Easy to grow, interestingly ornamental and perhaps the best mode of
introducing plant study to children – Cacti grow in curious forms, with
colorful flowers…
Dramatic
forms emerge from thorny, spike-like projections – undemanding, where feeding
and watering them is no chore, and climate variations pose no problems. Cacti
seem to be a popular choice of house-grown plants, and are often called
‘Special Interest Plants’.
Morphology: They usually consist of
spiny stems and roots; their leaves greatly reduced or entirely absent; stems
usually swollen and fleshy, adapted to water storage, and many are shaped in
ways that cause rain to flow directly to the root system for absorption. Cacti
flowers are often large and showy, occurring singly rather than in clusters.
The small, slow-growing species are the most popular because of their variety
in shapes, colors, and spines. One of the best known is a group containing
beautiful night-blooming flowers and the familiar Saguaro plant.
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| Saguaro Cactus |
Nurturing
the cacti is an undemanding (it can be placed anywhere in any container) yet
fulfilling pastime – many a times, aesthetically so. The spines often play with
natural light casting shadows on the Cactus to protect it from the sun,
reducing leaf surface area, which reduces water loss, and serving as points of
condensation for moisture, which then drips down for use by the roots.
Varieties:
Here
are a few varieties of Cacti that can enhance your rudimentary skills as a
green-grower and add to the beauty of your interiors. These are characterized
by low humidity, moderate watering when compost is dry, bright but not harsh
sunlight, and need a monthly dose of fertilizer.
·
Rose
Pincushion – Excellent for beginners, this is a free-flowering cactus even when
young. Compact at first, it gradually divides to form a broad cluster. It bears
rose-pink spring flowers. It is genetically known as Mammillaria zeilmanniana ‘Ubinkii’
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| Rose Pincushion |
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| Rose Pincushion: Grows to a height of about 6 inches |
·
Old
Man of the Andes – is multi-branched when mature, forms erect, ribbed stems,
and is clothed in long white hairs. It is lined with clusters of spines. It
bears pink flowers in summer.
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| Old Man of the Andes |
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| Old Man of the Andes: Grows to a height of about 3 feet |
- Starfish Cactus – This Cactus is extremely tolerant of neglect. It is a succulent and forms clusters of toothed stems. It bears star-shaped summer flowers, which are ornamental with their exquisite mosaic-like pattern.
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| Starfish Cactus |
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Starfish Cactus: Grows
to a height of about 4 inches
|
- Queen
of the Night – A plant to enjoy at night, its richly fragrant,
creamy-white flowers are borne in summer and open only after dark. Its
long stems need to be supported.
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| Queen of the Night |
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| Queen of the Night: Grows to a height of about 10 feet and is around 3 feet in width |
Every
plant yearns for a caring, loving touch and Cacti are no different.
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