What is the difference between Cacti and Succulents?

Succulents and cacti are among the most popular plants. They are perfect for decoration, they are easy to care for, they do not need much water, they produce oxygen at night, they are ideal plants for the bedroom, they beautifully decorate our house, and they grow slowly and steadily. 

Looking at them, most people find it difficult to distinguish the differences between the cacti, as they are very similar to each other. All cacti are succulents, but not all succulents.

Common care tips for cacti and succulents

Watering

The cactus or a succulent has no special requirements, so it is easy to care for. The key is to know how often you need watering, as we have a tendency to overdo it.

Most cacti and succulents should be watered as soon as the soil is completely dry. In fact, these plants need adequate watering to thrive. And then you have to let the soil in the pot dry completely. And then water it again.

There are many factors that can affect how quickly the potting soil will dry out so the best thing to do is just keep your mind on its care.

By common sense you might think that the bigger the cactus or succulent, the more often it needs water. And yet, younger, smaller cacti and succulents usually have higher growth rates and need more water than their size. In short, you will need to provide substantially more water to a larger cactus, but you will realize that smaller, faster-growing cacti and succulents planted in smaller pots really need more attention and more frequent watering.

Flowerpot

The flowerpot also plays an important role. The bigger pot the more soil they need. So they hold more water. This means no more time is needed for the plant to absorb the water or to drain or evaporate the water from the pot. Be aware, however, that most cacti and succulents are more comfortable in smaller pots, as they do not like to sit in water for long periods of time. It can be really difficult or even fatal to avoid root rot if a cactus is planted in an oversized pot.

Factors such as the size, pot material, ambient temperature, atmospheric humidity, wind and season will affect the care of your plants.

Cacti

All cacti belong to the Cactaceae family of plants, and there are many characteristics that identify a plant that belongs to this family. Their morphology is different from other normal plants. In cacti, the leaves are modified to form thorns and the stem is modified for photosynthesis. Thorns can absorb moisture in the air to some degree. It almost loses the absorbed water. Thorns perform another important function. They trap moisture and create a layer of moisture near the surface of the cactus stem. This helps the plant to reduce respiration and thus save some water. Thorns can also protect the plant from herbivores. Thorns are not just one of these characteristics. Do not be fooled into thinking that a cactus is a cactus just because it has no thorns. There are many species of succulents with thorns that do not belong to the cacti, such as some Euphorbias and Agaves. What do the areolas really determine in cacti? Areolas are typical formations (bumps) in cacti from which flowers, clusters of thorns or new stems can emerge, all cacti have it, while succulents do not. Areolas are not difficult to find. They usually look like small, fluffy bumps on the cactus body. So, the next time you see a succulent, look to see if it has areolas. Then you will know for sure that it is a cactus, or not. 

It always helps to know where the plants you grow come from, how they behave in their natural environment and what their habits are. This information gives an idea of ​​their requirements. Almost all cacti come from North and South America. Cacti do not grow in the deserts as it is wrongly believed since almost nothing grows in the desert, but in areas with very high drought. In some of these areas there may be no rainfall at all for long periods of time, but the soil is usually rich in inorganic elements. 

Succulents

Succulents are a type of plant that adapts to hot and dry environments. They have the ability to retain water in the plant. Succulents can store water in their stems, leaves and even roots. Plants that survive under adverse conditions due to rhizomes, bulbs, and root tubers can be categorized into succulents. The succulent appearance is due to water storage. This is known as juicy. In most succulents, the leaves are absent or reduced. Even if they are unpleasant, they are very small leaves to reduce perspiration. They also reduce perspiration by reducing the number of mouthwashes. In succulents, the stems are modified to perform photosynthesis. The roots are not deeply rooted, and are located near the surface and are widely spread to collect water even from very light rains. In addition, succulents have a very thick skin, which is impermeable to water.

Succulents grow in most parts of the world except the Arctic and Antarctic. The richest areas in Succulents are South Africa and Madagascar, and a significant number are growing in North and South America. 

Best reasons for buying a cactus plant or a succulent

• They have many varieties. There is a huge variety of cactus | succulent species, which differ in height from two centimeters up to 20 meters!
• They grow very slowly. Cacti can survive for decades as indoor plants and for thousands of years in their natural environment! At the same time, their growth is very slow! A common cactus or  succulent that you buy from the nursery or flower store will need 10 years to grow by two centimeters, while to reach its full height, approximately up to 15 meters, it will take 200 years!
• Very beautiful flowers bloom. Many of these plants can bloom and in fact their flowers are among the most impressive among the plants! One of the reasons you do not often see flowering cacti is their very slow growth. Nevertheless, assuming that the plant you have purchased is already ripe, the way for it to bloom is to inactivate it, stop fertilizing, reduce watering to once a month or less, and place it in a bright and cool place.
• They are very durable. Cacti and succulents are ideal even for those who are not very consistent in their obligations to their plants. They endure without water for too long and can survive almost any obstacle. The «deadliest» blow is the over-watering, which ends in their rot. Even so, owning one is still beyond the reach of the average person. The only things they cannot stand are the extremely low temperatures.
• Thorns are very necessary. Cacti were not always like that! The appearance of thorns and needles was a necessity in their evolution, since they had to be protected from the animals and people that ate them, as a result of which their species is threatened with extinction!

• We, at anthemionflowers have a large variety of succulents and cacti. In various sizes, colors, shapes will satisfy even the most demanding customer who would like to decorate the house, office, the balcony or the garden.