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 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.
How do you remove barrel cactus babies?
Please remove the barrel cactus [Ferocactus spp] babies by pulling or cutting across a jointed part. Let the cut callus over. Pot in potting mix with a top dressing of small washed grit. Keep temperature levels at 64 degrees F/18 degrees C, in sun or bright shade. Fertilize and water when the soil almost dries out, every 10-14 days during the growing season.
Are cactus plants non living or living?
Cactus plants are livingmembers of their environments. They're born, and they die. In between the cradle and the grave, they breathe, drink and eat, grow, hold down life sustaining jobs, raise families, respond to environmental challenges, and show their age.
When does a fairy castle cactus need to be watered?
Every few days in Summer and little during winter to zero if outside in warmer climates that do not go below freezing.
From Mattslandscape.com the #1 jungle cacti source!
Are zygo cactus plants poisonous?
Yes, holiday cactus plants [Schlumbergera and Zygocactus spp] are poisonous. So not one of their body parts are meant to be chewed, eaten or swallowed. Touching or smelling the body parts isn't a problem. Problems result only with the mistaken notion of the plant and its parts as a source of drink or food.
What is the evolution of a barrel cactus?
The barrel cactus plant [Echinocactus and Ferocactus spp] is evolved from herbaceous plants. The typical herbaceous plant has underground roots for anchorage and storage. It has above ground shoots for budding, flowering, fruiting, and photosynthesizing with sunlight for energizing starches and sugars.
The evolution of the barrel cactus diverges from the typical herbaceous, green plant. Instead, it takes on special body parts and functions, because of its extreme, harsh environment. For example, the barrel cactus needs to conserve energy and water in its bright, dry, hot environment. It therefore moves, processes, and stores all water, nutrient solutions, and energizing photosynthetic products above ground. The barrel cactus is capable of this evolutionary adaptation by changes to stems. For example, it greatly expands and thickens the typical herbaceous plant's slender stem.
Another important evolutionary adaptation draws upon changes to leaves. It does the reverse in terms of modifying the typical herbaceous plant's leaves. On the cactus, leaves are modified into pencil or hair thin thorns, spines, spikes, quills, prongs, needles, or bristles. The smaller, thinner surface controls water loss. It also directs any available moisture - be it dew, fog, or rainfall - to the ground. Once in the soil, the moisture adds to the water content or is taken up by roots.
What kingdom phylum class order family genus species does the cactus belong to?
A cactus belongs to the plant kingdom, Plantae. It belongs to the flowering plant division, Magnoliophyta. It has two embryonic leaves. So it's a dicotyledonous member of the Magnoliopsida class and Caryophyllales order. It's a member of the cactus family, Cactaceae.
The particular genus and the particular species depend upon the particular cactus. For example, the pancake cactus [Opuntia chlorotica] is a member of the prickly pear genus, Opuntia. Its species name is chlorotica.
