Q. I am looking for substitutes for cacti. Plants without stickers that need no
water. I want to replace my 15 lantana.
I would like to plant them now before the heat comes.
A. All of the plants in the desert require irrigation,
even cacti. Some of the cacti require more frequent irrigation than others.
Those
coming from the Mojave Desert require the least amount. Cacti from the Mojave
Desert can get by with shallow irrigations occurring perhaps once a month with
a hose.
coming from the Mojave Desert require the least amount. Cacti from the Mojave
Desert can get by with shallow irrigations occurring perhaps once a month with
a hose.
+bird+damage+compressed+cropped.jpg) |
| Nopal cactus fruit called ‘Tunas’. Brix hit about 16. Birds love the sweet ones. That is mostly bird damage. The spines on these cacti are diminished but they are present and you must protect your hands handling pads or fruit. |
Thorns
or “stickers” is a defense mechanism used by plants to keep desert animals from
eating plant parts that are full of stored water. There are some cacti that
have “stickers” which are much diminished. However, they are present and can
cause pain if you handle them.
or “stickers” is a defense mechanism used by plants to keep desert animals from
eating plant parts that are full of stored water. There are some cacti that
have “stickers” which are much diminished. However, they are present and can
cause pain if you handle them.
If water
is your major limitation then I would encourage you to look at other possible
ways of making your landscape look attractive without growing plants.
is your major limitation then I would encourage you to look at other possible
ways of making your landscape look attractive without growing plants.
A big
benefit of growing plants in a yard is their increase in individual value as
they get larger and collective value as part of a beautiful landscape.
benefit of growing plants in a yard is their increase in individual value as
they get larger and collective value as part of a beautiful landscape.
 |
| Nopal cactus grown in Hernosillo, Mex, at the University of Sonora field trials. |
Other
benefits besides beauty are to create more hospitable environments in your
landscape. Then of course the right plants can provide food for us.
benefits besides beauty are to create more hospitable environments in your
landscape. Then of course the right plants can provide food for us.
You can
bypass some of this “added value” to your landscape by spending more money
upfront in the design. This includes things such as creative use of rock
mulches with different colors and sizes, use of changes in landscape elevations
when contouring the landscape during construction, use of boulders and good
boulder placement, attractive screens, trellises, fences and good garden art.
bypass some of this “added value” to your landscape by spending more money
upfront in the design. This includes things such as creative use of rock
mulches with different colors and sizes, use of changes in landscape elevations
when contouring the landscape during construction, use of boulders and good
boulder placement, attractive screens, trellises, fences and good garden art.
But I am
afraid there is no solid, one answer to your question.
afraid there is no solid, one answer to your question.
You can get paid to plant this cactus. No water. No thorns. No maintenance whatsoever that you need to do. Will look great in your yard for years.
That ain't no saguaro 😉
http://scvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/cactus_cell_tower.jpg.