With all the clip in our hands in good order now , most of us are turning to plants to keep our mental wellness in chip .
One of the late planting trends right now would be growing cactus andsucculentsbecause they are leisurely to raise , they require minimum care requirements and with much attention and patience , they will bloom bright - colored flowers that will definitely cheer up any space .
If you love cactus or clear a newfound love for plants out of them , here ’s everything you demand to know about the dissimilar type of cactus and why you might require to plant one now .
In this article
Related : Desert Plants
What is a cactus?
With its note value in home aesthetic and blueprint , you must have wondered about the plant life classification of a cactus or mostly what a cactus is . With more than 170 variants and 2,000 species and counting , cacti are nottrees , notflowers , not herb but are definitely plant .
The cactus belongs to the family Cactaceae . They are not flowering plants but they will produce flowers They are not tree but they can grow as tall but without woody stanch .
They are weigh succulent because they can stash away water in their stems for a recollective time but that is much it and that is why there is a motivation to mark cacti from the residuum of the succulents . Its name comes from the Latin wordkaktoswhich intend spiky plant .
Related : Where to corrupt succulents and cactus ?
Cactus facts
As interesting as it already is , here are some other sport cactus fact that you should not miss .
Identifying the Cactus Family
Cacti grow as tree , bush or vine ; some species of cacti are epiphytes . Many cacti have ‘ back ’ , although ‘ prickle ’ are actually the leaves of the plant , which have germinate to survive the environment . Many cacti ‘ spines ’ preserve and protect the vaporisation of water system from the flora . Cacti often have colorful blooms which flower at various times of the year . Cacti produce in all physique and sizes .
How Cacti Survive With No Water
Cacti grow in dry , desert area where rainfall is minimal ; accordingly , many cacti are xerophytes ( a flora able-bodied to survive with little or no water ) and/or succulents . Cacti wield water through Crassulacean Zen metabolism ; Crassulacean acid metamorphosis is a operation which takes place at night and entrepot carbon dioxide for departure during the day , unlike the traditional process of photosynthesis . This process reduce possible water exit for cacti .
Uses of Cacti as Food and Medicine
Cacti are an ancient flora species which have been utilize for food and medicine by early natives such as the Native Americans and later by Hispanic pioneers to the Americas . Some cacti possess hallucinogenic property , so it is of import to name cacti mintage correctly . The yield and the seeds of cacti were eat as food , in particular the metal money ofOpuntia .
Common Cacti of the Cactus Family
Some of the common cacti mob member let in :
The Cactaceae Family
The cactus family line is an ancient and fascinating group of plants which has evolve to survive the often harsh environment in which cacti grow . Many cacti mintage were taken back to Europe when explorer began ‘ get wind ’ the Americas and today cacti plant can be find in greenhouses and homes throughout Europe . However , cacti have the heavy chance of natural selection in their native environment and are a vulgar sight across the deserts of the Americas .
The difference between succulents and cacti
In a phrase , the difference between succulents and cacti could be settled by the phrase , all cacti are succulent but not all succulents are cacti . ”First of all , the term succulent is not a botanic name .
It is just an umbrella condition for all plant that share these equipment characteristic : drought - tolerance , overweight stanch or leaf , and the ability to hive away water in their stem . give this , the full term succulent will comprehend all plants and trees that have these characteristics , hence , include the cactus .
On the other deal , the name cactus / cacti is an official scientific name for plants belong to the botanic family called Cactaceae .
There are two other defining characteristics that rig cacti asunder from succulents . Most succulent have fleshy leaf while cacti do n’t have leaves at all . Not stimulate leaves makes them exist considerably in abrasive area because they have long stems where they could store more water .
Other than this , cacti have areoles or ramification - like body structure where their flower flower while succulent do n’t .
Types of indoor cactus
Indoor cacti are always a slew to behold . They are raise along the windowsills , placed in bedrooms or the bathroom to absorb carbon dioxide , purge the air at nighttime . Here ’s some indoor type of cactus that you could grow .
1. Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera)
It is called as such because it blooms from November to January . It is a coastal cactus aboriginal to Brazil and it tends to turn wildly on top of big tree or rocks .
It originate beautiful pinkish , lily-white , xanthous or cryptical purple flower throughout winter .
2. Fairy castle cactus (Acanthocereus Tetragonus)
It is a capricious cactus with stem that grow in various pinnacle in one pot , resemble the tug of a rook . It is tardily - get and rarely produces flower .
It can grow at a maximum height of 6 ft .
Read also : How to grow and care for Fairy castle cactus
3. Star cactus (Astrophytum asterias)
Because of its clustered , concave stem , it is also call the sea urchin cactus or starfish cactus . It is a good indoor cactus because it does not really grow improbable , only achieving a maximal height of 6inches . And its little , yellow flower on top are real showstoppers .
4. Barrel cactus
It is named as such because it is gun barrel - shaped . It can not grow very grandiloquent but it can grow very wide-cut . It is also lovingly predict the mother - in - police cushion . It loves plenitude of sun and infrequent watering .
5. Old lady cactus (Mammillaria hahniana)
It is recommended for beginners because it does not need frequent lachrymation even on its first planting years . It is categorized as a powder comforter cactus with bloodless backbone all the way down , hence , the name erstwhile lady .
6. Moon cactus (Gymnocalycium mihanovichii)
This one is do it for its smart , red - orange , full - lunar month shaped bloom of youth because it truly tote up color to pale indoors . It is actually a loan-blend from grafted cacti and is good for founding father . However , it has a comparatively unforesightful lifespan than other cacti .
7. Lady Finger cactus (Mammillaria elongata)
It is also called the gilded lace cactus because of its diminutive , golden jaundiced spines . It grows five thermionic tube - regulate stanch in one crapper , hence , the name lady digit . It only grows 6 inch tall and is top with diminished , clean flowers during bounce .
8. African milk tree cactus (Euphorbia trigona)
This one is a relative of the poinsettia and botanically , it is more of a succulent than a cactus . While it has a jest at , long and heavy stem like cacti , it will grow maroon leave-taking on the top in spikes along the base . peel contact lens with this one is allege to have redness and pique .
9. Parodia
It is also a small - growing cactus with a maximal height of 4 inches and a diameter of 6 inches . It is notable for its large , yellow blooming with dark chicken center during spring . Unlike other cacti , it requires more water and less sun .
10. Bunny ear cactus (Opuntia microdasys)
Its extended stems are literally form like bunny girl ear , hence , the name . It is also call saint capitulum , by the path , and is a favorite of beginners . Instead of spines , it has small , blood-red dots on it call glochids , which by the style , are as prickly as traditional cactus spines too .
11. Feather cactus (Mammillaria plumosa)
It gets its name from the small , snowy ‘ feathers ’ hide the plant from top to bottom . The bristles may look easygoing and fluffy but they in reality just cover the prickly spines of the plant so recall twice before touching it .
12. Saguaro cactus
This cactus can only be found in the Sonoran Desert extend from Baja California to Mexico . It make a just indoor plant because it only spring up half an inch for its first 8 class of life history . wait it to live for more than 200 years just like the ancient Saguaros in Sonora .
13. Blue columnar cactus (Pilosocereus Pachycladus)
It is a beautiful indoor cactus loved for its blue - immature stems and contrast soft - grey spikes . It is good for founding father and is best kept in a bright , cool outer space . Its spikes are a known peel irritant so stay put away from it if you must .
14. Easter cactus (Schlumbergera gaertneri)
Unlike most cacti , its stem are shaped like succulent leaves and shining colored , full - wide blooms of recondite pink color and chicken - ashen heart during early Spring in time for Easter . But even without the blooms , its cryptic - dark-green , segment stems are appalling on their own .
15. Bishop’s cap cactus (Astrophytum myriostigma)
ideate the section , concave capital of popish Catholic bishops and that is exactly the shape of this cactus . It makes a large indoor plant because it is slow - growing and does not take much piss . It will maturate small , yellow flowers briefly in the fountain .
16. Powder puff cactus (Mammillaria bocasana)
It is native to Central Mexico where it wildly grows below bushes or in careen . It is a tight - growing cactus recognize for producing small start around the mother flora . It has blue - light-green stems , reddish spikes , lily-white bristle and yellow , white , pink / violent flowers during outflow .
17. Balloon cactus (Notocactus magnificus)
It is a very rare cactus commercially sell as source rather than works . It has a sphere - work , blue - green body and golden yellow spines . It can grow offsets separate from the mother plant or just grow solitarily . It will bloom flaccid yellow bloom in the spring and summer .
Types of outdoor cactus
They are either too setose , very fast - growing or could grow very tall pretend them fit for outdoor finish . outside cacti are often encounter in xeriscaping as they also bring forth bright - colored blooms that are definite showstoppers in any desert landscaping .
18. Arizona barrel cactus (Ferocactus wislizeni, the fishhook barrel cactus)
It is also know as the fishhook bbl cactus because of its cask - mold body and fishhook - like , tenacious spines that cover the entire torso . Its stem is section with thick , leathery ridges . It blooms cup - shape peak in the spring and yellow Berry in the summertime .
Related : Arizona backyard landscape gardening ideas
19. Queen of the night cactus (Epiphyllum oxypetalum)
It is also call as the Dutchman ’s Pipe cactus because of its pipe - mold stem . It is aboriginal to Brazil and usually grows in large tree diagram . It is called such because it only blooms whitened blossom in the night .
20. Strawberry cactus (Mammillaria dioica, California fishhook cactus)
It is roll in the hay for its cylindrical shape stems that could spring up to up to 4 foot . As it grows , it will ramify out from 15 to 100 small stems sprout from the main stem . It will bloom small pink heyday in the spring and sometimes during gloam .
21. Prickly Pear cactus (Opuntia)
It is a cacti genus with various mintage including the famed Indian fig prickly pear and the beavertail prickly pear . Like the bunny ear , it has prickly glochids after shedding its spinal column . It will grow yellow , pinkish and violet flower during spring or fall .
register also : disseminate Prickly Pear Cactus
22. The old man cactus (Cephalocereus senilis)
It is native to Eastern Mexico and it is called as such because of its silk - same coat of ashen hair address the length of its fore . It takes 10 - 20 age before it could bloom its first flower and when it does , it only blooms at night .
23. Golden barrel cactus (Echinocactus grusonii)
It will officially look like a barrel when it reaches its mature phase at 3 ft tall and 3 ft wide . It get its name from its golden yellow needles which makes it very prickly because they raise in clusters along the ribs of the plant .
Types of cold-hardy cactus
These cacti can thrive both in full Dominicus and fond to full shade . Most of them are slow - produce , induce them jibe for both indoor or outside planting . These are the single that could suffer some frost and lower temperatures .
24. Hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus engelmannii)
It is a tardily - growing , low - lying cactus which got its name from its short , spiked stems which resemble Erinaceus europeaeus . It get in lump with ten to sixty stems per clump . It will flower bright pinkish blossom in the fountain .
25. Club cholla (Grusonia clavata)
It face like clump coral concluded with a rounded stem but with sharp back incline along the fore . It needs a lot of Lord’s Day but not so much water . It blooms orangish or greenish flowers in spring or fall . It has more than 20 species .
26. Beehive cactus (escobaria vivipara)
This one is known for its extreme longevity albeit its short superlative . It gets its name because it is a creeper and forms beehive - like Colony . It is often put off with Coryphantha robusta but its modest , exotic looking , purple or Battle of Magenta flowers make the distinction .
Frequently Asked Questions
Cactus information does not lay off here and there are some FAQ that demand to be answered to settle everything out and finally be in your way to planting one .
For example , you still involve to sleep with some luminousness and temperature considerations for cacti species . Do they live in the low temperature ? Can they tolerate ghost ? What do they symbolically stand for ? If you are in for these , read these FAQs .
Is a cactus a tree or a plant?
As have been mentioned briefly when we stick in what a cactus is , the cactus is a plant but it is not a tree . Of course , it is a plant because it is botanically recognise as one .
Scientifically , it belongs to the plant family called Cactaceae . However , it is not a tree although it can acquire as grandiloquent as one . It has no woody halt like the tree , it does not have a bulky foliage , let alone solitary leafage , like tree and it definitely does not have woody branches like trees .
Cactus meaning and symbolism
Universally , the cactus is symbolically greet as a representation of endurance and state of grace because it could thrive and blossom in the harshest environments . Aside from this , it also stand for adaptability because it could hold up well even when it is suddenly in new environment .
It also remains unfazed and still blooms flowers in trying keep conditions . While it has ribbed , heavy exterior , its stems shop water inside which practically makes it soft inside . Thus , the cactus also stands for inner beauty and innocence .
Can cacti grow in low light?
There are some cacti variants that could tolerate depleted light but most do not fare well if they do not get more than four hours of bright light . This is the reason why cacti are often kept in indoor place where they could get full light , both natural and artificial .
Can cacti grow in shade?
Generally , cacti get sallow when they are keep in the shade . Hence , during winter , cacti are transfer indoors where they must get 10 - 14 hours of indirect artificial light . However , there are still specific species that could support the shade .
Most often than not , cacti that could grow in partial to full shade are also regard as insensate - stalwart cacti .
Can cacti survive in winter?
We have well - established that cacti are not the same . We may have be intimate them for being just sun - loving industrial plant but take not that there are a luck of winter - hardy species .
As a matter of fact , cold - unfearing cacti can endure a temperature of up to -20 degree Fahrenheit . Non - cold hardy cacti can not put up anything below the freezing point .
yet , you have to understand that while cold - hardy cacti could survive negative temperatures , too much freeze or being exposed to ice could still have a minus effect on their maturation in the long run . Some of its personal effects would be stunted increase or not being able to flower flowers in a while .
Conclusion
There are a lot of things to know about the cactus , that is for trusted . But have a knowledge of one does not mean a full - knowledge of all because as we have plant , not all cacti are alike .
Some have peculiar growing requirement , some strikingly do not have intercourse much sun , some can tolerate the shade and thrive in the wintertime frost but some will die when temperatures shed at 15 degrees . It is very of import to know the type of cactus because while it is highly adaptive , your emplacement might not be swerve up for some cactus specie .
Other than that , some cacti may cause skin irritation and others . And if you are very specific about the blush , all the more that you need to know the type of cactus . With all of these , I opine we could all confess that cactus love is here to bide .
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