Cacti and Succulents in Landscaping.pptx

This presentation deals with the cactus and succulents suitable for landscaping

1. Janaharshini R (2018006015) Cacti and Succulents in Landscaping

2. Introduction Cacti and succulents are a group of plants which have special structures to store water in thick fleshy leaves or stems. Their leaves are fleshy with plenty of water holding tissues, often reduced in size, covered with a thick epidermis with only a few stomata and are often coated with a whitish or blue wax or wooly hairs. They thrive best in sunny situations and are light loving. They need little care except when actively growing.

3. All the cacti are succulents on account of storing water but all the succulents are not cacti. There is a clear distinction between both . The cacti are one type of succulents which are exclusively belonging to Cactaceae family. They are perennials, has areoles which often looks like wolly cushions carrying spines. The spines in a cactus are modified leaves which provide shade against scorching sun and help in conservation of moisture besides protecting against birds and animals.

4. Most of the cacti do not have leaves but the succulents have leaves. The cacti usually bloom annually. Cacti can be raised from seeds but the process is very slow. Hence, the common practice is to grow them through vegetative buds. The container for cacti are filled with an 10 cm gravel and above that a thin layer of sand is spread to provide drainage. The best soil mixture consists of sandy loam, little cowdung manure and some broken bricks. Repotting is necessary with fresh soil once in two or three years, usually in the same containers, since the plant grow very slowly. Cacti and succulents are very popular amongst gardeners and they are used to adorn sunny situations of gardens, houses, window sides and rock gardens

5. Growing of Cacti and Succulents CLIMATE: Cacti are adaptable to wide range of climatic conditions. The extremes of temperature i.e. above 35 ⁰C and exposure to direct scorching sun results into yellowing and finally rotting . Plants should be shaded to protect them. Very low temperature also inhibits the growth of cacti. The plants also have a resting period. During this period cacti need little care and watering at longer intervals. Active growth starts again during spring season and continues till autumn .

6. SOIL: Well in porous and rich in calcareous soil. F or making a pot mixture care should be taken to include all necessary gradients which are benefitted for their growth. General ideal port mixture for cacti  2 parts garden soil: 1 part of sand : 1 part leaf mould: 1 part well rotten manure: 1 part old mortar or limestone gravel and ½ part charcoal. Small amount of basic slag or bone meal to be added. Growing of Cacti and Succulents

7. Propagation  Division of offset or clumps or rootsuckers , Cuttings and Grafting Watering  Cacti and succulents do not needd liberal watering. Judicious application of water is required for successful growing. In winter months i.e. during rest period watering is to be done very sparingly. Little frequent watering is done during summer months when cacti grow. Every time the soil is to be drenched completely so that water comes out of the drain hole and over watering should be avoided Growing of Cacti and Succulents

8. CACTI GARDEN, KEVADI (GUJARAT)

9. CACTI GARDEN, KEVADI (GUJARAT)

10. COMMON SUCCULENTS 1. Agave sp.- Amaryllidaceae Evergreen massive growing plant with short stem and leaves in a close rosette . Leaves are stiff and are tipped with sharp points, leathery and fibrous. Use agaves as single specimen local points in landscape or containers or in rock garden with other succulents ,but keep the armored varieties away from paths.

11. 2.Adenium obesum Handsome plant with succulent swollen stem at base, shrub growing upto 1-2m, very large showy funnel shaped- white pink to crimson coloured flowers during dry months.

12. 3.Aloe ( Liliaceae ) Plants are evergreen with soft, succulent thick leaves, often prickly or spiny resembling the Agaves. Depending upon the species, there are Aloe that bloom every month of the year , but most common floral flourishes occur in midwinter to summer. LANDSCAPE IDEAS: Popular for dry landscapes in Mediterranean climates. For rock gardens, A. petricola thrives among stones. In colder zones, Plant aloes in containers so they can be moved during inclement weathers. Aloe petricola

13. 4.Bryophyllum It is an erect growing succulent herb with thick fleshy simple leaves. It is good pot plant and could be easily propagated by leaves or leaf cuttings .

14. 5. Echeveria (Native – Mexico and Central America) Cotyledon or Oyster plant. They are small succulent herbaceous perennials with dense rosettes of small leaves. Useful for growing in higher elevation. Useful for edging flower beds or in carpet beds in the hills. They can also grow indoors where there is bright , indirect light. Propagated from suckers and also by leaves .

15. 6.Furcraea watsoniana Ornamental foliage plants resembling agaves ;the variegated spines are very attractive. Leaves are variegated, yellowish white, white and green measuring 1-1.5 m long. The flower, stem resembles that of Agaves and bears innumerable bulbils from which this species is propagated.

16. 7.Gasteria Aloe-like small evergreen succulent plants with fleshy, thick tongue shaped leaves which are green, spotted with white or purple. Propagated by offsets and leaf cuttings.

17. 8.Kalanchoe Dwarf succulent plant resembling Bryophyllum with thick fleshy leaves from which they are propagated. Flowers showy , provided in terminal clusters.

18. 9. Pedilanthus sp. Often used as a hedge border plant , produce variegated leaves.

19. 10. Sansevieria zeylancia Produces erect strap-shaped leaf, 0.25 to 1.0 m long, which is green striped with grey bands. Other species having garden importance are S. cylindrica which produces green cylindrical leaves and S. trifasciata which develops like rosette with spirally arranged leaves around the stem.

20. Sansevieria cylindrica Sansevieria trifasciata

21. 11.Euphorbia Stems are thorny, leaves small. Stem and leaves discharge poisonous milky juice when punctured. Propagated by cutting. Important species: E. candelabrum, E. neriifolia , E.splendens (Mother in law’s tongue), E. pendula (Suitable for hanging baskets), E. aphylla .

22. 12.Haworthia Small plants with or without a short stem, leaves in rosettes or closely overlapping or arranged in several rows. Easily propagated by offsets

23. 13. Portulacaria afra Succulent shrub and very common for hanging baskets . Stem is horizontally spreading. Leaves are thick, glabrous, opposite, obovate and shining green.

24. Plants are prostrate and stems are covered with glistening papillae. Leaves are heart shaped, short stalked, opposite, fleshy and covered with papillae. Small flowers are short stalked , purplish red in colour . Ideally suited for hanging baskets, rockery, window gardens. Flowering occurs during hot months and July to September. 14. Aptenia cordifolia ( Aizoaceae )

25. Perennial and shrubbery in nature. They have either opposite and persistent leaves with thick and fleshy stems or leaves are alternative and summer deciduous. Propagation  Seeds, stem cuttings , leaf cuttings. IMPORTANT SPECIES C. orbiculata  Plants has thick stems with opposite, unstalked , ovate- obovate and fleshy leaves. Leaves have grey waxy covering. Flowers appear in summer and are of yellowish – red colour 15. Cotyledon sp. ( Crassulaceae )

26. Popularly called as “Flowering stones” on account of their similarity to surrounding gravels, stones or pebbles. Plants grow singly or in clumps. Plant bodies consist of single pair of brownish grey leaves and reticulate surfaces. Sometimes surfaced is dotted. Flowers are short stalked, white or yellow in colour . Propagation  Seeds and cuttings 16. Lithops sp. ( Aizoaceae )

27. Small tree with swollen trunk at the base and tapering towards apex. Leaves are long, narrow and recurved in tuft. 17. Nolina recurvata

28. Native : Central Africa, Madagascar, Peru, Bolivia and Philippines. Common species: S. compactum  Low growing herbaceous plants with obovate to obtuse leaves on short rosette. S. morganianum  Leaves arebthick , fleshy and numerous. S. nudum  Leaves are alternate, obovate , oblong thick and blunt at the tip. 18. Sedum sp.

29. CACTUS & THEIR TRIBES Family : Cactaceae Further divided into 3 tribes TRIBE 1: Pereskieae - Primitive form and near to original forest trees. Plants are leafy bushes , have stalked flowers in clusters like wild roses. Spines are present but not in glochids or barbed bristles . Eg ., Pereskia grandiflora (Rose cactus).

30. TRIBE 2: Opuntieae - Plants are characterized by glochids or sharp, easily detached bundles of barbed bristles in the aerioles . Stem or branches are fleshy, loosely joined either flat or pad like or cylindrical having spines but without ribs. Flowers are without petioles and tubes and generally of wheel shape. E.g. Opuntia sp. CACTUS & THEIR TRIBES

31. TRIBE 3: Cereae – largest group and members characterized by ribbed, fleshy stems of continous growth in columns or globes. Glochids are absent from areoles. Flowers are tubular and very showy except Riphalis section. They are attached directly on the plant without stems . This tribe is largest one and further divided into 8 subtribes : Cereanae – Column or torch cacti. Branches- numerous and ribbed. Funnel shaped flowers appears on the top.eg., cereus, cephalocereus , cleistocactus , Trichocereus Hylocereanae - Vine like habit with aerial roots clinging to trees and rocks. Mostly night blooming cacti and large flowered.Important genera – Selenicereus , Hylocereus , Weberocereus , Cryptocereus etc ., CACTUS & THEIR TRIBES

32. Echinocereanae - These are low, growing in clusters or single, heavily ribbed. Flowers are bell shaped, showy and appear on the side of the stem.Important genera: Echinocereus , Echinopsis , Rebutia , Chamaecereus etc ., Echinocactaenae - They grow low and small and sometimes forming clusters, ribbed and spiny. Flowers are most beautiful. e.g., Astrophytum , Echinocactus etc ., Cactanae - Melon cactus or Turk’s cap. Can e easily identified by the presence of wooly or bristle ,cap like structure on the top of the globular body. Flowers arise from the top. E.g. Melocactus CACTUS & THEIR TRIBES

33. Coryphanthanae – Pincushion cacti. They are globe shaped, Stems are small forming large clusters with tubercles or nipples in rows. Important genera : Mammillaria and Coryphantha Epiphyelanae - Mostly epiphytic and tropical. Branches are flat and leaf like of usually without spines. Flowers are showy. E.g. Zygocactus and Epiphyllum Rhipsalidanae - Chain cacti. They are freely branching with slender ,cylindrical or flat branches .Stems are pendent forming dense masses on trees of tropical forests.They bear tiny flowers and berries. Important genera: Riphalis and Rhipsalidopsis CACTUS & THEIR TRIBES

34. COMMON CACTUS 1.Cephalocereus senilis Small columnar forms and the most distinguishing feature is the mass of hair from the aerole which looks like a thick bunch of wool, depending on the species, either the growing point is fully covered with wooly hairs or the body also, hence popularly called OLD MAN CACTUS.

35. 2. Cereus sp. Night blooming cacti They are long stemmed, vigorous growing, thorny, hardy plants. They are leafless climbers can reach the top of tall trees. They bloom during night and flowers are large, white and scented. They can be used as rootstock for Epiphyllum and phyllocactus . Important species: C. hexagonus , C. argentinensis , C. jamacaru , C. peruvianus and C. repandus .

36. 3.Echinocactus Hedge Hog Cactus. Small unbranching. Ovoid or globes succulent, prickly plant. They resemble a ribbed melon of the size of a cricket ball with star-like arrangement of thorns along the ribs. Golden Barrel is another variety with large ribbed green ball armed with straight golden yellow spines. Golden Barrel

37. 4.Echinocereus Low growing plants forming groups of clusters. They can be grown in small pots and they produce large flowers.

38. 5.Echinopsis Barrel/Hedge– Hog Cactus. Small spiny succulent. They produce detachable offsets. Suitable for growing in small pots for their increasing flowers. Propagated by offsets .

39. 6.Epiphyllum Christmas Cactus or Crab Cactus . Plants with flattened succulent stems. The plants are spineless and bear usually large attractive flowers. Propagated by cuttings and can be used as rootstock.

40. 7.Mammilaria Nipple cactus or Elephant’s Tooth cactus . Dwarf plants with leafless cylindrical or globular stems bearing over their surface, small tubercles and each tubercle being covered by a rosette of hairy spines. Propagated by offsets.

41. Native : West Indies and coast of South America Lemon Vine Woody plant, have needle like brown spines. Leaves are waxy green and elliptic. Flowers are creamish in colour and posses lemon like scent. P. grandiflora  Rose cactus- tall shrub growing with abundantly spiny trunk.Leaves are rich green, fleshy and waxy. Flowers are produced in terminal clusters of rose colour and very similar to wild rose. 8. Pereskia aculeata

42. Commonly grown cactus for fencing. There are large number of species and some are ornamental. Common sp. For fencing  O. cylindrica , O. caribaea , O. tetracantha and O. subulata . Opuntia monocantha variegata  Highly ornamental having patches of different colours like pink, red and yellow. 9. Opuntia sp.

43. Large group of vigorous and hardy plants. Plants flower when they are young.Large flowers are produced on the top of the plant and are yellow in colour with purple red stigma . Important species: N. haselbergii , N. elachisanthus . 10. Notocactus sp.

44. Rat’s tail cactus. Stems are long about 1.5-2 m, slender and hanging. Stems are closely ribbed and densely covered with small brownish spines. Flowers are tubular which are produced on long hanging stems and last for several days. Ideally suitable for hanging baskets. Important sp.  A. mallisonii , A. conzatti , A. martianus . 11. Aprocactus flagelliformis

45. Commonly known as ‘Bishop’s cap’. The usual number of ribs is 5 but it ranges from 3-8. The dark surface is covered with silvery scales. Plants are spineless but have prominent areoles. Large numbers of small, sweetly scented yellow with reddish throat are produced. It is ideally suited for small pots. Other species: A. asterias , A. capricorne . 12. Astrophytum myriostigma

46. 13. Coryphantha sp. Small, globular or cylindrical cacti, divided into tubercles. They have attractive spine formations and look attractive. Flowers are large and are produced at the top. Important species are C. echinus, C. cornifera , C. clava , C. pallida , C.vivipara etc.,

47. 14. Ferocactus sp. General name has been derived from English word ‘Ferocious’, on account of its look due to presence of fierce spines. But spines are beautifully coloured . Plants are slow growing. Flowers of red or yellow colour are borne on the top of the plant. Important species: F. acanthodes , F. covillei , F. johnstonianus , F. latispinus , F. melocactiformis etc.,

48. 15. Gymnocalycium sp. Chin cactus These are globular plants and have few ribs which are divided into tubercles . There is a cleft below each tubercle, giving a ‘Chin” like effect. Length of spines and shape vary greatly with the species. Some have short, thin spines, while others possess long stout and curved ones. Flowers are quite large of about 5 cm across and lasts for several days . Important species: G. denudatum , G. baldianum , G. bruchii , G. dimsii , G. gibbosum etc.,

49. References Planting designs for Cactus and Succulents –Sharon Asakawa and John Bagnasco ,Cool Springs Press. Introductory Ornamental Horticulture –Dr. J.S.Arora