Cactus – any of numerous succulent plants of the family Cactaceae, of warm, arid regions of the New World, having fleshy, leafless, usually spiny stems, and typically having solitary, showy flowers.
These pointy little plants can have a happy life without water as long as the sun is shining on them. The way they photosynthesize is unique in that they do most of the work when the sun is down. The plants keep their stomas, or pores, closed during the day as not to lose water. Because of the dry condition that most cacti live in, this is very important. Instead they open up at night to “inhale” the carbon dioxide and use that throughout the next day for photosynthesis. This process if you would like to know is called crassulacean acid metabolism.
All of the photosynthesis is done in the cactus stem, where as most plants use their leaves. They also hold the water in their stems, which are usually larger with shallow root systems so they can react quickly to catch water.
If you are planting a cactus at home, make sure you have a good spot for it in a sunny window. When picking your pot, you don’t need to go big. Remember these guys have shallow roots so they do not need that much room. Come in and check out our selection, and remember you can mix and match with cacti and succulents to make a beautiful planter.
Call 403-526-3447 for questions!
The pictures of cacti and succulents are from a Thailand flower market, but many are available at the Windmill Garden Centre . Enjoy!