- a low surface to volume ratio to reduce evaporation
- a waxy outer layer to prevent transpiration of water
- a modified CO2 scavenging system to allow CO2 capture with minimum water loss
- a wide shallow root system to collect any water that reaches the soil
- a responsive root system to capitalize on any abundant water after a rainfall
- in some cacti deep taproot to store water in cooler environment
- spines to minimize surface damage by animal browsing
- long lasting (non-deciduous) leaves to minimise regrowth
cactus survive in the dessert because it has water on his body
Cacti have adapted to extreme heat by minimizing water loss through their thick, waxy skin and reduced leaf surface area. They also have the ability to respire at night when temperatures are cooler, reducing the risk of water loss through transpiration during the day. Additionally, cacti often have shallow root systems that can quickly absorb moisture from the soil during sporadic rainfall.
mostly stored water, as they are well adapted to the dry desert environment.
What can you make from a cactus?
During the 1940s and 1950s, they made furniture from the cholla (aka jumping cactus) plant. That included those lamps that had the cactus skeleton as the base.
Tequila is made from agave cacti.
How does the crimson hedgehog cactus adapt to the desert?
The crimson hedgehog cactus adapts to the desert by storing water in its fleshy stems to survive dry periods, having a small surface area to reduce water loss through evaporation, and developing spines to protect itself from animals and minimize water loss through transpiration.
Leaves provide extra surface area for water to evaporate out of the plant. In the arid desert, plants need all the water they can get.
Why cactus do photosynthesis in night not in day?
Some cactus flower at night as they are pollinated by moths and other nightflying insects.
When does the barrel cactus obtain water?
Barrel cacti have an extensive root system that is used to take in water during rainy periods. The water is then stored in the tissues of the plant for drought periods.
The cactus gets its food by taking in water and dissolved nutrients through the roots. The nutrients and water flow up through the stem. With the help of sunlight, the photosynthetic process takes place of changing water and nutrients into such energizers as sugars and carbohydrates. The energy sources then are sent throughout the plant to help in such basic processes as growing and flowering.
Why does a saguaro cactus get an hourglass ripple as it grows?
An adaptation to a water-poor environment is the reason for the hourglass ripple that characterizes the maturing saguaro cactus (Carnegeia gigantea).
Specifically, the phrase "hourglass ripple" is another phrase for cactus ribbing. The saguaro cactus has ribbing, to deal with the low moisture and rainfall world in which it is found. The ribbing lets the cactus decrease in size with less water reserves inside, and increase with more storage. It also helps the cactus minimize the amount of surface evaporation that otherwise takes place on a flat surface.
On a flat surface, the sun's rays equally reach all parts. So the most amount of moisture is lost. The sun's access is not equal on the cactus' ribbed, hourglass surface. So the least amount of moisture is lost.
What risks are involved with prickly pear cactus?
people taking drugs for diabetes, such as Actos, Avandia, Glyset, and Prandin, to name a few, should consult with their physician before adding nopal to their diets
How do you heal a brown cactus?
More water or less sunlight may be ways to heal a brown cactus plant.
Specifically, a cactus is drought and heat tolerant. But it may turn brown because of too little water. The plant is adapted to water-poor environments. But that does not mean that it has no water needs at all.
A cactus plant likewise may turn brown because of too much sunlight. The latter situation is the equivalent of a cactus sunburn. A cactus in fact has a side that adapts to receiving more sunlight than the other. But there is such a thing as overexposure if the sunning lasts too many hours and the light is too harsh.
What are the modified leaves of a cactus?
Cactus leaves are modified, because they're characterized by smaller surface areas. Those cactus plants that have modified leaves have them as thorns, spines, spikes, quills, prongs or bristles. So the cactus leaf has a narrower, thinner look than the leaves of deciduous plants.
The reason for this modified look is the effort to keep water loss to a minimum. Water is lost at a lower rate and in smaller quantities over a smaller surface area. Additionally, the narrower, thinner look helps the modified leaf to direct any available moisture on its surface to drip to the ground. On the ground, the drops seep into the soil, where they can be taken up by the cactus plant's network of fibrous, shallow roots.
How can you get a cactus to grow faster?
A cactus plant may grow faster by attention to its differing needs during the growing and dormant seasons. For example, a cactus plant responds well to regular fertilizing and watering while it's growing. The regular application of fertilizer and water tends to work best if carried out every 10-14 days. At the same time, a cactus plant tends to prefer to go without water during dormancy.
An important precaution in any season is the avoidance of cold and damp. Cactus plants don't like waterlogging, which rots and kills the tissue. Neither do they like chilly temperatures.
How are saguaro cactus plants unique?
A saguaro cactus [Carnegiea gigantea] is unique in the towering heights and the advanced age that it reaches in a bright, drab, dry, extreme, harsh, hostile, monotonous environment. It's capable of reaching a mature height of 40 feet/12 meters, and living 150+ years.
But it actually shares that uniqueness with the old man cactus [Cephalocereus senilis]. The old man cactus likewise may mature to 50 feet/15 meters, and live for 200 years.
Are cacti evergreen or deciduous?
Cacti are typically classified as evergreen plants, meaning they retain their foliage year-round. However, some cacti species may shed their spines or leaves in response to environmental changes or seasonal variations.
