Pretty Fl;y for a Cacti
Is there anything more rewarding than taking a little seed and watching it grow into a big, beautiful plant? Cacti are easy to care for and come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so you're sure to find one that's perfect for your garden. Cactus plants are also some of the most popular houseplants, and for good reason - they're relatively low-maintenance and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. But that doesn't mean all cactus are the same! Desert Cacti and Tropical Cacti look very different, even though they're both in the same plant family. And succulents like aloe vera may seem like cacti at first glance, but they are not.
Cacti + Cactyou= Cactus !!
Are you ready to add a few cacti to your space?
The most well-known cacti, desert cacti are native to arid regions with rocky soil. They grow slowly and spend most of their energy storing water in their fleshy stems. Desert cacti do best when grown directly on rocks or gravel to allow the roots to easily penetrate the ground below. And while some people keep them indoors, they can also be planted outdoors where temperatures remain above freezing. Since most of the desert is covered by large concentrations of sand, most desert cacti have evolved deep root systems so they can find water deeper down. Most desert cacti have spines, but there are some exceptions.
Caring for a desert cactus is easy - they don't need much water at all! A few times per month should do it if you plant your desert cactus in direct contact with gravel or rocks. Most of us are familiar with desert cacti because they're so well adapted to arid climates. They grow slowly and can store a significant amount of water in their fleshy stems, which is why they're such great plants.
Many growers like to place their desert cacti in stylish pots, but it's also possible to plant them directly on rocks or gravel. If you are in a region that reaches below 10-15 degrees Celsius in the winter months, the best thing you can do for your desert cactus is to bring it inside to enjoy during the winter months and place it in a sunny spot near a window. A well lit room temperature of at least 18 degrees Celsius would be perfect.
Some great desert cacti species include:
- Echinocactus grusonii (golden barrel cactus)
- Ferocactus latispinus (latte cactus)
- Mammillaria glochidiata (fishhook pincushion cacti)
Tropical Cacti look very different, even though they're both in the same plant family. Tropical cacti, as their name suggest, originate from tropical and sub-tropical climates. The stems can be smooth or have ribs and tend to be a lot thicker than desert cacti. Tropical varieties frequently have leafy segments called phylloclade instead of spines. They need lots of water and moist soil, so they're frequently grown as potted plants.
Tropical cacti grow as epiphytes or lithophytes, they can be found growing on trees or rocks. Epiphytes usually have roots that are used to attach themselves onto another surface while lithophytes use their roots to anchor themselves into the soil. This is a good thing for people who want to plant tropical cacti in pots because it allows them to move them around according to the seasons and still provide them with a humid environment. An indoor tropical cactus can be kept in a pot in a colder climate, while outdoor plants should be moved indoors when the weather gets colder.
Some great tropical cacti species include:
Epiphyllum oxypetalum – Queen of the Night
Schlumbergera truncate – the popular “Christmas Cactus”
Rhipsalis neves-armondii – part of the Mistletoe cacti family
Aporocactus flagelliformis – the Rattail cactus
Selenicereus grandifloras – Vanilla Cactus
