What are the common varieties of cactus? A detailed introduction to the benefits of growing them
Everyone is surely more than familiar with the cactus; because of its easy-to-grow and easy-to-keep-alive nature, people of every kind are full of affection for the cactus. Many people grow a small potted cactus, first because there is no need to worry at all about not being able to keep it alive, and second because it takes up no space and can even purify the air. But at present, there is a great variety of cactus species on the market, and the choices are fairly wide. Below, the editor of Nongxun Net recommends a few common cactus varieties for everyone, and let us take a look at what benefits there are to growing cacti.
I. Common cactus varieties
1. Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera): just as the name suggests, the Christmas cactus looks very much like a crab's claw, segment by segment. Moreover, the Christmas cactus has no stem used for storing water, so its plant shape is relatively slender compared with ordinary cacti.
2. Hime coral (Cylindropuntia): hearing the name, it is hard to associate it with a cactus variety; those who do not know might think it is coral. Hime coral is a clustering, colony-forming cactus, with a plant shape of clusters linked to one another, and in appearance it is also very easy to distinguish from other cacti, because it looks just like coral on the seabed.
3. Silver finger (Mammillaria gracilis): common cactus plants are generally green, but the silver finger is different; its somewhat silvery plant shape has won it many admirers. The spines on its body are also relatively small, and it looks as if it is wrapped in a layer of down, fuzzy and very cute.
4. Offsets ball (Rebutia). The offsets ball is one of the few cactus varieties that will flower. The ball-shaped appearance of the offsets ball is somewhat different from that of the cactus ball; the offsets ball grows many small cacti on the mother ball, so the offsets ball is also often used to symbolize the meaning of spreading branches and leaves.
II. Benefits of growing cacti
1. Greening. As an "oxygen factory at night", one of the simplest functions of the cactus is greening, adding color to life, and at the same time the cactus is also a little expert at cleaning up dust.
2. Edible. Many friends surely know that cacti can be eaten, and the cooking methods for cactus are also extremely varied; they can be pan-fried, deep-fried or baked to make different dishes. Moreover, cacti can also be used to brew alcohol, making them a rather individual fruit-and-vegetable item in daily life.
3. Medicinal: the entire cactus plant can be used as a medicinal ingredient, and its pharmacological effects should not be underestimated; it can be taken internally or used externally, and it can be harvested in all four seasons.
The above is an introduction to cactus varieties and their benefits; I wonder which kind of cactus everyone likes? Do you also know what other benefits cacti have? You are welcome to leave a comment and discuss.
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