Succulents (from the Latin “succus” - juice) are plants of arid regions that can accumulate a lot of water in their tissues and slowly consume it. These are inhabitants of the deserts of Africa, America and Australia - succulent, fleshy perennial plants.

You are very familiar with many succulents - these are the well-known cacti and agave (aloe), which are often grown on windowsills. Those of you who have been to the south may have seen agave. This Mexican plant is planted in our botanical gardens or used as an ornamental, but in its homeland agave is an important agricultural crop. Fermentation of agave juice produces the traditional Mexican alcoholic drink pulque; agave alcohol forms the basis of the famous tequila. Agave fiber is used to make the strongest ropes, ropes, bags, hammocks, shoes and much more. The best cowboy lassos were made from agave fiber. The Aztec Indians extracted sugar from agave juice and paper from its fiber. The very name of the country – “Mexico” – translated from Aztec means “place of the agave”.

Now it is difficult to find a person who does not know what cacti look like, but 500 years ago these plants were not known to Europeans. Cacti are American in origin; they became known to science a few years after the voyage of Christopher Columbus. True, when they first saw cacti, botanists were probably not very surprised, since they were familiar with African milkweeds.

Agave

American cactus (left) and cactus spurge from Africa (right) (The genus Euphorbia has 2,000 species, distributed on all continents except Antarctica.)

At first glance, African milkweeds and American cacti look alike like twin brothers. And why shouldn’t they be similar to each other, because the conditions of African savannas, deserts and highlands are not much different from the American ones: the same scorching sun, cold nights and rare rains. Both cacti and milkweed have similar adaptations to tolerate lack of moisture, so they are very similar to each other. But, despite the external similarity, these are completely different plants. The structure of the flower, fruit, and details of the internal structure make it possible to classify spurges and cacti into two different families (they are called cactaceae and spurges). Plants from different families are related to each other about as much as humans are related to dogs. The easiest way to distinguish euphorbias is to make sure that thick, poisonous milky juice flows from the wound of the damaged plant; cacti do not have this property.

Succulents can store water in roots, rhizomes (remember, these are not roots, but modified underground stems!), stems and leaves. The amount of stored water can be very large: in the deserts of North America, large cacti accumulate from 1000 to 3000 liters of water. It is not surprising that animals often use such living tanks as a source of fresh water. Often even thorns cannot save succulents from water-thirsty animals. In order to somehow protect themselves from their attacks, many succulents (some cacti and every single milkweed) use chemical protection, accumulating toxic substances in their tissues. Aborigines still lubricate arrows with the milky juice of one of the African spurge species.

The root system of succulents must meet one requirement: to supply the plant with scarce moisture as efficiently as possible. It would seem that the “camel thorn” type root system is best suited for this purpose, when the roots go 15–20 meters into the soil, reaching aquifers. But many cacti follow a completely different strategy. Their root system is located at the very surface of the soil. This looks rather strange: after all, the top layer of soil dries out the most. However, this is a very good way to intercept the meager moisture of rare rains before it literally flows into the sand. Surface roots, densely branching, cover a significant area - up to several tens of square meters. Now do you understand why cactus growers recommend growing most cacti in shallow, wide pots? The roots of succulents have another remarkable feature: they are literally dotted with rudimentary roots, which begin to grow as soon as the soil is wetted by rain.

But accumulating water is half the battle; the main thing is to preserve it. All means are good for this. Even the shape of the stem matters. Many cacti have a spherical stem - this shape has an ideal ratio of volume to surface area: the largest volume corresponds to the smallest area of ​​evaporation.

This is where cacti encounter a contradiction. On the one hand, in order to reduce water loss, it is beneficial to reduce the surface area, but, on the other hand, this reduces the photosynthetic surface, which means the plant’s nutrition deteriorates. It’s both bad and bad. Cacti solved this complexity in a rather original way: they increased the surface area necessary for photosynthesis to occur due to the appearance of ribs and outgrowths called papillae on the stem; Most cacti have a ribbed, rather than smooth, stem.

Do not think that all succulents are necessarily exotic plants, aliens from distant continents. Among the plants of our latitudes there are also representatives of this ecological group. In dry pine forests, along roadsides and along cliffs on sandy soils, you can often find succulent spherical rosettes of juveniles and various types of sedums. Juveniles and sedums belong to the group of leaf succulents, i.e. they store water in the leaves.

Rejuvenated – leaf succulent of dry pine forests

The main habitat of cacti is from Canada to Chile. Some species of epiphytic cacti are found in Madagascar, Africa and the Manascarene Islands. It is assumed that cacti lived there before the separation of the continents. Cacti are also found on the Galapagos and Antilles islands.

The habitats of cacti differ strikingly from each other in climatic conditions. In northern Canada there are winters with temperatures down to -40°C and deep snow.

In the south of North America - in Nevada, Utah and Arizona - cacti have to endure not only heat, but also snow. Prolonged drought coupled with extreme heat is common in Southern California, Texas and New Mexico. The weather conditions are the same in Mexico.

Heat-loving species of cacti live in the subtropical and tropical conditions of southern Mexico, Central and South America.

North American cacti

In North America, despite the harsh Canadian climate, several species of cacti grow. The most common cacti are of the Opuntia genus. Prickly pears native to Canada vary in shape and size. Less common are cacti of the genus Coryphantas. This spherical cactus grows up to 8 cm in diameter. Cacti of the genera Opuntia and Coryphanta have adapted well to the frosty winters of Canada.

Cacti of Mexico and the southern states of the USA

In Mexico and the southern states of the United States, the habitat of cacti is wormwood and high-altitude succulent deserts. It is from these areas that most cactus species originate. The most common cacti are prickly pear, cereus, mammillaria and echinocactus.

In Mexico, cacti have long been used as building material, food and medicine. The national emblem of Mexico depicts a cactus.

South American cacti

In the Andes - the mountains of South America - cacti grow at an altitude of 4500 m above sea level. In mountainous areas, large average daily temperature fluctuations are observed; they can reach 40°C. Cacti of the genus Oreocereus grow in such difficult conditions. These are spiny cacti with a fluffy top of the stem.

The genus Oreocereus includes many species of cacti of different sizes and shapes - from small spherical to large columnar. A characteristic feature of plants of the genus Oreocereus are soft hairs that protect the plants from strong temperature changes in the mountains.

The northern Chilean and Peruvian deserts are often foggy and experience virtually no rain. Such conditions are suitable for the genera Haageocereus, Copiapoa, Neoporteria, Pygmecereus, Islaya, Eulhinia. These cacti obtain moisture exclusively from fog.

Despite the harsh weather conditions in Central Peru, cacti of the genus Oroya, Matucan, Tephrocactus, and Lobivia are widespread here.

Succulents are plants that have the ability to retain a large supply of moisture in their tissues. They are distinguished by their decorative qualities and can decorate any apartment or office, even with low levels of lighting, since succulents are completely unpretentious.

The flower is able to actively grow and develop at low temperatures, but the best option is a room atmosphere with high air humidity. Therefore, such plants can be placed next to fountains and aquariums.

These are great plants for children and very busy people because they are unpretentious, easy to care for, and succulents, like cacti, can withstand improper care and neglect for a long time. In addition, unlike other groups of plants, they are very easy to propagate.

Homemade succulents: photos and names

In nature, there are many succulents of different sizes and shapes, including colored ones, most of which have rosettes, since this dense arrangement of leaves helps retain moisture and survive in the desert; among them there are also flowering species.

Despite the wide variety of species, succulents are very similar in their needs. They need fresh air, sun, drained substrate, and watering throughout the growing season.

Household succulents: types, names, catalog

Agave americana

Wikipedia gives a complete description of the plant. It is a perennial leafy plant consisting of basal, hard, tapering, thick, linear-lanceolate leaves of green or green-variegated color. The leaves grow from one central leaf in a circle. Their edges are covered with small spines. American agave blooms rarely; the flowers are inconspicuous greenish-yellow, located on a long stalk. The temperature in the room where this flower is grown should be at least +8 degrees. Feeding and watering should be done once a month. American agave requires frequent replanting into a special deciduous-sandy-turf soil.

Queen Victoria Agave

Perennial leafy plant. The leaves are basal, concave, rigid, triangular in shape, matte, dark green in color, with a white edge along the edges, and at the end of each leaf there is a single long spine. Grow in a circle of the central leaf. Queen Victoria Agave does not bloom. The flower should not be placed on sunny windowsills; it should be protected from direct sunlight. The temperature in the room should not be higher than 21 degrees.

Adenium

Perennial tree plant. The stem of this succulent variety has compaction in the root zone, followed by branching upward. The leaves are dissected, serrated, lanceolate, light green in color. Flowering is abundant, but very rare. The flowers are double and simple, crimson in color with a light center. Homemade succulent needs watering (every 3 days) and daily spraying. The temperature during cultivation should not fall below +12 degrees.

Adromiscus spotted

Perennial plant with thick leaves. The succulent consists of basal, fleecy, thick, green-spotted leaves, the edges of which have a purple border. The leaves grow from a small, dense root stalk. In appearance, adrmiscus looks very saturated with moisture. When grown indoors, the plant should be watered moderately every evening. The flower must be protected from direct sunlight and not placed in the sun. The room temperature should not exceed +21 degrees.

Aloe variegated

A perennial leafy herbaceous succulent, the height of which does not exceed 30 cm. It consists of basal, hard, thick, linear-lanceolate, narrowed upward, green-variegated leaves with lightened waves. The leaves grow in a circle, forming a rose. Rarely blooms. The flowers are orange, located in a cluster of inflorescences. This home plant does not require special growing conditions, it just needs constant watering.

Aloe squat

This is a cactus from the Asphodelaceae family, 10-50 cm high. The leaves are basal, hard, thin, pointed, light green in color. There are small rough thorns on the surface of the petals. Aloe squamosum is widely used in folk medicine and is famous for its medicinal properties. The plant is unpretentious and does not require special care.

Anacampseros

A perennial climbing shrub consisting of dense shoots of dark purple color. The leaves are small, watery, dense. Arranged symmetrically along the branches. The flowers are pink, regular in shape, quite large in size, located on tall succulent stalks. Up to five can bloom on one branch at the same time. The plant is photophilous and needs a lot of sunlight. Requires unlimited space (for weaving) and needs constant watering.

Argyroderma

Perennial. Another name is Living Stones. The trunk of the succulent looks like a stone, painted in a grayish-green matte color. The plant has a massive rosette consisting of two rather fleshy thick leaves. The flowers are regular in shape, bright pink in color, with thin small petals. Appear at the point of contact of the leaves. The plant needs timely, abundant watering and plenty of sunlight. Argyroderma grows in drainage, fine-stony soil.

Apthenia

Perennial evergreen succulent. It has spreading, fleshy, creeping stems. The leaves are light green, watery, lanceolate, located symmetrically along the stem. Apthenia can become a climbing plant. The flowers are small, sparse, white or pink. The flower petals are thin, small, located in the axils, which are located at the ends of the branches. Needs abundant watering and good lighting. The air temperature in the room should be average.

Brighamy

A perennial tree-like leaf plant with a dense (in the root zone) stem, the height of which is 20−50 cm. The leaves are oval, elongated, lanceolate, covered with a waxy coating, shiny. The flowers are yellow, small, located on separate tall stalks. The plant is light-loving and needs regular moderate watering and good lighting.

Gasteria

A leafy perennial consisting of basal, slightly flattened, thick, green-spotted leaves with smooth edges and a sharp tip. The leaves form many dense rosettes. The flowers are tubular-swollen, small, located in the apical inflorescence on a long peduncle. The succulent is unpretentious to heat and light. Needs replanting (1 time/2 years) and regular watering.

Graptopetalum

An herbaceous, stemless perennial consisting of small, dense, watery, heart-shaped leaves. The leaves are matte, dark green, with a sharp end, collected in a pink rosette. The flowers are pink, large, lily-shaped, located on separate long peduncles. The plant is light-loving and needs a lot of light and regular watering. Prefers drainage, fine-stony soil.

Dorstenia

A leafy tree-like perennial with a dense stem, from the top of which single leaves are formed. The height of the stem is approximately 20−25 cm. The leaves are lanceolate, elongated, oval in shape. The flowers are green, are a capsule with seeds, located on a separate peduncle. The succulent is unpretentious to heat and light. Needs regular spraying and watering. The plant needs to be fed once a month.

Zamioculcas

A perennial leafy plant consisting of numerous stems on which shiny, dark green, lanceolate, oval-shaped leaves are symmetrically arranged. In the root zone the stem is watery and thick, upward it becomes thinner. Rarely blooms. The succulent needs frequent watering (1 time/2 days) and good lighting. Does not tolerate cold, the room temperature should not be less than +8 degrees.

Conophytum

Perennial houseplant, 5−10 cm high. The flowers are small, yellow. Needs abundant watering and plenty of sunlight. It grows only in fine rocky soil.

Cotyledon

A semi-shrub type of perennial with a woody single stem, which begins to bush over the years. This rather large succulent can reach a height of 50−180 cm. The leaves are dark green, thick, watery, and shiny. A reddish edging is noticeable along their edges. Rarely blooms. The flowers are star-shaped, white or light pink. The succulent tolerates low temperatures well, while excess moisture in the air and soil has a detrimental effect on the plant.

Other types of house succulents

In addition to the above, you should pay attention to the following types of these beautiful plants that can decorate any apartment or office:

Are cacti succulents or not?

Everyone knows what a cactus is and even a child can say what this plant looks like and give it a detailed description. The names succulent and cactus can often be found side by side, however, does this mean that both plants are relatives? What unites them?

The thing is that cacti, like succulents, are good adapted to survive in dry climates, they are able to store large amounts of moisture and are naturally resistant to low air humidity. However, cacti, although they belong to the group of succulents, are classified as a separate large cactus family.

Cacti come in the following types:

• Cylindrical;
• oval;
• disc-shaped;
• articulated;
• spherical.

Cacti can be either with or without leaves, and the same applies to spines. Very often, many amateur gardeners, due to their busyness, from the entire group of succulent plants choose cacti, since they can easily tolerate the lack of moisture and minimal care for a long time (for example, a person often goes on long business trips).

Diseases and pests, prevention

There are practically no plants in nature, including succulent plants (aloe, cacti, etc.), that are not subject to various diseases and pest attacks.

Succulents can be damaged by mites, thrips, and scale insects. Among the diseases, it is worth highlighting fungal rot, which develops rapidly and can lead to the death of the plant.

Therefore, in order for a flower to delight you with its beauty for many years, it is necessary to carry out the following preventive actions:

Which type of succulent or cactus to choose is up to everyone to decide for themselves. However, it must be remembered that any of these plants can decorate your interior and do not require special care.

Varieties of home succulents pictures

I dug up several plants and brought them to my home. Since the deep roots of the plants were damaged during digging, I decided to dry them a little so that the plants would not rot when planted, as happens with cacti. Imagine my surprise when a couple of days later I found my hodgepodges very wilted! Of course, Kushka, this is not Moscow. At the height of summer, daytime temperatures there are always above 35 degrees, relative air humidity during the day is always below 15%, and clouds appear in the sky not much more often than flying saucers. But still! The cacti brought from cool Moscow were not going to dry out, even if they remained without watering for weeks during my field work, and the local saltworts, especially from the Erlanduz depression, dried out. That time I didn’t understand anything, I dug up again and brought the saltworts to Kushka and again they withered very quickly. Only after this did I begin to understand that not every succulent plant is a succulent. Succulents are characterized not only by the accumulation of water, but also by their extremely economical use. Succulents have a special type of metabolism that allows them to spend approximately 30 times less water per unit of assimilated substance during their life activity than ordinary xerophytes. The CAM type of photosynthesis (CAM - Crassulacean Acid Metabolism) is that, due to the complication of the internal structure of the tissues of the assimilation organs, the process of photosynthesis occurs in two stages. The first stage - the absorption of carbon dioxide and its fixation - unlike ordinary plants, occurs in the dark with the help of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase with the formation of organic acids, which are stored in the vacuoles of the same cells. The second stage occurs during the day in the light, but with the stomata closed - carbon dioxide is released and included in the Calvin cycle - then photosynthesis proceeds according to the usual pattern. Thus, we see that the stomata of succulents open only at night, when the air temperature is minimal, the assimilation organs do not experience overheating, and the relative air humidity is at its maximum during the day. As a result, the loss of water vapor when the stomata are open is minimal. Of course, with strong solar overheating, succulents evaporate moisture during the day, but in any case, the intensity of daytime transpiration is 2-3 orders of magnitude weaker than that of ordinary plants, which, through increased evaporation, prevent burns of their photosynthetic organs

The lack of daily transpiration inevitably leads to overheating of plants. And hence the resistance of succulents to high temperatures. The German botanist Ashkenazi in the botanical garden in Heidelberg established back in 1875 that the rosettes of sempervivums on a clear sunny day heated up to 54 ° C, (Fig. 2) which is 30 degrees higher than the air temperature and 17 degrees higher than all other plants (Henkel P .A., Margolina K.P., - On the viscosity of plasma in some xerophytes and succulents. In: Abstracts of scientific research works for 1945, Department of Biological Sciences. M. -L., 1947)

The maximum temperature of external tissues for living plants - +65 ° C - was recorded in the North. Mexico in one of the prickly pear species. This is not to say that such temperatures are favorable for succulents. Many small species prefer to settle in the shade of the under-crown space of sclerophyte trees and shrubs. Succulents in open habitats, such as large cacti, cover young growth on the crown of the plant with felt-like pubescence and are covered with a thick cover of spines. Prickly pears orient their stems so that they point edge-on toward the hottest afternoon sun. Leaf succulents orient their leaves in a similar way. What about the saltworts that I dug up on the wet salt marsh in the Erlanduz depression? The absence of the CAM type of photosynthesis and living in conditions of constant moisture in the environment (the soil of the salt marsh at the bottom of the depression, as observations showed, remained wet throughout the year) allows us to conclude that they have nothing to do with succulents. Subsequently, already knowing the biology of these plants, I twice tried to cultivate them in containers without drainage holes in constantly moist, salty soil, that is, the opposite of how ordinary succulents are cultivated. This turned out to be quite a troublesome task, because... Solyanka did not tolerate even short drying. However, in the fall they rewarded me with the fantastic colors of their reddened stems. It may seem that saltworts do not behave quite typically for desert plants. But that's not true. Unlike succulents, other desert plants also transpirate very actively. But for this they must have - and do have - a source of continuous moisture from the environment. Such a source for most xerophytes is soil moisture, which is always available at some depth. In other words, if succulents create their own supply of moisture, then non-succulent xerophytes use soil reserves. Here is what G. Walter (1968) writes about this, referring to the Arabian Desert in Egypt: “For the existence of non-succulent species, it is necessary to have a certain amount of moisture in the soil even during the period when their moisture consumption for transpiration is reduced. When water reserves in the soil become insignificant, the plants go into a dormant state. During the transition to a dormant state, the plant gradually dries out, which can be seen by the gradual increase in the concentration of cell sap. Individual plant organs, less supplied with water, begin to die off. If this process is not stopped, the plant will eventually die. Perennial species are adapted to withstand prolonged droughts and reach an age of 100 years or more; they are found in the desert only in places where the supply of water in the soil horizons penetrated by the roots never completely dries up. If rains fall only sporadically and irregularly, then practically only ephemerals can be found here, the seeds of which, perhaps, remain in the soil for more than ten years without losing their germination." The physiological features of succulents are a consequence of the features of their ecology. If we look closely at photographs of cacti, or other succulents in nature, we will almost always notice around them other - non-succulent plants, such as grasses, wormwood, acacias and many, many others. Popularizers of cacti somehow forget about these plants when they talk about the unique drought resistance of cacti. But they grow these non-succulent plants live in the same conditions as cacti and do well without water supplies. Moreover, we mentioned above that many succulents live in the under-crown space of other xerophytes. So what’s the matter? And it’s precisely the different ecology. Sclerophytes spread their roots deep in the soil, where at least a minimal amount of moisture available to them remains throughout the year (Fig. 3).

Succulents spread their roots in the very top layer of soil, which dries out within a day after rain (Fig. 4).

Their different biology does not allow them to “take someone else’s place,” but allows them to coexist. Thus, sclerophyllous xerophytes use soil moisture reserves, and succulents use their own. In those habitats where the top layers of soil dry out rarely and for a short time, succulents are not common there, for example, in humid climates. But if in a humid climate there are periodically completely dry habitats, they are occupied by succulents. An example is the numerous succulent epiphytes, in particular, orchids and bromeliads, inhabiting the upper tiers of the crowns of constantly humid equatorial forests - gils. In temperate latitudes this pattern persists. For example, the succulent Sedum acrum settles on sandy soils with low moisture holding capacity in the southern regions of Russia and Ukraine, which are characterized by long summer droughts. Therefore, in our opinion, the concept of succulence includes: morphologically - the presence of water-storing tissues in green organs, assimilation; physiologically - CAM type of photosynthesis; ecologically - living in conditions of periodically complete absence of available moisture in the environment. This definition provides precise diagnostic characteristics of a succulent and distinguishes succulent plants from a large number of other plants that have one or two characteristics in common with succulents. Their different biology does not allow them to “take someone else’s place,” but allows them to coexist. Thus, sclerophyllous xerophytes use soil moisture reserves, and succulents use their own. In those habitats where the top layers of soil dry out rarely and for a short time, succulents are not common there, for example, in humid climates. But if in a humid climate there are periodically completely dry habitats, they are occupied by succulents. An example is the numerous succulent epiphytes, in particular, orchids and bromeliads, inhabiting the upper tiers of the crowns of constantly humid equatorial forests - gils. In temperate latitudes this pattern persists. For example, the succulent Sedum acrum settles on sandy soils with low moisture holding capacity in the southern regions of Russia and Ukraine, which are characterized by long summer droughts. Therefore, in our opinion, the concept of succulence includes: morphologically - the presence of water-storing tissues in green organs, assimilation; physiologically - CAM type of photosynthesis; ecologically - living in conditions of periodically complete absence of available moisture in the environment. This definition provides precise diagnostic characteristics of a succulent and distinguishes succulent plants from a large number of other plants that have one or two characteristics in common with succulents. (Fragment of the article by Sinev I.E. “WHAT DIFFERS SUCCULENTS FROM OTHER JUICY DRY-LOVING PLANTS” in the journal CACTi AND OTHER DRY-LOVING PLANTS, 1999 No. 2)

cacti- unpretentious plants that tolerate dry climates well. They are ideal for keeping in an apartment due to their small size.

Succulents- a large segment of plants capable of accumulating moisture for a long time. Today there are over 150 thousand species. Cacti occupy the main place among succulents.

Succulents mainly include heat-loving plants growing in arid climates (deserts and semi-deserts with tropical climates). There are epiphytic species that, during tropical rains, are able to absorb large amounts of moisture, and during periods of drought, they feel normal for quite a long time without replenishing water, gradually using up the water accumulated in the tissues.

The succulents include the family Aisaceae, Crassulaaceae, Lastovneaceae, Agaveaceae, Euphorbiaceae, etc.

Almost all succulents differ from other groups in their resistance to dry and hot climates and ease of care.

But there are also weaknesses. For cacti, excessive watering at home, especially with cold water, is extremely undesirable.

All succulent plants have a succulent and powerful stem, the leaves are fleshy, often in the form of spines. Due to the small surface of the leaves, evaporation during the hot period is minimal.

Most types of cacti are kept at home due to their beautiful, unusual and varied flowering. Each variety of cactus has flowers of a unique shape and color. But in some individuals the flowering period is very short, sometimes only for one night.

Basic rules for successful growth of cacti and succulents

Excessive watering is extremely dangerous. They do not like frequent watering. The soil must be allowed to dry thoroughly. In the article for each type we will talk about this in detail.

• During the cold season, they practically do not need watering. Water used is distilled or rainwater, without lime. Bottom watering is often used. The plant itself will absorb the required amount of moisture.
• Fertilizer is added to water for irrigation.
• For successful flowering, choose pots that are the right size, or a little too small.
• The composition of the soil also plays an important role. Clean sand is not suitable. Use purchased soils, or make your own from sand and flower soil. More details in the articles for this type. Be sure to add fine gravel (pebbles).

Universal soil composition for most succulents: leaf soil 4 parts, sand 4 parts, charcoal 1 part, baking powder (perlite, or fine expanded clay) 1 part.

• When using purchased ready-made mixtures, in most cases you need to add sand, baking powder and charcoal 30% of the total volume of soil. There must be a hole in the bottom of the pot.

To avoid pests, the soil is steamed before planting to destroy the larvae. The sand is pierced.

• Before transplanting, drainage is placed at the bottom of the pot. Expanded clay, large red brick chips, or fine gravel are used as drainage. The soil is poured to such a level that the soil does not cover the root collar, otherwise the process of rotting will begin. After transplantation, the plant is placed in the shade for several days and not watered.
• All succulents prefer plenty of bright light.
• During the winter (dormant) period, the temperature is significantly reduced and watering is practically stopped. The soil is constantly kept dry.
• For active growth, the cactus needs a constant flow of fresh air.