Cacti and other succulents are ideal as indoor as well as garden plants. They are tough and are easy to care for so long as they get good light, gritty compost and are not over-watered. 

The shapes of cacti vary greatly but they all have a sculptural quality that makes them markedly different from other groups of plants. The decorative appeal of cacti lies predominantly in their strange forms. They bear little resemblance to conventional leafy plants, ranging in shape from tiny globes and columnar stems to huge barrels. Cacti flowers too, when they appear, are spectacular and always exciting. 

In a nutshell, with their bizarre shapes, varied texture and vivid blossoms, cacti and other succulent plants are among the most intriguing of indoor and outdoor plants.

History 

The first private collection of cacti and other succulent plants was started in the 17th century, when plants and seeds became available. Until the 20th century, most gardens and major collections of cacti and succulents were owned by the wealthy.

Today interest in cacti and succulents as both garden and indoor plants is as strong as ever. Impressive collections of cacti and succulents have been seen in various parts of the world in both private and individual gardens and also in various botanical gardens. Some of the best known among them are Harrington Botanical Garden, California, a Zurich Succulent Plant Collection in Switzerland, Palmengarten in Frankfurt, Germany and above all, the oldest collection at the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, in the United Kingdom. 

In fact, we have an excellent collection of cacti and succulents in our very own Agri-Horticultural Society of India, Alipore. The collection is called William Carey Xero House. This is actually a landscape garden in a glass house with cacti and succulent plants.

Conservation

As with many other groups of plants, the need for conservation of cacti and succulent plants has now gained importance. This is to ensure the survival of these plants in their natural habitats, which are now endangered. 

In fact, strict laws are required to protect endangered species of these plants in the wild. Desert regions and jungles are being cleared to make way for highways and townships, thereby uprooting the cacti. Endangered species are targeted by smugglers and unscrupulous collectors and also looming is the threat of climate change, pollution and the depletion of natural pollinators. 

Cacti also need to be protected in botanical gardens and in general cultivation. Many cacti and succulent plants like the Euphorbia Obesa and Aloe Variegata are almost extinct in the wild. So the onus is on individual growers, who still have their specimens, to propagate them so they are not lost. 

Bodies such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources encourage growers to raise rare species from seed, rather than buy plants that may have been collected from the wild.
In the coming weeks, we shall provide a better understanding of these exotic and bizarre plant, explaining how to identify cacti and other succulents, their origin, characteristics and also suggest guidelines for their cultivation and propagation. 

Finally, a representative selection of these plants would be suggested to enthusiasts.

 

To be continued