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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
Should you leave cactus outside or inside?
This depends on where you live. Cacti are native to many places.
What are examples of soft cactus spines?
Soft spines tend to take the form of bristles or hairs instead of thorns, spines, spikes, quills, prongs, or needles. Both bristles and hairs may have softer, gentler forms. But bristles tend to be much shorter than hairs.
Or bristles and hairs may not be sharp, but still irritating. An example of a softer, gentler haired cactus is the old man [Cephalocereus spp]. Its long, silky hairs may end up encasing much of the blue green columnar stem in a soft, white beard. An example of the soft and the sharp of cactus spines is found in another old man cactus [Oreocereus spp]. The stem is encased in a soft down of fine, long, white hairs. But underneath are razor sharp yellow, white or red needles.
It's an easy choice to name a cactus after its common name. But there can be confusion and overlaps in common names. So a more precise, unique choice is opting for a cactus' scientific name. So for example, a prickly pear cactus can be called Opuntia; or an old man cactus Cephalocereus, Espostoa or Oreocereus.
What can you put in a cactus terrarium besides cactus plants?
A cactus terrarium needs some sort of free drainingsoil that holds some moisture. It also needs some sort of drought resistant vegetative cover. Cooperative candidates include succulent plants, to which the cactus is related. They also include native wildflowers of the Great Plains and Desert Southwest, in the United States of America. For example, blanket flower [Gaillardia pulchella] gives a cheery look with its dark green foliage and yellow rimmed red flowers. In the way of another example, cottonwood [Hibiscus tiliaceus] has a colorful yellow bloom, and is a cooperative subject for the art of bonsai gardening.
How do you grow a saguaro cactus in Washington state?
It's a challenge to grow a saguaro cactus [Carnegiea gigantea] in the moist climate that's found in Washington state. The saguaro is a desert cactus that's used to high heat and light, and low moisture and vegetative competition. It most likely won't like the outdoors in Washington state. But it may do quite well inside, where the moisture, humidity, and temperature may be monitored and adjusted to respectively lesser amounts, lower levels, and higher ranges.
How does sunlight help a desert cactus?
Sunlight helps a desert cactus to grow. It's needed for photosynthesis. The sun brings its light to the photosynthetic interaction. The cactus plant brings its water, dissolved nutrients, and chlorophyll. The photosynthetic interaction between the sun and the cactus produces energizing starches and sugars. The energizing photosynthetic products are needed to fuel all of the cactus' life sustaining activities, such as growth, fruiting, and flowering.
How do you get out cactus needles out of your hand?
Try pulling it out and putting some proxide on it( its going to burn)
A cactus berry is one of the forms that cactus fruit may take. Different cactus plants make different types of fruit. For example, the fruit of the living rock or fossil cactus [Ariocarpusspp] looks like pale fleshy berries. In contrast, the saguaro cactus [Carnegiea gigantea] makes fruit that looks like red plums.
How do you look after a mini cactus?
Easter cactus are relatively easy to care for. They should be potted in a rich yet free draining compost (specific cactus composts are available, or normal compost mixed with sand and pearlite). They do not need repotting unless the roots are growing out the bottom of the pot as they will survive quite happily when rootbound.
Weekly watering should be sufficient, though more may be necessary during hot weather. Be careful not to overwater - they are more likely to survive underwatering than overwatering. Yellowing of the leaves suggest overwatering whereas a "thirsty" plant will be apparent as the leaves will droop and become wrinkled.
To trigger flowering the plants need to be kept cool, about 15 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit), once they start budding they can be moved into warmer temperatures. Be very careful not to overwater during flowering.
They like to be in bright but indirect light, direct sunlight can damage the plant.
What is the most common cactus?
The most common cactus is the prickly pear [Opuntiaspp]. It ranges from Canada, in northern North America, all the way down through Latin America's southernmost reaches in the South American countries of Argentina and Chile. It includes over 360 species. So it's the most common and the largest, in terms of categories, numbers, and range.
It's difficult to estimate how many cactus plants are in the United States of America. A census needs to include their native habitats, which tend to be in the southwest. But that census needs to factor in the non native habitats into which cactus plants are able to expand due to their high adaptability. It also needs to consider all of the florists, gardeners, nurseries, parks, plant sections and stores, and public gardens where cactus plants are being grown.
How many chromosomes does a cactus have?
Generally, a cactus has 22 chromosomes arranged as 11 pairs. Such a cactus is called 'diploid', from the Greek 'diploos' and 'eidos' for 'double' and 'form', respectively. In the way of comparison, humans tend to have 46 chromosomes arranged as 23 pairs. But some cactus plants have more than two sets of chromosomes. For example, it's possible for a cactus to have 44 or even 66 chromosomes. Such a cactus is called 'polyploid', from the Greek 'polu' and 'ploos' for 'many' and 'fold', respectively.
How do you remove a large blue agave from the ground?
You have to found the roots, are not very strong, take care not to break it, after that, pull strong to take it away; you can replant the agave again, just be careful whit the water, the first two days is better without water for the plant.
What is the saguaro cactus bloom called?
The saguaro cactus [Carnegiea gigantea] bloom is called a bat blossom. It's quite attractive, with its creamy white color and its large size. But it takes patience to see the display. The saguaro doesn't flower until it's 40+ years old.
How far apart should Prickly Pear Cactus be planted?
The seedlings should be planted at least ¾ inches/2 centimeters apart. Once they're ready to be planted in the ground, they need to be spaced to allow for their expected mature size. The adult size well may be less than expected. But the plants do better with adequate spacing. This way, their roots won't get intertwined, and the plants will have their own identifiable soil food web and moisture spheres upon which to draw for water, minerals, and dissolved nutrients.
Answer #1: They are found mostly in desert areas. Answer #2: There are two main native cactus habitats. One is the hot, dry desert. The other is the warm, humid jungle forest. But the cactus is a most adaptable plant, and can grow well anywhere that it benefits from appropriate levels of nutrients, moisture, light, and heat.
Clarification:
Cacti are found in a variety of biomes in the Americas, including deserts, grasslands, rainforests, ets.
How can the prickly pear cactus be used?
Prickly pear cactus [Opuntia spp] can be used for artistic purposes, as models for paintings and pottery. It can be used for conservation of soil and of water. Its roots feed the underground soil food web, hold soil together, and identify sources of precious water. The cactus can be used for food. It has edible, flavorful berries. Its paddle like branches also can be eaten, peeled and boiled as Mexico's famous nopalitos. The cactus can be used for landscape interest. It gives color, scent, and shape to a bright, drab, dry, harsh, monotonous environment. The cactus can be used for money making endeavors. It's the host plant to cochineal insects [Dactylopius coccus] whose interaction yields a prized dye. And the cactus can be used for shade.
What is the proper way to water a flowering cactus?
Treat cactus like any other plant. During the growing season water and feed as required. During the dormant season ease off the water and watch for signs of growth and start all over again.
How does a cactus take in oxygen?
A cactus takes in oxygen above and below ground. Below ground, it takes in oxygen as part of the water molecule with hydrogen. It does so through its spreading, shallow, fibrous roots.
Above ground, it takes oxygen in from the air. It does so through the gas exchange that's regulated by the guard cells on either side of the stem's breathing pores, or stomata. Atmospheric oxygen exists as oxygen and in water vapor.
What is the saguaro cactus phylum?
Tracheophyta is the phylum in which the saguaro cactus [Carnegiea gigantea] is found. It's the phylum of the tracheophytes, which also are called higher or vascular plants. These plants have specialized tissues for moving around water, minerals and dissolved nutrients, and energizing products from the photosynthetic interaction with sunlight.
The giant saguaro cactus [Carnegiea gigantea] is an example of a tall cactus. It can grow as tall as 40 feet/2 meters. It's found in the southwestern United States of America and northwestern Mexico. The old man cactus [Cephalocereus senilis] is another example of a tall cactus. It can grow as tall as 5 feet/15.2 meters. It's found in central Mexico.
Do barrel cactus plants need carbon dioxide or oxygen?
A barrel cactus [Echinocactus and Ferocactus spp] needs both carbon dioxide and oxygen. It needs to take in carbon dioxide, for its photosynthetic interaction with sunlight. It needs oxygen, which forms the water molecule with hydrogen.
