Small cactus species up to 100 cm in height
With their bizarre silhouette and breathtaking flowers, the following cacti in the pot sit on the Windowsill in scene:
- Bischofsmütze (Astrophytum), demanding cactus 20 to 40 cm tall and blooming in summer
- Greisenhaupt (Cephalocereus senilis) scores with 40 cm high columns and a silvery-white coat
- Gold ball cactus (Echinocactus) inspires with a spherical body and gold-colored, strong thorns
- Devil's pincushion (Ferokaktus acanthodes) achieves a full 30 cm in diameter at a height of up to 100 cm
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The stars among the cactus species are undoubtedly the prickly pear cacti (Opuntia). They are available with and without thorns, with a columnar, cylindrical or richly branched body shape. Above all, however, Opuntia bloom in beautiful colors, which are in no way inferior to blooming magnificent perennials. The right one Location the cacti give their gardener edible fruits after the flower festival.
Barrel cactus - the popular delicacy in Mexico
It is not just the fruits that many cactus species come up with. The barrel cactus (Ferocactus hytrix) can be discovered at every weekly market in Mexico. The spherical plant is cut up in order to candy the pieces. Not only children are crazy about the candy. However, the radial thorns have to be carefully removed beforehand.
Cacti for the hanging basket
Where thorny tendrils dangle casually, the following types of cacti are useful as exotic room decorations:
- Desert cactus (Aporocactus) with 70 cm long tendrils and red flowers from March to June
- Coral cacti (Rhipsalis) thrive without thorns with leaf-like, long shoots that bear many flowers in spring
- Leaf cacti (Epiphyllum) are characterized by 60 cm long, 5 cm wide tendrils and two blooming times
- Snake cactus (Selenicerus grandiflorus), the queen of the night with fragrant flowers and long, slender shoots
One of the most famous cactus species cannot be identified as such at first glance. Of the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) puts on its red flower dress in the middle of Advent and Christmas time. As a leaf cactus, the popular houseplant does not have a prickly reinforcement and is only covered with delicate bristles. Thanks to its hanging shoots, the Christmas cactus is equally suitable for traffic lights and pots.
Cactus species that reach up to the ceiling
If you flirt with a cactus, which forms the optical hotspot in living space design, the following species come into focus:
- Column cactus (Cereus), the superlative type of cactus with a height of up to 10 m and 2 cm long thorns
- Silver candle (Cleistocactus), the slender beauty with a height of 150 to 180 cm and carmine-red, 12 cm large flowers
- Farmer's cactus (Echinopsis) produces numerous columnar shoots and flowers from April to September
- Candelabra cactus (Pachycereus pringlei) achieves a height of 120 cm in full sun indoors in no time at all
The undisputed giant in the realm of the cacti is the candelabra cactus Carnegiea gigantea. In the wild it reaches a height of 16 meters, weighs 8 tons and is 200 years old. Only at the age of 75 does the giant branch out for the first time at a height of 2 meters. Its first heyday only takes place after he is 90 years old. Birthday instead.
Hardy cacti for beds, rock gardens and dry stone walls
They actually do exist hardy Cactus species for an imaginative planting of your outdoor area. The following species have developed an ingenious strategy to survive freezing temperatures unscathed. The plants reduce the amount of cell sap and at the same time increase the salt content so that they have their own antifreeze.
- Opuntia cymochila: Height of growth 60 to 90 cm with blue-gray limbs and frost-resistant to - 25 degrees Celsius
- Opuntia engelmannii: Growth height up to 100 cm, yellow flowers and edible fruits as well as hardy to - 22 degrees Celsius
- Echinocereus triglochidiatus: Tiny hedgehog cactus with a height of 1 to 5 cm and robust winter hardiness down to -20 degrees Celsius
- Escobaria roseana: Picturesque, 20 cm large ball cactus with red flowers in summer and hardy to - 20 degrees Celsius
If you want a head-high, hardy cactus for the garden, the cylinder cactus (Cylindropuntia imbricata) is a good choice. It stretches up to 200 cm towards the sky and trumps with purple, yellow or pink flowers. In the course of the years the cactus species branched out noticeably and assumes a bushy to tree-like shape. Planted in a row, a hedge is formed that reliably fends off uninvited guests.
Tips
Already knew? At the beginning of their evolution, cacti did not have thorns, but leaves. Only later did the leaves curl up to reduce evaporation in the hot desert climate. At the same time, the cacti tried with their thorns to protect themselves against herbivorous animals. Thanks to this clever strategy, the plants can grow poisonous Do without ingredients in order to defend yourself successfully.