Cactus

****************************************​***** **** CACTI AND OTHER SUCCULENTS ********************************* **************** Cacti and other succulents display a unique variety of sizes and shapes, and have a wealth of colour and texture. Some have plump, smooth surfaces, while others have curved or straight, sometimes colourful spines of a covering of silky hair. Their forms range from the symmetrical rosettes of Echeveria to the squat, globular Echinocactus and the fluted columns and candelabra of some desert cacti. Many bloom only briefly and bear large, brightly coloured flowers, while ... more

I have two Christmas Cacti, one of which has lasted me two and a half years and the other six months. Having read andycharger’s opinion on his Aucuba plant (hadn’t heard of it before his op) it urged me to tell you about these tough and gorgeous plants of the South American Jungles. I am by no means an expert gardener, but I am quite proud of the way these plants have continued to develop with my care. Usually I forget about plants and they end up perishing. With cacti this isn’t too much of an issue as they require minimal attention. I was given my first Christmas Cacti as a gift. Seeing this ... more

Cactus are well known for the spines that replace typical leaves . The spines are the cacti's leaves in reality . They have evolved into the spine shape to reduce water loss to an absolute minimum. Big leaves lose lots of water , so it follows that spines lose very little . This helps the cactus survive in desert like conditions and go weeks sometimes months without rainfall. In this op I am not referring to the likes of Christmas cactus -I am referring to the traditional classic cactus . The one everyone thinks about when asked to describe a cactus. The spines of these type of cactus ... more

What a title, im writing about cacti, not being rude. Cacti come from the American continent, they can be divided into desert and jungle types. The jungle types live on trees as epiphytes and use them as support as like the christmas cactus. Often any thick leaved or spiny plant is called a cactus. The distinguishing feature is the Areole, a small pin cushion like structure arranged in numbers over the stems, from which any spines or hairs come. All cacti have aeroles and on other plant has, but they are not always easy to see. The cactus flower is often large and beautifull, many cacti flower ... more

Christmas cactuses are lovely house plants which produce a lovely flower from early december to late january. The flowers on these cactuses differ in colour on different plants but each plant has only one colour of flower on them. The colours are usually yellow, pink, purple or white. my nan has always had these in her bathroom and they flower every year. She brought me two of them 3 years ago when they were in flower and they looked lovely, one purple and one white. I keep them on my livingroom window sill so that they get lots of light and water them as soon as the soil in the top of the pot ... more