My Cacti Collection

When the weather is cold and uninviting, I love to visit my greenhouse and spend time with plants from warmer climates.  I hope you enjoy these photos of some of my cactus collection! (These pictures were taken with my amazing Canon EOS 1-D) Scroll down to the bottom and also read more about cacti and succulents.

Cacti & Succulents

If you like growing plants, but don’t really have the time to care for them properly, perhaps you should consider growing succulents.  Succulents, which also includes the cactus family, require very little maintenance.  These plants are able to survive prolonged drought because they store moisture in their fleshy stems, roots, or leaves, which have very few pores for water to escape through.  And in very severe conditions, they can shutdown active growth altogether and become dormant.  Some succulents have spikes on the edges and tips of their leaves, which act as a defense against predators.  Cacti differ from other succulents because they have pad-like buds, called areoles, out of which grow sharp spines.  These spines detach easily, protecting the plant from harm.  But, because most cacti grow primarily in the dessert, the main purpose of the spines is to collect and condense moisture, dripping it onto the ground for the roots to absorb.

Succulents can be found in many climates, and offer a great diversity of exotic forms.  Some look like smooth stones and others, perfect rosettes.  Some resemble strings of beads, and others are more architectural in nature.  Cacti and succulents make excellent potted plants.  Just give them plenty of bright light and very little water.

Comments

[Carolyn]

As always....great pics. I just got started with my cati and succulent collection. Thanks for the info on how to care for them.

Carolyn

[Babeth]

Great collection Martha! Made me remember the one I had when I was a child. My dad gave cacti to me each time I had A+ at school :-)

[PAULINE MUCCIACCIO]

Hi Martha,
What an interesting colllection of succulents you have. The third picture from last the white plant in the background reminds me of "thing" from the Adams Family. Thanks for info. & pictures on the different varities of succulents.
Pauline Mucciaccio

[Carol]

Hi Martha! I have also begun a collection of succulents and cacti due to the drought we've been experiencing in North Carolina. Many areas have imposed watering restrictions so I'm not planting anything new unless it's extremely drought tolerant. Thanks for showing how beautiful these plants can be.

[Linda Gail]

Thank you for the beautiful pictures of your cacti. They remind me of the ones my mother use to grow. She had a greenhouse and it was full of beautiful but deadly looking plants. Some had such long thorns and other looked like the hairy little ball in your photo. Some actually looked like they were quite smooth....until you unwittingly touched them and found your fingers full of glassy tiny spines. Thank heaven for duct tape. We used it to remove the tiny spines. It did a very good job for the most part. The few remaining ones were removed with a piece of scotch tape and a lot of patiences. Again thank you for the pictures and the memories.
Linda Gail

[GG]

I have one of those rabbit ear cacti (4th picture down from top) - they are tricky! The little yellow "dots" look like they would be soft, but are actually comprised of hundreds of tiny, short spines!

[Carol]

Fascinating pictures with such variety. I have an enormous aloe, which seems to love to be crowded in its small container, and can go without water for months on end. It has a habit of feeding itself, if there is not water for some time, by using its own leaves' fluid. A few of the larger older leaves will start thinning in places where they were full and fat. It is an amazing plant, and has lived since 1983, showing no sign of wanting to slow down or quit any time soon.

[Carol]

I could not help reading the comments to your article, and enjoyed the one with the duct tape used for removal of cactus prickles. It reminded me of my encounter with a prickly pear fruit in the grocery store recently, and I wish I had duct tape to take the stickers from my hands after handling the fruit. I carelessly had picked up the fruit, and won't do that without care ever again.

[Margie]

They are pretty in their own way. The pictures make them especially so.. I unfortunately have never found them friendly and responsive. What fun is that when a plant could care less about you and your watering schedule.

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, I'm a little late commenting today because my computer decided to act up. Now that all is well again, I'd just like to say that I've always had a penchant for cacti and succlents. I love the beautiful photos of those in your green house. Just bought a couple and hope to add more soon. Thanks for sharing. Jan

[Ingrid Moyle]

Good afternoon Martha. After reading this blog I'm now re-designing one of my courtyards to incorporate a large variety of cacti and succulents. We have been under very tight water restrictions in Melbourne, Australia and so these plants will prove to be perfect for the garden. Much thanks.

[John]

Wonderfully warm pictures! My favorite friend also introduced me to my first Canon Digital. It's great! He made a most touching book of pictures of the places we've visited on our Monday excursions as a Christmas gift. One of which was Tower Hill in Boylston where I admired the succulents scattered in groups on the low flag stone walls which inspired me to start a small collection of my own. I spent a snowy yesterday afternoon re-arranging and mixing them with my other plants. Their unique folliage makes an interesting blend color and texture.

[John]

Wonderfully warm pictures! My favorite friend also introduced me to my first Canon Digital. It's great! He made a most touching book of pictures of the places we've visited on our Monday excursions as a Christmas gift. One of which was Tower Hill in Boylston where I admired the succulents scattered in groups on the low flag stone walls which inspired me to start a small collection of my own. I spent a snowy yesterday afternoon re-arranging and mixing them with my other plants. Their unique folliage makes an interesting blend color and texture.

[Eileen]

Beautiful cacti and succulents. Once upon a time I had lovely house plants, but then I had four sons, and gradually I changed over to cacti and succulents, for the reasons you mentioned.
I don't have a green house to retreat to, but I go for a walk in one of the nurseries in town with a large display of house plants. Helps me make it through the long cold winter.

[junebug]

I love cacti, mostly because my dad did. He passed away last year and I need to go to his home and save some of his cacti and bring them home with me. He had some special ones.

[Annie loyd]

Here I am in Arizona looking at your cacti. If you need any to fill in your collection just let me know. There is a great Aroretum called Boyce Thompson close to me. Phoenix has the Desert Botanical Gardens too.
Please Come!
Annie

[Sheree]

I have been really considering putting some succulents in my bathroom. I just wonder if it will get enough sunlight. I don't have any windows in my bathroom.

[JudyAnn Lorenz]

Aren't our plant friends great photo ops? When we moved to a midwest USA climate from western high desert, I was enthralled with the flowers. Even to the point of starting a website with the photos and information I could learn about the various flowers growing on the property. Plants inside enjoy being the photo subject just as much. Speak gently to them and watch for a smile.

[Melissa]

Ahh, what beautiful Cacti you have. I have one cactus in my home, and it has never done that well. I recently found out that my mother has been watering it thinking it was too dry. I think it will survive now that she knows not to water it when she visits!

[Margaret Edge]

I love your cactus, I have some from old Mexico cactus that you can't get across the border anymore, The blooms are yellow, with the large red I call them apples,If you don't have any I will be glad to send you some of mine for a good start, I did not bring them across the border myself. They are thornless. I love the contrast between beautiful plants, Flowers and cactus.

[kelli]

I just returned from a trip to Pheonix where I saw cacti growing wild for the first time! I've been considering planting a small succulent (container) garden ever since I returned. Martha you're always such an inspiration!!!

[Judy]

Right now we are sitting in the middle of a cactus forest RV resort for the winter months here in Az. With many trails that walk thru it. It is a joy to see how they grow and protect themselves, we will be waiting for them to bloom in the early spring here and I often find myself looking up at the mighty saguaros wondering what they have known.

[Diane]

Your cactus collection is impressive. A friend of mine who owned a florist shop on the East Coast, told me she only watered her cactus when it rained in Arizona. I live in Arizona and it rained the other day. Water your cactus folks!
The recent rains, over 2-inches here in Goodyear, mean a beautiful Spring with lots of blooming yellow and purple wildflowers in the desert and on the mountains. The Suagaro cactus, indigenous to Arizona each have individual personalities. There are city Suagaro and country Suagaro. The city ones are fat and happy (because they are well fed and watered) and the country ones struggle for their existance and often looks scraggly and abused having to wait for the annual rains and are subject to wild animals munching on their water-ladened outer bark.
Martha, I know you are coming to Phoenix for the Super Bowl. Hope you enjoy it!

[Clare Frenette]

Hi Martha, Did you know there are cacti which will grow in very cold climates. I live in Quebec and I have cacti growing in my garden. Right now it is covered in snow, but come Spring it will be there for all to enjoy! Thought you would like to know that. I enjoyed looking at your cacti.

[Kathy Barnes]

Martha - I live on five acres in the Panhandle of Texas and we just built a new deck and I am going to redo my whole landscape this year. One of my ideas was a cati garden in an obscure part of the yard. My friends out here spend their time trying to get rid of catus and I'm trying to plant them. Needless to say I will be getting a variety of catus from friends who are giving me their trash for my treasure. Thanks for the article and I will be looking for more ideas that will fit this harse climate we live in. I going to try to put as many native plants as I can in with a few fun ideas sprinkled in.