![]() Unlike other plants that shed off leaves during the hot season, cacti can continue photosynthesis due to their sunken pores on the leaves, and they also have a waxy stem to prevent evaporation. How does water not evaporate considering the hot nature of the desert? For example, for the Saguaro, about 750-1000 liters are stored when it rains heavily. The amount of water the cactus stores is approximately 90% of the plant. Their roots are on the surface, which enables them to collect the water and store it in the stems quickly. When it rains, they take advantage of it and store as much water as they can. What makes them survive is their adaptation to the environment. Most species of cacti survive in the deserts. Some cacti are found in drought-prone areas such as Mexico, Texas, parts of South America, southwestern US and the Atacama desert in Chile which is the world’s driest place. Below are some of the climatic regions you can find cacti. Different species grow in different environments. Where can you find cactus?Ĭactus has over 1700 species which most of them are native to the Americas. This explains why they can survive for long, even when it does not rain. They store water in their stems, leaves, and roots. What’s more surprising is that cacti can grow even in the harshest environments. They are also found in Mexico and various parts of SouthWestern U.S. What’s even more surprising is that some also grow in Antarctica and Alaska. However, some thrive in rain forests and mountains. Most of them grow in dry and hot regions. So, where does a cactus grow? Cactus often grow in different climates. My pursuit in understanding more about cactus drove me to find out more on where it grows. It does not store any personal data.Cacti make great landscaping plants. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". ![]() This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Do you have a favorite species of prickly pear cactus? *This is but one of many beautiful prickly pear species available to the home gardener. It takes 70,000 insects to produce 1 pound of dye. The dye was highly valued by the Spanish, next to gold and silver. The Spanish exported this dye from Mexico back to Europe where it was used to dye royal garments and British military uniforms. INTERESTING HISTORICAL FACT: The Aztecs would cultivate prickly pear cactus infected with cochineal scale because the insects secrete a dark red dye with crushed. Many of my clients have done this and been happy with the results. If you have a large prickly pear, you can prune it, or you can start over by taking it out and cutting off some of the pads and plant them in the same place. *I generally do not recommend planting in the winter but encourage waiting until spring when the soil warms up. If planted in the summer, provide shade until established (about three months). After the first month, water every 2 – 3 weeks until established. Plant with the cut end down, do not water for the first month because the bottom is susceptible to fungal infections. This allows a callus to form at the bottom. ![]() Put the pad upright, in a shady, dry place for at least about two weeks. ![]() Just cut off a pad that is at least 6 inches tall. PROPAGATION: Prickly pear can be planted from seed, but there is a much easier way.
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