Windowsill Cactus: Succulents

It is common for people to think of succulents and cactus plants as two separate categories of plants, which leads to two different ways these terms are used. Cacti are succulents with a specific characteristic that sets them apart from all other succulents, called an areole. An areole is composed of two buds, and from these buds flowers, branches, fruit and spines will emerge as the plant grows. It is the spines that most of us notice that distinguish cactus plants from everything else and generally the spines are the easiest way to tell cactus plants apart from all other kinds of succulents. If you can remove a spine from the plant without causing the body of the plant to become injured and bleed with sap, then you can be very sure that the plant is a cactus. If you remove a spine, or what looks like a spine, from any other succulent and a clear or milky sap comes out of the plant, then what you have removed is actually a thorn and the plant is a non-cacti succulent. Basically, all cactus plants are succulents , and cactus varieties are a small segment of a much larger group of succulent plants.

The term "succulent and cactus plants" really could technically only mean all succulents, but the terms also have a common usage meaning that succulent plants and cactus plants are two separate groups. It is really silly to imagine having everyone use these terms only in their technically correct ways, because it seems easy to speak of succulent and cactus plants as two different types of plants. The important point, as far as communication is concerned, is to be aware of the fact that these terms are frequently used in different ways and understand these meanings accordingly.

Having said all of this about the word succulent it is perhaps more relevant to understand a little about what succulent plants are in order to keep them as house plants. Succulents are a very large group of plants that have highly developed and specialized ways of storing water. This conspicuous ability for surviving long dry periods allows them to live in environments where most other kinds of plants would soon perish. These plants either store water in their leaves, roots or stems. and this produces a wide variety of swollen appearances making succulents a vastly complex looking group of plants.

The same specializations that allow them to survive in harsh climates makes them poorly adapted to surviving as house plants simply because a home is a much more stable and a less harsh environment. There are many varieties of broadleaf house plants that can be watered any time and kept in any location and will still thrive in our living spaces. Succulents will fail as house plants with such casual treatment and if we want them to live they will require us to be attentive to the passing cycles of the seasons. Succulents grow and rest according to the passing seasons, and even though they may change their pattern somewhat as house plants, they will still maintain seasonal patterns of needing water and then dryness.

In following the path of sharing our living spaces with succulent and cactus plants, there is a level of spiritual truth and beauty to be found. They help keep our lives rooted in the ordered changes of the four seasons and keep us connected to our deepest and most primal relationship with time. From these beautiful plants it is easy to see that a time of growth is followed by a period of rest, and there is no good life to be lived in always pushing for growth. Growth and rest come in seasons because time brings the cycles of all good things on its own terms, and perhaps succulents can help bring this simple and basic understanding of truth and beauty to our lives.

Be aware that if you are growing succulents, it is important to expect some disappointments because many varieties are extremely challenging, and lifestyle is a consideration too. Sometimes people wonder if it is appropriate to have older children keep succulent or cactus house plants, and the answer is really on a case by case basis. There is always the risk of the child getting an injury from a succulent and there is an even much higher risk that the child will kill the plant with bad care. A similar question is often asked concerning small caged animals as a pets, and parents often have children keep them because they teach us many thing about life and death. Whether anyone of any age should keep a certain kind of plant or animal really depends on that person's interest and willingness to care for another living thing. Succulent and cactus plants are clearly a poor choice for may people as house plants regardless of their age. However, if someone of any age has an interest in them and is willing and able to be attentive to their needs, then succulents are well worth keeping as house plants.

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Aloe

Euphorbia

Gasteria

Haworthia

Monadenium

Sansevieria