What kind of flowers do cacti produce?
Today's share: The flowers of cacti and the meaning of cacti flowering, as well as some small experiences in plant cultivation. These are very useful tips, so it's recommended to save them for future reference!
To be honest, the flowers of cacti are particularly beautiful, with a rich variety of colors. Most of the flowers are also very enchanting, resembling a perfect lotus. Moreover, a cactus doesn't just bloom one flower; sometimes it blooms in clusters, creating a beautiful scene. However, the only regrettable thing is that the blooming period of cactus flowers is too short. For example, the flowers of Echinopsis cacti or Euphorbia cacti can only last for one or two days.
1. Some varieties bloom longer
The blooming period of most cactus varieties is short, but there are a few that bloom for a slightly longer time, such as Cephalocereus, Lophophora, and Echinocereus.
① Cephalocereus, this variety has a relatively long blooming period among cacti, lasting about four to five days. Not only do individual flowers have a long blooming period, but flower buds also continuously emerge.
▲ Cephalocereus
② Lophophora, the blooming period of this variety is not necessarily long for individual flowers, but rather it produces a large number of flowers. Its flower buds can continuously emerge, making its blooming period last from May to September, which is relatively long.
▲ Lophophora, with flowers in circles
③ Echinocereus, this variety has the longest blooming period among cacti, lasting for one or two weeks. However, its drawback is that its flowers are not as large as those of other cacti.
What kind of flowers do cacti produce?
▲ Echinocereus, the flowers of Echinocereus are red, but its body is covered with long white fluff, hence the name.
2. Reasonable sun exposure
Cacti need plenty of sun to bloom, but when the flower buds of cacti open, you can move them to a slightly shaded area. This can slightly extend their blooming period, but not by much.
It is important to move the cactus only after its flowers are fully open. Otherwise, if you move it to a place with insufficient light before the flowers open, they might not open or might wilt directly.
▲ Unopened cactus flower
3. Removing the pistil
The main purpose of cacti flowering is for reproductive growth, which includes pollination and seed production. If you remove the pistil, the cactus will not be able to pollinate, and the flower will not produce seeds, thus allowing the petals to last for a longer period.
This situation applies if you do not want the cactus to produce seeds. If you do want it to produce seeds and cultivate more diverse varieties, you should definitely keep the pistil and use something like a brush to transfer the pollen to the stigma of the pistil.
The introduction above (Green Enthusiast Network) about the flowers of cacti and the meaning of cacti flowering is provided for netizens' reference and learning.