Cacti: the Houseplants of the Month for August 2020

The story of Cacti
Whether it’s the trendy geometric shapes or the air of unapproachability, Cactus is an exciting houseplant that has a big impact on an interior and often lives alongside its owners for generations. This classic plant’s comeback is particularly due to the fact that it’s a very easy houseplant with an unusual look.

Origin of Cacti
The spiky creations that we call cactuses (official name: Cactaceae) are native to a large territory in North and South America, with a strong concentration in Mexico. The plants mainly grow in dry desert regions where they have adapted brilliantly to the extremely dry conditions and also manage to reproduce whilst surviving.

The name cactus is derived from the Greek word ‘kaktos’, which means ‘spiky plant’. Every cactus is a succulent, but not all succulents are cacti. Like many other succulents, cacti have succulent properties – the ability to store moisture in their thick fleshy trunk and stems. These reservoirs are used to bridge periods of drought. Cactus roots are strongly developed and are usually just below the surface in order to slurp up as much water as possible during rainy periods.

The stems feature areolae, the place where the leaves should actually be. On the Cactus these had developed into thorns, spikes, glochids (barbed bristles) and bundles of long hairs. The cactus’ outer skin has a layer of wax to minimise evaporation. Cacti have been cultivated for centuries, usually by real enthusiasts.

What to look for when buying Cacti

Cacti range
The range of cacti is enormous and extends from tiny sleek shapes through to bizarre massive pillars, and from soft grey hairs through to big sharp thorns. Many cacti are sold in mixed trays, particularly the smaller sizes. The species that are most commonly sold by name are Echinocactus, Ferocactus, Gymnocalycium, Opuntia and Mamillaria.

Succulent Euphorbia species closely resemble cactuses and are often placed in the same product group. It’s easy to spot the difference: with Euphorbia the spikes and thorns grow directly out of the green body, whilst on cactuses they grow out of the areolae, the thickenings/bumps on the green body.

Calyxes can be classified by genus, origin or shape. The following groupings apply to the shapes:

Care tips for customers

Source Flowercouncil.org


Back to Trends & News