Long range weather forecasters predict another El Nino for the summer ahead which means high temperatures and low rainfall. That equates to thinking about the type of plants that will tolerate the harsh environmental conditions that an El Nino brings.
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Plants that have low water demand are the order of the day and cacti and succulents are the obvious choice for the ultimate in water wise plant selection. Cacti and succulents are classified botanically as Xerophytes, plants with minimal water requirements and are synonymous with the deserts of North America and Mexico. There are also many Australian native plants that have very little demand for water but when it comes to being water wise, cacti and succulents can’t be beaten.
Cacti and succulents are plants that have adapted to growing in arid conditions through being able to store water either in their stems, which in the case of cacti are referred to as cladodes, or in the
leaves of succulents. An interesting botanical fact is that all cacti are succulents but not all succulents are cacti. The major difference is that the leaves of cacti have been modified over millions of years of adaptation and reduced to spines.
Some species of succulents may have spines on the outer perimeter or the apex of their leaves but they all have true leaves which are not the case with cacti.
The diversity of cacti is astounding; they can be cylindrical, columnar, creeping, elongated, segmented and even candelabra in their appearance. Their size will range from the ground cover varieties reaching only a few centimetres tall to the Arizona Desert giant, the Saguaro Cactus which can grow to heights of 10 metres or more. The spines on cacti also vary in size and colour and the stems may also be covered in hairs.
Succulents too are very diverse in their texture, form and colours. Foliage colour can vary from shades of green, blue, grey, yellow to orange and red. Shape is another feature that is diverse amongst succulents, with names like flapjacks, Shrek’s ears, chalk sticks and Mother in-laws tongue.
Most species of cacti and succulents can be grown as indoor plants but greatest effect is achieved through group plantings. Care and maintenance is quite simple, for containerised plants provide some water every fortnight in the summer months and once a month during the cool months. Grow plants in a sharp free draining potting mix and lightly fertilise during the summer growth period. With careful species selection, cacti and succulents can be used to great effect in gardens to provide aesthetic appeal and functionality, especially when it comes to water efficiency.