Succulents vs. Cacti: What's the Difference?
Because low-maintenance, succulent, and indoor-suitable plants such as cacti tend to be tough, many people don't realize that the two actually belong to the same family. What is the difference between a cactus and a fleshy fruit? Yes, they may look very different, but given the fact that they both thrive in dry climates and don't need much water to survive, we shouldn't be surprised that they're related. But the two plants have more in common than their drought tolerance and heat-loving nature.
Is a Cactus a Succulent?
Succulents are not their own family but are found in about 60 families. Aloe vera, in the cactus family, is one of these families. So all cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. Cacti are a subsection of a group of plants collectively known as succulents. All succulents are defined as water-storing plants. The word "succulent" comes from the Latin succus, meaning sap or juice, and the modern word means "juicy". These plants are found in dry, arid climates with rare rainfall, so they rely heavily on snow and fog. The unique shapes and colors that have come to define succulents have made them popular houseplants in recent years.
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A defining feature of cacti is another way that succulents retain their moisture. A waxy, fuzzy, or spiny outer surface creates a microhabitat of water that reduces air movement around the plant and helps keep it cool and hydrated. (These spines are a tool to help protect against predators.) The cactus's spines are clustered in each islet, which is often darkly colored on the surface of the plant. The islands grew as a kind of offshoot from the main plant.
Experimental Garden Tip: It is worth noting that cacti produce spines derived from leaves, while other plants such as roses produce spines from their stems.
Some succulents are mistaken for cacti because of the presence of small spines or spines. Plants can have these features without being cacti because they are not islands. Cacti originated in the Americas 30 to 40 million years ago, and today native plants range from Patagonia to parts of western Canada. Carnivores, on the other hand, are found on every continent on Earth except Antarctica. Plants are very adaptable and are also found as epiphytes, growing on other plants without touching the ground.
How to Care for Succulents
Succulents (including cacti) make excellent houseplants. When they are potted and cared for properly (according to their family and variety), they require very little maintenance. In fact, overwatering and infections are the leading causes of succulent death. Generally, they prefer to be left alone as long as they have enough sunlight.
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While specific care tips vary by variety, the biggest rule of thumb to keep your succulents alive and happy is to make sure the potting mix is completely dry before watering. This usually equates to once a week, but it depends on the drainage, humidity, temperature, and sunlight available to each plant. If the leaves start to feel wet or limp, your plant is overwatered.
Most succulents and cacti like bright light, but don't need direct sunlight. If you have them as indoor projects, be sure to place them near large, bright windows to get as much sunlight as possible. Move them around your home for a few weeks to see how they adapt to different levels of sunlight. You can tell your plants aren't getting enough sunlight if the leaves start to stretch or the flesh starts to turn pale.
A well-drained potting mix and container are essential for cacti or succulents to survive. Sand, pumice, perlite, potting soil, or any combination of these are common media in which to plant succulents. Consider filling the bottom of your container with rocks or gravel to allow water to drain away from the roots and soil.
Propagation of succulents and cactus
Succulents, like other plants, propagate through seeds. However, they had to adapt because the wind often carried small seeds away from suitable growing areas. Propagation usually refers to the method of propagation from a part of the mother plant. There are a few different ways to propagate succulents, which can happen naturally or on purpose as a gardener aims to expand the variety of their garden.
Vegetative propagation occurs when a stem or branch is replanted from a mother plant and produces its own roots from the cut end after two weeks. It can also happen on individual leaves that sprout roots without first being planted back into the soil. Both of these methods require a few days of curing (or sharpening) to insulate themselves from possible contamination from soil and water before the roots form. Division, on the other hand, is a method of reproduction whereby the mother plant produces a young (also called a plant or chick) near its base. A pupa is an independent mini-plant that can be transplanted after two to three weeks of growth near the parent.
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7 Succulents for Beginners to Grow as Houseplants
Carnivores have become very popular over the past few years, and for a good reason. There are hundreds of unique varieties and anyone, including beginners, can grow them. Their special water-storing tissues allow other plants to survive in extremely dry environments, so they'll stay there even if you forget to water for a while. Succulents thrive in dry air and warm temperatures, and most homes already have them, so you don't need to change anything to grow one in your living room. If you're a new plant parent, here are some of the best indoor succulents to buy when starting your collection. They are well suited to indoor living and are easily found in garden centers and nurseries.
1. Burrow's tail
Burro's tail or donkey's tail (Sedum morganianum) is a succulent that looks best in a hanging basket or container sitting on a ledge, shelf, or planter. Each stem can reach three feet in length and is laden with grey-green leaves about the size and shape of plump rice. The leaves have a light sheen that rubs off when you touch them, so it shows your fingerprints. Also, the leaves are fragile and fall off easily, so it is best to avoid handling this plant as much as possible. Native to Mexico, the burro's tail prefers bright light for the best performance. The soil can be allowed to dry out between waterings, especially in winter when it is not actively growing.
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2. Christmas cactus
Unlike other cacti, the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckle) does not have sharp spines. Its flat, fleshy, divided stems can reach two feet in length and are often covered in a way that earned it the nickname crab claw cactus. It prefers slightly more moisture than its spike kin, so water whenever the top inch of soil in its container feels dry. But if you forget to water it for a while, it will easily bounce back from a little dryness. Place it near a window in bright light and this plant will reward you with winter blooms. If it blooms a little earlier than you expect and the stem segments are spiked instead of scalloped, you may actually have a Thanksgiving cactus (they are closely related to the Christmas cactus), but care instructions are similar for both.
3. Hens-and-Chicks
succulents share the common names of chickens and chicks. They are closely related but look a little different. Both produce "chicks" - small, identical plants slightly offset from the mother (a hen). Echeveria Elegans, like Mexican Snow Ball, produce flat, flower-like rosettes with rounded edges and pendulous, bell-shaped flowers that grow each year. Sempervivum tectorum, like this Hens and Chicks collection, also forms rosettes, but each leaf is flatter and more pointed. It has small, star-shaped flowers. Both of these succulents come in various varieties that offer exciting shapes and colors, so they're a lot of fun to collect.
Echeveria and Sempervivum have similar requirements when grown as houseplants. Both should be allowed to dry out slightly between waterings, as constant moisture often causes their stems and roots to rot. They do best near a window in bright light. You can easily propagate these succulents by removing the chicks and placing them in their own container, but be sure to use a sandy potting mix labeled as drainage for cacti and succulents.
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4. Jade plant
The Jade plant (Crassula ovata) is an old-time favorite for a reason: It's a cinch to grow! This long-lived South African native has stems with thick, glossy green leaves that are tinged red around the edges when grown in full sun. Some varieties have different-looking leaves, such as 'Kollum', which resembles green monster fingers. Over time, jade plants can grow several feet tall, but when grown as a houseplant, they are usually about a foot tall. They can be a bit top-heavy, so it's best to plant them in a heavy container like terra-cotta. The key to keeping a jade plant happy is to allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Some gardeners water jade only when the leaves begin to wilt or lose their luster, but these are signs that the plant is already stressed; If you wait too long, it may start to drop leaves.
5. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera grows in clusters of long, slender leaves on a short stem. Over time, it produces more clusters of leaves called offsets that can form a colony large enough to fill the entire container. It's easy to separate things and move them to other bins when things get crowded. Although aloe vera is best known for its healing juice that has been used to treat wounds and burns for centuries, its leaf edges have sharp "teeth" that can undoubtedly cut a passerby, so handle it with care. Aloe vera is a forgiving, easy-to-grow houseplant that is hard to kill. Like other succulents, it prefers to be kept on the dry side rather than having consistently moist soil. While it does well in bright light, if you suddenly move it to a hot, sunny window, its leaves can burn.
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6. Panda plant
There are dozens of Kalanchoe plants, but the panda plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa) is the most unique. Native to Madagascar, panda plants have fuzzy, gray-green leaves covered with soft, silvery hairs and speckled with brown or rust-colored spots. They can reach a height of about two feet as a houseplant but are very slow growing. Give it bright light through a window and allow the soil to dry out between waterings. When you water the plant, be careful not to get anything on the leaves or they may rot.
7. Ponytail Palm
Ponytail palms (Beaucarnea recurvata) aren't actually palms, but they look a little like them with their long, woody trunk and leathery leaves above. They are slow-growing but can reach a tree-like proportion of 12-20 feet, although they can top four feet indoors. Although the ponytail palm doesn't look like a succulent, the swollen, bulbous base of the stem (called the caudex) stores water, giving the plant its other common name: elephant foot. Whatever you call it, it's very adaptable to life as a houseplant but does best with bright light, warm temperatures, and low humidity. It's the perfect houseplant for a neglected gardener because it doesn't need much water and doesn't grow vigorously, especially in winter.
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