PUBLICATION MAGAZINE VOLUME ONE botanic | страница 13

HOME OF CACTUS
Growing cactus outdoors, choose a sunny,
sloped location whenever possible
By: Adriana Ann
Practically every discussion of cacti invariably includes the word “succulent,” which literally
means “juicy plant.” It’s a reference to the ability of these plants to retain vast stores of
moisture, which enables them to survive harsh, dry climates. While all cacti are succulents,
not all succulents are cacti. Master gardener Paul James explains the fine points:
There’s no mistaking the fact that the familiar prickly pear is indeed a cactus, because it’s
loaded with spines. On the other hand, the ever-popular jade and aloe vera are succulents,
but not cacti. The world of cacti includes a gamut of shapes and sizes. Many cacti are hardy
and can be grown outdoors even where temperatures dip well below zero.
Cacti are members of a huge family that includes more than 1,300 species. Most cacti have
virtually no leaves. Instead, their swollen stems have evolved to take the place of leaves.
Without a lot of exposed leaf surface, cacti don’t lose moisture as rapidly as other plants.
Spines on various cacti are the most versatile and effective design features in the entire
plant world. They serve many functions, the most obvious of which is physical protection.
The spines also absorb and reflect sunlight so that the internal temperature of the plant
remains fairly constant both day and night. They also function as drip tips — collecting
moisture from mist, dew, fog and light rain and channeling it down to the root system.
Although the jade plant is a succulent, it’s not a cactus. The roots of cacti typically lie just
below the surface of the soil. That adaptation allows them to make quick use of moisture,
which they store in special tissues and use when water is scarce.
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