Cactus is a very popular plant among the plants we usually use to decorate our homes. If you buy a cactus in order to put into your house then sometimes the question may arise in your mind or you may be very keen to know that how does a cactus grow? We generally see a lot of plants around us. All of those plants usually use the same way to be grown up and getting increased. But the method of a cactus to be grown and to be developed is quite different than the normal plants.
If you look simply to the body and the shape of a cactus you can easily find the differences between a cactus and a normal plant. The body of a cactus is rigid, strict, erect, and spiny. The features which are very different than the normal plants. So let's know more about how a cactus grows.
How does a cactus grow?
Among the species of cactus, most of them grow very slowly. You will find a cactus sprouting to the size of a large marble after 6-12 months. And it will grow and increase to a few centimeters in height after 2 to 3 years. And definitely, this time ranges depending on the species of the cactus you have. Overall, the growth of most cactus you will find generally is 1 to 3 centimeter in height per year. And there is a very few, rare and exceptional growth of 15 centimeters or more in height per year you can find in some species. If you want to buy cactus you can order succulents online.
Examples
The Golden Barrel Cactus which is known as Echinocactus. The growth of this species is observed 1-2 cm per year in height on average.
The development of Ferocactus species is examined approximately 2-3 cm in height per year on average.
Carnegiea gigantea which is known as The Saguaro Cactus grows 2-15 cm per year, and it is depending on the growth stage and can thrive itself to the heights of 75 feet.
Really you have to play with time if you would like to have a plant from cactus species to decorate your home. But you can be happy to think that they are more adaptable than the other plants so they won't make you disheartened falling down or getting died anyhow.
Why does cactus grow slowly?
Now the question you can be convulsed in your mind that why does the cactus grow slowly, right? So let's discuss this topic now.
Adaptation
To understand the reason for the slow growth of cactus we need to look at their adaptation. They are the most highly adapted plants among the plants that exist all over the world. They can thrive themselves even in the drought conditions, the highest temperature of the sun, infrequent rainfall, or any kind of vulnerable weather situation. They gain their energy from the environment and store it into their body instead of consuming it in order to thrive their body in a higher size. This is the principle reason what makes their body so strong, erect, greenish, and spiked. It makes them survival rather than rapid growth.
Leafless plant
Another important reason scientists have found for their slow growth is having no leaves in their bodies. Most of the plants have leaves and flowers which are sufficient for chlorophyll availability and which are responsible for plant growth. But cacti have areoles and spines instead of having leaves. which can't produce any energy from sunlight. Whereas the plant produces less energy, so the growth increases very slowly.
These are the main two reasons are particularly responsible for their highly adapted features for survival in any kind of weather condition. An important thing you should know about that all cacti don't live in arid climates. There is a “Jungle cacti” which has a different kind of adaptation requirements.
