CACTUS

Cactus plants are very popular in the garden and backyard home design centers across the world, they are identified by their small, round shapes from which thorns, branches, leaves, hair, and flowers grow.
Cactus plants are resilient and can grow everywhere and that’s why they make a good indoor and backyard decorative plant. Cactus plants grow well in the deserts of Africa, Galapagos, Chile, as well as in the cold weather of Alaska and in the western hemisphere. In this post, learn:

1. what Are Cactus plants
2. Types Of Cactus Plants
3. How to care for Plants?
4. How Much Should you water Cactus Plants?
5. Health Beneficial Uses Of Cactus Plants
6. Which Cactus Plants Are Edible?

Are Cactus good houseplants?

Yes! Cactus is the best houseplants any homeowner can use to bring in a bit of nature into their home. And here is why you will love Cactus as your houseplant: For a start, Cactus plants are low maintenance plants, requiring less water and thrive really well when you place them on a warm, bright spot indoors.

How often should I water cactus?

At least once a week! and here’s why? Watering your Cacti and succulents at least once a week is Ideal for their growth. During their growing season, Cacti plants need more water than when they are fully grown.

But don’t just take my word for it… If you read published guides on how to care for Cactus plants, it clearly says that its usually best to keep the watering of your cacti on the low side as too much water can make the Cactus plant rot due to too much moisture.

While a certain section of Cacti plant growers articulates the idea of frequent watering, Cactus plants are known for using less water than most average succulents.

As long as your weekly watering routine is enough to make sure that you give the soil a really good soaking you will be all good to go.

Beyond the normal mundane day to day caring duties of your indoor plants, beware that majority of cactus houseplants are in fact slow growers and won’t really need fertilizing as long as you provide reasonable plant grow feed. If not, just make sure to fertilize your Cactus plant a couple of times per year.

What are the different cactuses?

There are 2000 Cactus types(1) As more and more varieties of Cactus in different shapes get discovered, you will find that there are about 2,000 different kinds of cactuses grown all over the world. From desert Cactai plant, Edible Cactus, indoor Cactai succulent and many more with different characteristics like having fleshy stems or being petite and prickly.

1. Blue Flame Cactus

This plant iis also known as bilberry cactus. It can grow to 13 feet high and 8 to 12 feet wide. Blue flame forms dense, cactus forests and can reach heights of 30 feet in their natural habitat. The plant is recognized for its upright candelabra shape, blue-green color, and purple fruit that looks and tastes like a cross.

2. Candelabra Cactus

Candelabra cacti grow on hillsides in their natural habitat, so planting on slopes gives it a natural look.

How do you take care of a candelabra cactus?

Watering your Candelabra Cactus: Always water Candelabra Cactai plants sparingly. At least once every two weeks is recommended as they do well with less moisture. When watering your Candelabra cactus, aim at the base of the plant to avoid getting the Cactai stem wet.

When ready water the plant deeply and allow the top half of the soil to dry long before watering again. Any remnant water must be cleared off the overflow catcher as the base of the plant needs to be kept dry.

3. Golden Ball Cactus

This plant grows about 3 feet tall. Its flowers are yellow with spines that are long but harmless. This plant forms in clusters and is a smart choice for fire-resistant landscaping.

4. Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus

strawberry cactus also Known as saint’s cactus, are small and have free-branching clusters or mounds of erect stems that are sometimes prostrate. It grows to about 28 inches tall. It also has large and showy purple-magenta blooms in spring.

5. Mexican Fence Post Cactus

This plant has reddish-pink blooms that appear mid- to late spring and are evident along the cactus’ ribs near the growing tip and down its sides. During frost, make sure you protect the plant by placing Styrofoam cups or burlap over growing tips.

6. Mammillaria Polydra

This plant grows up to 12 inches tall and 5 inches wide. It has pink 1-inch blooms. Pair them with other taller cacti, succulents, native grasses, native shrubs, and flowers in order to make your home look more stunning.

Healthy benefits of cactus

Cactus leaves have many nutrients and hence bring many bennefits to the human health. Below we have listed the health benefits of cactus that a lot of people don’t Know about.

1. They have the ability to stabilize blood sugar

When you consume the cactus leaves every day, the fibers found in them will help the body to control the sugar levels within the blood. The dierery fiber found in the leaves is the one responsible for stabiliing blood sugar.

2. They help lose weight.

The fibers found in the cactus leaves help maintain normal blood sugar levels and promotes satiety, reduce hunger and also controls the calorie intake in the body.

3. They improve Digestion

Cactus leaves contains dietary fiber which can improve bowrl movement and make it easy for food to pass the digestion tract.

4. Prevent Obesity

Obesity had become a major problem worldwide, however, cactus leaves contains fiber that can help maintain normal body weight in people and also had antioxidants that help protect the body cells from mutation which leads to Obesity.

5. Lowers Cholesterol levels

Cactus leaves have many polysaccharide fibers and sterols than have the ability to increase good fat in the body and lower bad fat levels in the body. They help maintain a healthy cardiovascular system.

6. They have the ability to treat inflammation

Cactus leaves have anti inflammatory properties, they also have antioxidants that will reduce and prevent the body from inflammation caused by free radicals effects.

7. Can Prevent Cancer

A research made by Rodriguez Garcia discovered that cactus leaves that are rich in calcium is effective in preventing colon cancer. The cactus have high antioxidants components also provides protection against many other types if cancer.

8. They have the ability to reduce the risk of heart disease

Cactus leaves have the ability to reduce cholesterol, prevent atherosclerosis and also maintain the cardiovascular function. They also have some special minerals that will maintain the right normal heart beat rhythm.

9. They treat urinary infection

When consumed as a juice, cactus leaves have the ability to heal pain caused by urinary infections inside the bladder or the urethra. In order to see the results, consume the cactus leaves as juice every day for two weeks.

10. They prevent Anemia.

Cactus leaves have iron so when consumed they help to promote red blood cells production and prevent Anemia.

You can just grind and then boil the cactus leaves, allow to cool down and then consume each morning.

Which cactus are edible?

Studies confirmed that all true cactus fruit are safe to eat, however some taste better than others. Some types of cactus taste better when cooked, when cooking them you have to peel them or have their spines removed.