Cacti
By: Katie Sprute
General Information:
- Cacti are considered
succulent plants. Succulent plants are able to store
nourishing ingredients in their leaves, stems, and roots
for long periods of time. Cacti have a dormant period and
an active period. The dormant period is usually in the
winter months.
- Cacti have different parts
to them and they include areoles, spines, flowers and
root stems. The areole holds the spine and buds of the
cacti. The buds will turn into flowers and fruit. The
spine is the structure that is developed from a leaf. The
spine is located on the areole.
- The cacti flowers can
bloom at different times. The cacti that are in arid
regions with long periods of drought have flowers that
open when it rains. Cacti that live in the desert flower
during the day with colorful, unscented blooms. Jungle
species cacti bloom at dusk with large flowers. Other
cacti bloom at nighttime.
- Cacti should only be
watered during their active periods, and not watered
during their dormant period. You should soak all the soil
when watering your cacti, and let the excess water drain
out of the pot. You should water your cacti in the
morning, after sunset or after the surrounding
environment has cooled down.
- Cacti need potassium,
phosphorus, nitrogen and other trace elements to help
them grow properly. Cacti need to be fed in two stages.
The first stage is to add powder or granulated fertilizer
to the soil when potting your cacti. The second stage is
to add liquid or solid fertilizer throughout the growing
season. You only need to fertilize your cacti half as
much as you water it. Your cacti prefer fertilizers with
15% nitrogen, 15% potassium and 30% phosphorus.
- Your cacti can become
infested with spider mites, scale insects, mealybugs,
whiteflies or vine weevils. You can get rid of your pest
problems with chemical insecticides. Your cacti can also
get any one of the following diseases: fungal leaf spot,
corky scab, sooty mold, or basal stem rot. Cultural
damage can also be a problem with your cacti. Some of the
cultural problems can inculde scorch damage, cold damage,
etiolation or drought.
The only resource used for this web page was
Justin Spiegel's Desert Cactus Page. www.desertcacti.com