So, you noticed some weird stuff growing out of your succulent lately and you’re wondering, what the heck is growing out of my succulent?! Succulents have some pretty strange quirks and the growths they produce can be bizarre and confusing. No need to panic though, in most cases these anomalous growths are harmless. Let’s see if we can identify what’s growing out of your succulent with the pictures below.
Cacti may seem like prickly desert survivors with little beauty to boast. But when these hardy plants produce flowers, they reveal a stunning delicate splendor that defies expectations. Join me as we explore the unique process of flowers growing on cacti and why this occurrence thrills botany enthusiasts.
I’ve always found cacti fascinating. As a longtime gardener and nature lover I’m drawn to plants with unique adaptations like the cactus’s thick, moisture-retaining stems and sharp protective spines. But never did I expect these sturdy succulents to have a soft side that includes gorgeous, vibrant blossoms.
The first time I witnessed a flower unfurling from the top of a round barrel cactus, I was stopped in my tracks. The fuchsia petals contrasted dramatically with the cactus’s forest green epidermis. I had to know more about this incredible phenomenon.
It turns out, flowering is an integral part of the reproductive cycle for most cactus species. While we tend to admire cacti for their exotic appearance and resilience, they produce flowers for the same reason as other plants – to attract pollinators and enable the production of fruit and seeds.
When Do Cacti Bloom?
Flowering times vary amongst the diverse cactus family, which hails from arid regions across the Americas. Seasonal rainfall and temperatures influence blooming periods both in the wild and in cultivation. Most cacti flower in spring, summer or fall when conditions are ideal.
Here are flowering seasons for some popular cacti:
- Spring – Prickly pear, hedgehog, Easter lily cactus
- Summer – Golden barrel, torch, fishhook barrel
- Fall – Pineapple cactus, orchid cactus, Old Lady cactus
For any species, individuals may flower during slightly different times annually. Patience and observation are required to catch each unique cactus at its blooming peak.
What Do Cactus Flowers Look Like?
Cacti produce flowers in a rainbow of colors including white, yellow, orange, pink, red, and purple. Shapes also vary widely, from bell-like to tubular, funnelform, disc-shaped and beyond.
Some cacti like the prickly pear produce showy, bowl-shaped blooms up to 6 inches wide. Meanwhile, the flowers of cacti in the Mammillaria family are diminutive, emerging like tiny pinwheels among dense spines.
Flowers may arise singly at the end of the stem or open in clusters called cephalia. Their transient beauty ranges from just a day up to two weeks in duration.
Where Do Flowers Grow on a Cactus?
Cactus flowers can sprout from several locations, depending on the species. The most common places are:
- Apex – At the very tip or top of the cactus
- Axils – In the angle between the stem and a branch
- Flowering zones – Specialized sections like cephalia
- Sides – Directly from the ribs of the cactus
Flowers growing straight from the main stem often leave tiny scars behind when they wither. Over time, rings of these flower scars can create a time record of the cactus’s blooming frequency.
Uncovering Why Cacti Produce Flowers
For cacti, flowering takes considerable energy and resources. So why bother? Flower production is key to their reproduction and genetic diversification.
As in other angiosperms, the main purpose of cactus flowers is to attract pollinators. Bees, birds, bats and other animals facilitate pollination when they visit multiple blooms searching for nectar.
Once pollinated, the flowers develop into edible fruits or pods packed with seeds. When dispersed, these seeds spawn new generations of cacti with unique genetic combinations.
Flowering also provides us dedicated cactus growers with a sign of health. Abundant blooms signal that our plants are thriving with the sunlight, water and nutrition needed for such output.
Cultivating Cactus Flowers at Home
If you want to encourage the flowers of a prized cactus to appear, some tips include:
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Sun – Ensure it receives at least 4-6 hours of direct light daily. Insufficient sun often causes weak blooms or none at all.
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Temperature – Some flowering is triggered by shifts in day/night temps. Try moving it to a cooler area at night.
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Water – Hydration is key prior to blooming. Provide regular water leading up to the normal flowering period.
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Fertilizer – Applying a balanced fertilizer in early spring primes the plant for good flower production.
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Grooming – Remove spent flowers to focus energy on new blooms. Also prune damaged stems.
Patience and attentive care will be rewarded when you spot the first hints of color bursting forth on your formerly sparse cactus!
Admiring Cactus Flowers in All Their Glory
When I first witnessed an exotic cactus flower unfurling before my eyes, I was enthralled by nature’s ingenuity. How incredible that these tough desert dwellers can also produce such delicate beauty.
Why is my succulent growing a stalk?
Sometimes a long stalk is normal and part of the plant’s individual life cycle. In some cases, adjustment of sunlight, support, or trimming can help keep succulent growth compact if desired.
There are a few reasons why a succulent may start to grow a tall stalk or stem:
- Flowering – Many succulents form tall flower stalks as part of their natural flowering and reproductive cycle. This allows the flowers and seeds to be more visible and accessible for pollinators. One example of this would be a flowering ‘Century Plant’ aka Agave americana
- Etiolation – If a succulent doesn’t get enough sunlight, it can start elongating and stretching toward light. This etiolation causes long, weak growth.
- Top heaviness – Some succulents can become top heavy if the top portion grows faster than the root system can support. The plant then grows a stalk to raise up the top.
- Hybridization – Certain hybrid succulents are more prone to developing long stalks as part of their genetic tendencies.
- Type of succulent – There are some succulents like Kalanchoe that naturally form flowers on top of long stems as they mature.
- Seeking warmth – In cooler weather, some succulents start to stretch and lean towards heat sources like sunlight or grow lights.
Pups are miniature clones of the parent succulent that bud off at the base. You’ll see this a lot in Echeveria and Echeveria hybrids. Pups are kind of like babies for succulents and allow them to propagate naturally. If you see little succulent rosettes sprouting from the main plant, those are probably pups.
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Some succulents, like Echeveria prolifica, produce long stems with roots that spread out along the soil surface and have little plants growing from the end . These are known as runners and allow the succulent to propagate itself through vegetative growth. Runners can take root anywhere along their length.
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On Succulents – Why is my succulent growing a long stem with flowers?
Many succulents bloom with tall, spiny or strangely colored flower stalks. Some don’t even produce leaves on the stalks. Flower stalks give succulents a chance to reproduce sexually through pollen and seeds.
If you see a fluffy growth on your cacti, you’re in for a treat! It is about to flower!
The cactus below is about to flower and is also for sale on Etsy! Shop small!
Some flower stalks are considered death blooms which means the plant will die after flowering.
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FAQ
Why is my cactus growing flowers?
Cacti produce flowers to reproduce sexually. Sexual reproduction is the way living organisms keep genetic diversity going in the population. Genetic diversity is important for adaptivity; if environmental conditions change, some members of a genet…
Should I remove pups from cactus?
Absolutely! Removing the pups from the maternal cactus to propagate individual progenies is an effective method of cactus propagation.
What is the growth coming out of my cactus?
The correct term is “suckers”, and anyone who grows cacti or has looked at this plant family in a nursery or botanical garden will have seen one or more suckers.
Do all Cactus have flowers?
All cacti have flowers. Generally, cactus flowers are short-lived and provide the primary characteristics that separate cacti from other succulents. Cacti flowers have at least 10 petals, with the sepals combined with the petals, and have numerous stamens surrounding a multi-lobed stigma. If a succulent doesn’t produce a flower, it is not a cactus.
What are the different types of cactus?
Cactus plants fall into two main varieties: The spiny, bulbous kinds most associated with desert landscape and the segmented, flowering tropical types. All cacti have flowers. Generally, cactus flowers are short-lived and provide the primary characteristics that separate cacti from other succulents.
What do cactus flowers look like?
The cactus grows in clusters with each stem covered in white bristles that appear soft but are prickly to the touch. Blooms of orange or red appear in late spring to early summer. The impressive flowers are large compared to the plant and open to display their beauty during the day.
What cactus can you grow outside?
Some good choices of desert cactus types for growing outside are the Arizona Barrel Cactus, the Prickly Pear, and the Old Man Cactus. The cactus plant family (Cactaceae) consists of a number of unique succulent-type plants that thrive in dry conditions. There are thousands of different types of cacti, with all of them being native to the Americas.
Which Cactus has a clumping growth?
The flowering spherical cactus has clumping growth. The small cactus spheres form larger clusters. The Crown Cactus is one of the first cacti to blossom in spring. The small round cactus also has the botanical name Rebutia minuscula.
Do cactus bloom in California?
The short, sprawling cactus blooms yellow-green to yellow flowers, followed by leathery fruit. The desert plant is found in Baja California, Arizona, and southern San Diego. This California cholla blooms in spring and summer, producing showy pale yellow to greenish-white flowers with red tips.