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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
How do you grow a monkey tail cactus?
Attention to soil, sunlight and watering are critical in growing the monkey tail cactus (Fouquieria splendens).
Specifically, the monkey tail cactus may mature to a height of 15-30 feet/4.5-9 meters. It may measure 8 feet/2.4 meters around. Roots grow best in well drained sandy or gravelly loam soils, with the addition of light amounts of organic content. The plant needs sunny, open, unrestricted locations where surface water does not collect. It needs to be watered, but only once its soil dries out. So watering most likely will not be more often than every 10 days during the driest, hottest months. It best is done early in the morning or late in the evening, outside the high evaporation hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Seeds may be collected once the plant's red bloom fades in summer or early fall. Cuttings may be softwood or woody stems.
Bare root ball stems need to be shaded and watered until they can be planted. The wire tie is twisted together on the cactus plant's south facing side, which must face south when planted. The planting hole needs to be the width and the depth of the roots.
There will be a dirt line just below where all the canes join together. That line must be at ground level. The plant hole needs to be lined with sandy dirt, for good drainage.
The canes need to be sprayed daily for the first 1-2 months. The next 10-11 months, they need water every 2-3 weeks during cooler months and every 10 days during hot months.
The cactus may bloom soon after being planted. Or it may not show life the first year. But it shows itself to be dead only when a slightly bent cane snaps.
Yes, many of the fruits can be eaten fresh. For example, the yellow fruit of the prickly pear [Opuntia spp] has the sweetest flavor of the cactus fruit's color range. It's eaten fresh. Additionally, other body parts also can be eaten. For example, the prickly pear cactus' jointed pads may be peeled and boiled, to make Mexico's popular nopalitos. In the way of another example, the flesh of the candy barrel cactus [Ferocactus wislizeni] may be made up into sugary candies.
But whatever the cactus or the cactus body part, it's important to remove the plant's modified leaves. The modified leaves take the shape of thorns, spines, spikes, quills, prongs, needles, hairs, or bristles. Even the smallest, shortest, or finest of these modified leaves and modified leaf parts can be irritating if not downright painful to bite into, chew, and swallow.
Does Aloe vera have a hollow stem?
Aloe vera typically does not have a hollow stem. Instead, it features a rosette of thick, fleshy leaves that grow directly from the base, often with a short, stout stem that is not hollow. The plant is known for its succulent leaves, which store moisture and contain a gel-like substance used for various medicinal and cosmetic purposes.
What are the spikes on the cacti used for?
The spikes of a cactus prevents a herbivore from eating it as well prevents water loss through transpiration.
That's mean that your cactus is growing well and very naturally . So don't scare , that's normal for all cactuses . You should give your cactus a little much water when it's overgrowing : when the cactus have red spines ! I hope i helped you !
How much sunlight does an aloe polyphylla need?
The spiral aloe [Aloe polyphylla] needs full sun. But generally, there's a limit to how much sun even the most sun loving plants can take. That limit tends to settle around 12 continuous hours within a 24 hour period.
All cactus flower eventually. The conditions in which they are grown are important.
What is the life span of a Schlumbergera gaertneri Easter Cactus?
The Easter blooming cactus [Schlumbergera gaertneri] is a successful houseplant. So it can live for many years if its environment supports its needs. It's a jungle cactus from Brazil. So it's the opposite of the desert cactus in its needs.
Specifically, the Easter cactus isn't used to direct, harsh or strong light. That's because in its native environment it's light deprived. The tropical forest is a thick, dense, dark place for a growing jungle cactus. What it lacks in light it more than makes up for in moisture. It handles warm, humid environments. So it won't live long if it's subjected to long hours of direct or strong light. Neither will it live long if it's put on a little or no watering schedule.
What vitamins does the cactus have?
Some cactus plant parts may be prepared and served as vegetables. As a food, they supply their predators with vitamins A, B, and C. Additionally, they're good sources of iron.
What are the adaptive traits of cacti?
-By storing water inside them.
-They have roots that grow deep down to get as much moisture as they can under ground.
-They have sharp spines to protect them from animals (predators) that want to eat it.
-Their leaves are reduced to spines to reduce water loss.
-They have a thick 'fleshy' like stem to stop any water or moisture coming out which stores water inside.
Cacti have shallow roots so when the occassional rainfall falls, the roots soak up the water fast. A cactus stores roots in the body of the cactus.
Do cacti grow at Arizona's high elevations?
Yes, they can if it is dry ,hot ,and not a lot of rain . Even if it is high up.
What is the barrel cactus' habitat?
A barrel cactus [Echinocactusand Ferocactus spp] is native to the deserthabitats of the southwestern United States of America and of northern Mexico. Among the six species of the Echinocactus genus, only one is easy to grow. That's the golden barrel or mother-in-law 's seat cactus [Echinocactus grusonii]. It reaches an adult height of 4 feet/1.2 meters and sports beautifully golden spines. But its owner must wait 30-40 years for it to burst into flower if potgrown.
All 35 species of the Ferocactus genus must be monitored for sugary secretions. The sugary solutions are secreted in summer and fall. They attract pollinating ants outdoors. Inside, the solutions encourage sooty mold and must be washed off.
The atomic number of carbon is 6, which means it has 6 protons in its nucleus.
What scientist studys how a cactus survives in the desert?
A botanist studies plants and their adaptations.
When do you water your cactus?
Cactus' are used to desert conditions with minimal water. If you water too much, you can kill it. The important thing is to look at it and see if it begins to sag or look deflated. The soil should be about 50% sand for quick drainage. Cacti and succulants that are planted in pots should be watered sparingly about once a week and less if yellowing occurs as pots evaporate more quickly. Each variety and its size and age can change its water requirements.
Can cactus plants be infected by cold places?
Yes, cactus plants can be infected by cold places. The two main types of cactus plants are the desert cactus and the jungle cactus. The desert cactus handles higher heat and light levels and lower moisture levels. The jungle cactus handles higher heat and humidity levels and lower light levels.
But neither type of cactus handles cold, damp temperatures. Chilling temperatures makes a cactus susceptible to all sorts of fungal problems, such as basal stem rot. The cactus' tissue ends up softening and blackening. It has to be dried out or removed.
How do fish hook cactus plants reproduce?
The fish hook cactus [Ferocactus spp] reproduces by seed. Its large, yellow or violet flowers are bell or funnel shaped. They're followed by small, sticky yellow berries in the summer. The berries contain seeds that drop to the ground and naturally root in the immediate area. Or the berries are eaten by birds and rodents whose digestive tract eliminates the seeds to grow over a wider area than the home grounds of the originally fruiting cactus
