We could have omitted the term succulents and all of you would have understood what type of plant is the one that we propose to decorate the garden. However, as well as all cacti are succulents, not all succulents are cacti. And today we wanted to be rigorous in order to learn some concepts.
Succulents are plants that store water in their stems, roots, and leaves in order to survive long periods of drought. Within this family of plants, cacti are the most popular. They are because they present a coating of a thick woolly and / or spiny, in order to protect themselves from heat and herbivorous animals.
Now that we all know which plant family we mean, let's take action! Cacti and other succulents are ideal for those who want get started in gardening. Where and how do we plant succulents? What care do they need? Those are the questions you are probably asking yourself and that we are trying to answer today.
Some keys to growing cacti
That they do not require great care does not mean that we can all grow succulents. Outdoors, succulents require a warm weather and a sunny exposure. Ideally, plant them on high ground with good air circulation and away from walls that serve as a reflective screen from the sun. We don't want them to burn.
Cacti do not support temperatures below 7ºC or the coexistence of cold and damp in the environment that surrounds them. Hence, it is important to keep them dry in winter. During the summer, on the other hand, the key is to let the soil dry between watering and watering to prevent the roots from rotting.
Clay pots They are the most appropriate for planting succulents. The material facilitates the loss of moisture from the substrate and prevents its stagnation. For the same purpose, it is important to avoid clay saucers and soil. Although cacti support very poor soils, their growth is more vigorous and their flowering much more spectacular if the appropriate substrate is used.
These are just some keys to get started in the cultivation of cactus and succulents. Plants that, as you can see in the photos, can dress our garden or terrace a lot. Do you like them? Do you have any cacti in your garden?