The Remarkable Resilience and Secrets of the Cactus Plant: Insights from Personal Experience
We will tell you about some of our personal experiences with the cactus plant, which we have done with it. It has some remarkable properties that explain why it is something more than a plant. First, its survivability is that it can live for 200 years. Then, the average age is also normal, 75 to 100 years. It is mostly found in deserts because it thrives even in very dry conditions. And besides, we have always found it a fascinating plant that manages desert dwellers and can kill a lot of vegetation.
As we were experimenting with the characteristics and understanding more about how to care for them, we discovered some extraordinary properties that led us to conclude that they only require a little care and give very good results.
Cactus or Succulent? Understanding the Basics
Many plant enthusiasts are often confused between cacti and succulents, using the terms interchangeably. There is a specific relationship between the two. Both are fascinating plants that have their own merits, and understanding this, if you are interest in them, is essential for you to know how to care for cactus properly.
What makes a cactus a succulent
The term succulent is derived from a Latin word, succulentus, which means juicy. Specifically, succulents are plants that store water in their fleshy parts, such as leaves, stems, etc., and survive in drought conditions. This water storage gives them a plump, succulent appearance that defines them as succulents. While the cactus type is related to the botanical family of cacti, which includes 127 genera and about 1750 species, why is it important to consider this cactus and classify it as a succulent? Because it also stores water in its stems and falls into the broader plant group, this water-storing ability provides cacti with the ability to survive and thrive in extremely arid environments, including the Atacama Desert, which is the driest place on Earth.
The role of areoles in cactus identification
One of the most important features that separates cacti from other plants that also including succulents, is the presence of areoles. These are small cushion-like structures that are a branching structure of cacti and serve as anchor points for spines, flowers, branches, and sometimes, when the leaves are emerging, they are present. Areoles are highly modified branches that appear as wolly and hairy areas on cacti, and they function as condensed lateral shoots that are specialized as meristematic tissue where cell division occurs. Many cacti have inactive shoots as they produce spines and flowers that have a fixed number of spines on mature plants.
Why aren’t all succulents cacti
All cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. There are approximately 60 different plant families that consider cacti to be in the same family, while many plants that look like succulents, especially some euphorbias, are commonly identified as succulents even though they are related to a completely different plant family and are included in the discussions that follow. Only cacti have areoles within them, which defines their position as belonging to the cactus family. Many cacti that are succulents are native to the Americas, while other succulents that are succulents are found in many regions throughout the world. Succulents usually have photosynthetic stems in addition to leaves, while succulents have thick fleshy leaves.
Some euphorbias secrete a sticky, milky-white latex fluid when cut, which is not found in true cacti. It is imperative for us to understand their features and have proper identification and constantly educate our buddies on this matter, and provide proper care for the Cactus.
The Secret Life of Cacti: Adaptations You Didn’t Know
Behind every cactus point lies a world of extraordinary adaptations that showcase nature’s ingenious design. This desert survivor employs sophisticated strategies and goes as far as the eye can see.
How cactus spines do more than protect
Cactus spine serves multiple functions, including deterring hungry animals. Remarkably, some species use their spines to collect precious water from fog or dew into the final droplets of the plant’s roots. The spines create a protective microclimate that provides shade to the cactus surface and minimizes water loss during evaporation. Furthermore, it aids thermoregulation and protects the stem from extreme temperatures. Some opuntioid cactus even use their body spines to latch onto animals to pass through for seed dispersal.
CAM photosynthesis: breathing at night
Unlike many other plants that keep their stomata open during the day, cacti have crassulacean, which is a marked photosynthetic adaptation. It holds its stomata closed throughout the day and opens them at night when temperatures drop. It uses nighttime respiration to absorb carbon dioxide and store malic acid in its cells. When daylight returns, these plants convert their stored acid into carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and close their stomata for the rest of the day. This unique breathing pattern helps it conserve 97 percent of the water other plants lose during transpiration.
Water storage and drought survival
Cactuses have thick fleshy stems, which are not only for show but also as a water reserve. During heavy rains, cacti quickly store a lot of water through their roots and store it in their specialized succulent tissues. This wax coating creates a seal on their skin that prevents precious moisture from escaping. We have seen that cactuses can store up to 2000 pounds of water, and they can survive for years without any rainfall or water.
Root systems that drink from dew
Cactus roots demonstrate remarkable adaptability. When they are expose, they maximize water uptake, and during drought, these roots become shallow and conserve the plants’ water supply. Some plants, especially the ball cacti, develop a compacted root. This is especially true for absorbing morning dew, which condenses on the stems and drips into the ground. At night, these trichomes, which are the main ones, adapt to the epidermis, which absorbs water by capillary action, which is direct towards the stem.
Why are cactus flowers so unique?
Characteristically, cacti have an extraordinary structure and appearance, and are particularly radially arrange. These blooms display a variety of colors, from pristine white to sunny yellow and vibrant red to rich magenta, which makes them particularly striking. Due to their distinctive structure, many features as numerous stamens, are confine to a single style that branches at its end, ending in multiple stigmas. Unlike other flowering plants, cacti produce large, vibrant blooms that are captivating to any observer. Some species, such as the elusive queen of the Night, bloom exclusively after sunset and only momentarily create a rare spectacle. Furthermore, these waxy, studded petals attract important pollinators, including bees, which are vital to the ecosystem and support interaction.
Unusual shapes and colors of cacti
The Cactus family boasts a remarkable diversity, from the dollar-shaped Astrophytum asterias to the spine-free Ariocarpus with its tuberculate surfaces. Cacti have evolved into countless fascinating shapes. Some varieties, such as the Rainbow Cactus, display vibrant banding patterns, while others develop an unusual form of knobby Totem pole cactus, especially the Moon Cactus, striking chord with their grafted tops in brilliant shades of red, pink, yellow, and orange. The Silver Torch cactus, which is produce in horizontal shapes and tube-shape reddish-pink flowers, emerges directly from its stems. This extraordinary variation makes cacti living sculptures in any collection.
Conclusion
After a thorough explanation of Cactus World, we have concluded that prickly plants are far more fascinating than their simple appearance suggests, with their distinctive spines and marked depressions that lock them in place at some distance from other plants, allowing them to thrive instead of being disturbed by other plants. Their ability to breathe at night and CAM photosynthesis, which collects moisture through specialized spines and can demonstrate the amount of water they can absorb, according to Nature Incredibles.
Despite their Tough Exterior, cacti are a rewarding patient experience due to the spectacular flowers and delicious fruits that contradict the harsh regions of the desert. My appreciation for these desert plants is that they learn to adapt to this unique biological status and diverse forms. Cacti require proper care and specific attention, including well-draining soil, moderate watering, and appropriate light conditions. All of this makes a difference in a struggling specimen. Many mistakes but enthusiasts treat this specialist plant like a typical houseplant, which can lead to it failing to reach its full potential.
Modified images originally by Freepik