Cacti and succulentsare very hardy and undemanding plants suitable for most apartments. Drought-resistant, with decorative forms and different sizes, they have been present in our homes for a long time. Find out what are the characteristics of succulents and what makes cacti stand out. Also get to know interestingspecies of cactus and succulent plantsfor cultivation at home and … in the garden!
Cacti and succulents
Fig. depositphotos.com
What are succulents?
Are cacti and succulents one and the same? Not completely. Almost all cacti can be considered succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. So what are the differences?
Succulents are not a taxonomic conceptSucculents (succulentus - succulent, fleshy) is a general term. It is the name of a group of perennial drought-resistant plants, which have the ability to accumulate water in a highly developed specialized tissue and are adapted to its economical use during drought. These fleshy plants can retain water in their leaves, stems and roots.
The specific structure, i.e. fleshy stems, small leaves covered with a thick skin, and often a waxy coating or hairs, are tohelp succulents minimize water lossesSucculents include species belonging to many families of plants, e.g.
What distinguishes cacti?
Cacti are classified as succulentsThey all belong to one family: Cactaceae. Cacti are distinguished from other succulents by the presence of a halo, that is, the place from which thorns, side shoots and flowers grow.They are often covered with tufts of woolly hair. Most cacti are covered with spikes, which are evolved leaves.
Cacti and succulents - species and varieties
Both cacti and other succulents are very popular both indoors and in gardens.Most succulents grow slowly and do not require special care , therefore they are suitable for creating plant compositions, all kinds of desert gardens, miniature landscapes. Below we present the most common cacti and succulents in cultivation.
Aporokaktus - Aporocactus flagelliformis
Fig. Captain-tucker, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Cephalocereus, The head of an old man - Cephalocereus senilis
Fig. Daderot, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
Cephalocereus, Old Man&39;s Head(Cephalocereus senilis) - a plant of Mexican origin, with characteristic white hair and trumpet-shaped flowers. Prefers a bright position in full sun. 22 ° C in summer, 15 ° C in winter. Water in summer after the substrate has dried, and in winter only when the plant wrinkles. Fertilize once a season, in spring, with cactus fertilizer. Replant every 2 years or less. Propagation in spring from imported seeds or in summer from apical cuttings. "
Ceropegia - Ceropegia woodii
Fig. depositphotos.com
Ceropegia(Ceropegia woodii), also known as the Chinese lantern, is a very decorative succulent native to South Africa. It belongs to the trout family. From a strongly thickened tuber, the plant sprouts delicate, threadlike shoots covered with tiny, leathery, kidney-shaped leaves. Ceropegia needs a site with a large amount of diffused light and a temperature in the range of 22-27 ° C. In winter, we should provide the plant with a cool place where the temperature will not drop below 17 ° C. It does not tolerate drafts. The substrate should be well-drained and fertile.
Delosperma - Delosperma echinatum
Fig. depositphotos.com
Delosperma(Delosperma echinatum) - belongs to the coarse family and comes from South Africa. Its fleshy, rough, intensely green stems are covered with light hairs.The plant grows quickly and forms dense pillows. Prefers bright positions, full of diffused light. We water it sparingly - it hates overflow. The soil for delosperma must be dry and well drained. We rarely replant it, only when the roots have filled the entire pot.
Cactus zigzag - Epiphyllum anguliger
Fig. © Agnieszka Lach
Eonium Drzewiaste(Aeonium arboreum) is a succulent from the coarse family with woody, branching stems and a woody habit. In winter, it blooms with trumpet-shaped, yellow flowers gathered in conical inflorescences. The best place to grow a eonium is a very sunny window sill. The plant prefers low air humidity and temperatures in summer 20 ° C, in winter around 16 ° C. We water it sparingly, after the substrate has dried, and fertilize it sparingly once a month. We exaggerate every 3 to 4 years.
Eonium arboreum - Aeonium arboreum
Fig. © PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl
Epiphilum(Epiphyllum) - comes from Mexico and South America. It has long flattened stems and sumptuous red or white flowers. Prefers a bright (but not sunny) and airy position. 20 ° C in summer, 10 ° C in winter. Keep the substrate moist in summer, sparingly in winter. Fertilize from March to November every 14 days with a fertilizer with a low nitrogen content. Transplant in the spring into the ground with the addition of sand. Reproduction of epiphilum can be done in summer from cuttings prepared from older stems, which take root in dry sand.
Kleistokaktus - Cleistocactus baumannii
Fig. Montréalais, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Kleistokaktus(Cleistocactus baumannii) - a plant from the mountainous regions of South America. Stems covered with yellow thorns and hairs reach up to 2m in height.May require a support. Suitable for hydroponic growing. Requires a bright to sunny position. In summer, he can stay in the garden. 20 ° C in summer, 10 ° C in winter. Water in summer when the substrate is dry, and in winter when the plant wrinkles. Fertilize with cactus fertilizer every 14 days in the summer. Only transplant in the spring when the pot is too small. Propagation in spring from cuttings or in summer from seeds.
Koryphanta - Coryphanta clavata
Fig. Michael Wolf, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Koryphanta(Coryphanta clavata) - the plant comes from Mexico, reaches 35 cm in height and 12 cm in diameter, produces yellow flowers. Requires a position in full sun. 25 ° C in summer, 10-18 ° C in winter. Water in summer after the substrate has dried, and in winter only when the plant wrinkles. Fertilize with cactus fertilizer every 8 weeks in the summer. Replant every 2-3 years. Reproduction is difficult (only by vaccination) and is not done in amateur cultivation.
Notokaktus - Notocactus haselbergii
Photo. Michael Wolf, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Frost-resistant prickly pear - Opuntia hybride
Fig. © PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl
Dangling stick insect - Rhipsalis cassutha
Fig. Tangopaso, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
Dangling stick insect(Rhipsalis cassutha) - is a cactus that grows in North and South America and the Caribbean. Roller-shaped, hanging, soft stems of stick insects form dense clumps in a juicy shade of green. Requires a diffused light position. It also tolerates partial shade. It grows best in permeable soil.The Rhipsalis cactus feels good at room temperature, but in winter you need to provide it with a cooler place with a temperature in the range of 15-17 ° C.
Acute sedum - Sedum acre
Fig. Roquai, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
Acute sedum(Sedum acre) - belonging to the coarse family, it is perfect for growing in the garden. It creates dense clumps of raised stems covered with fleshy leaves. In summer, star-shaped flowers of intense yellow color appear on the tops of the shoots. Sedum works great in rock gardens and pots - loves the sun and poor, dry ground. It is frost-resistant. We reproduce by dividing clumps, cuttings and sowing seeds.
Desert rose - Adenium obesum
Fig. depositphotos.com
Rose of the desert(Adenium obesum) - comes from the semi-arid regions of the Arabian Peninsula and the southern-zach. Asia. In nature, it reaches up to 2 m in height. A plant with an interesting, irregular stem resembling a trunk. The stubble base of the stem can be very low, partially recessed into the ground, or it can grow higher and take a bottle-shaped shape. The flowers in shades of red are quite large, with an elongated tube of the crown and widely spread petals. The desert rose requires a sunny position. Well drained soil. Water sparingly to prevent the roots from drying out. When it is too cold, the plant loses leaves quickly.
Dangling Old Man - Senecio rowleyanus
Alberto Salguero, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Dangling Old Man, Rowley's Old Man(Senecio rowleyanus) - is one of the most fashionable succulents today. This curious species is native to South Africa and belongs to the Asteraceae family. Long, delicate old man's shoots are covered with small, spherical, fleshy leaves.Flabby shoots resembling strings of pearls look beautiful in hanging pots. Rowley's old man requires a clear position and a permeable ground. In winter, it needs lower temperatures in the range of 13-16 ° C. It does not tolerate overflow, but it tolerates the periodic lack of water well.
Zygokaktus, grudnik - Schlumbergera
Szlumbergera, Zygokaktus(Schlumbergera) - a plant of Brazilian origin with leafy limbs and beautiful multicolored flowers. The zygocactus requires a light or semi-shaded position. In summer, he can also stay in the garden. It requires a temperature of 20 ° C all year round. Keep the substrate slightly moist, fertilize every 4 weeks with cactus fertilizer, after flowering, water sparingly and do not fertilize for 2 months. Replant every 3-4 years. Propagation in summer from cuttings rooted in sand at 22 ° C.
Live stones - Lithops
Fig. Abu Shawka, Public Domain. Wikimedia Commons
Living Stones(Lithops) - a long-lived succulent from South Africa. It grows up to only 5 cm in height. Forms swollen leaves growing in pairs from short underground stems. The leaves can take various colors and often resemble stones (hence the name of the plant). After 2 or 3 years of cultivation in the fall, bright yellow flowers with many hairy petals can appear.Live stones are best grown in a large pot. A bright, sunny position, a window sill is perfect. Universal soil with coarse sand to improve drainage. Keep the soil slightly moist from spring to autumn, the top layer of the soil should dry halfway between waterings. Once the plant has bloomed, do not water until spring. Temp. in winter it must not fall below 10 ° C. Propagation at the beginning of summer by dividing clumps or from seeds sown in spring.
MSc Eng. Anna Błaszczak
