Do cacti need to be watered in winter?
Introduction to the article: Experiences related to the succulent plant cactus, do cacti need to be watered in winter? Let's find out together.
Regarding whether cacti need to be watered in winter, I have read quite a few posts. Some ask about the watering needs of cacti in southern households during the winter, whether they need to be watered occasionally. Let me give a definite answer first: it is necessary to stop watering for cacti cultivated in southern households if you want to keep them well (I am referring to the cactus itself).
There are two characteristics of plant cold resistance: cold resistance and frost resistance.
Cold resistance is the plant's ability to adapt to above-zero low temperatures, which is related to enzyme activity.
Frost resistance is the plant's ability to adapt to below-zero low temperatures, related to the ratio of combined water to free water. Cacti with more water are more likely to be frozen to death.
Plants with strong frost resistance have the ability to hibernate, just like hibernation. With the shortening of daylight and the decrease of temperature, more abscisic acid (hibernation hormone) is synthesized in the cactus, metabolism is inhibited, and it enters a state of hibernation. Whether watered or not, the cactus will instinctively hibernate after cooling down (for example, cacti like high temperatures for root growth, and it is difficult to grow roots below 10 degrees Celsius). The consumption for respiration and growth decreases, and nutrients accumulate (the higher the nutrient concentration, the more likely it is to promote sexual reproduction - flower buds, moderate concentration promotes asexual reproduction - lateral buds, which is also related to the content of auxins, very low concentration - it might be dying soon).
Once winter comes and temperatures drop, the proteins and starches in the cactus are hydrolyzed into soluble amino acids and sugars under the action of enzymes. The latter increases the concentration of cell fluid, making it less likely for cells to freeze, which helps increase cold resistance. As the temperature continues to drop, the activities of the roots weaken, root hairs die, water absorption stops, while the transpiration on the surface of the cactus is still relatively strong. This reduces the water content in the cactus and correspondingly increases the concentration of cell fluid, reducing the possibility of freezing and promoting the formation of flower buds.
Of course, not many cacti can autonomously enter a state of hibernation and withstand low temperatures, such as Bai Zhan, cacti, and grass cacti. They are completely unaffected by rain in the south during winter.
For most other varieties, if the ability to autonomously hibernate is not enough to meet the standard of being left outside, they will be frozen to death. At this point, we need to force hibernation by stopping watering.
So, those who advocate occasional watering/spraying in winter, aren't you misleading people?
Even in environments with heating, whether to stop watering is a serious consideration, not only involving cold resistance but also the amount of flowering. It is difficult for Laokou cacti to bloom in Hainan because it is hard for them to completely hibernate. As for how to stop watering specifically, everyone has their own method, just choosing suitable indicators for their own environment.
I hope you will like the specific introduction to whether cacti need to be watered in winter shared above!