Why can cacti survive without watering?
Let me share with everyone the knowledge of why cacti can survive without watering and the precautions for caring for cacti. If there are any mistakes, please feel free to correct them!
Cacti are a type of drought-resistant plants with very strong vitality. As anyone who has kept them knows, they can actually go for a long time without watering. But why can they go so long without water? Many people don't know, and I will analyze the reasons from the following aspects: why cacti do not need to be watered frequently?
Actually, the main reasons can be analyzed from the environmental climate, succulent stems, shape characteristics, soil reasons, and photosynthesis, which are the reasons why cacti do not need to be watered.
Let's analyze the following in detail:
1. Environmental and climatic conditions
Cacti usually grow in desert areas where the climate is very hot and the overall environment is harsh. Due to the pervasive sand in the desert, water is extremely scarce. In the desert, cacti can thrive without water. This is determined by their growing environment. Therefore, when keeping cacti at home, you can choose to water them less.
2. Succulent stems
The leaves of cacti are spiky succulent stems that can store a lot of water inside. The spiky leaves can also reduce water loss, thereby reducing the evaporation of water in the cacti and reducing the amount of water they need. Therefore, cacti can be watered less. This is a unique feature of the succulent plant cactus.
3. The shape of cacti
Many botanists have found something surprising, which is that the shape of cacti is actually very unique. Their exterior is basically cylindrical, and this shape has many advantages. It not only protects them from the wind in the desert and resists strong winds but also reduces water evaporation and prepares them for drought.
4. Soil reasons
Why can't cacti be watered? Actually, there is another important reason, which is the soil. When growing cacti, most people use sandy soil, which is loose and breathable while also retaining moisture. Therefore, there is no need to water cacti frequently. Note: In life, when using sand to grow cacti, you can first put a layer of soil at the bottom of the pot and then place the sand on top. This is more conducive to the cacti's breathing and healthy growth.
5. The influence of photosynthesis
Cacti are a bit different from other plants. They perform photosynthesis at night, not during the day. Moreover, the evaporation rate and temperature are very low at night, resulting in less water loss during photosynthesis. Therefore, they can go for a long time without watering and still grow well, as they lose very little water.
6. Strong water absorption in the cactus's roots and stems
Many people don't know that another important reason why cacti do not need much watering is that their roots and stems have a very strong water absorption capacity, with a powerful ability to expand and absorb water. Studies have shown that their roots can even extend downwards to five times the height of the plant, which gives an idea of how strong their water absorption capacity is.
The above sharing on why cacti can survive without watering and the specific introduction to the precautions for caring for cacti, I hope everyone will like it!