It will take about six months to a year for a young cactus to grow from seed to golf ball size. From there, it will take two to three years for the cacti to grow two centimeters. After this, the cactus will grow at a rate of one to three centimeters per year for the rest of its life.
Among the most common cactus species in the United States is the Golden Barrel Cactus. the Ferrocactus (and its subspecies), and the famous Saguaro Cactus (the most famous species).
What makes Cacti grow so slowly?
There’s a reason why growing cacti as a houseplant has become so popular lately, and it’s not just because they’re so fun.
Cactus plants are a member of the succulent family, known for being difficult to kill. Perfect for beginner plant owners, cactus plants are very well adapted to survive times of neglect.
Why Do Cacti Grow So Slow?
To understand why cacti grow slowly, there are two main factors to consider.
The first is that cacti are highly adapted to survive in climates with unpredictable and infrequent rainfall. As a result, they focus their energy on survival, rather than rapid growth. Read more about the amazing ways cacti are adapted to survive.
After a Year?
It’s not so weird if your cactus hasn’t reached its full potential after 12 months. When you reach that milestone of your plant being full size, it’s time to start thinking about propagation techniques. Take your succulent out of its small container and move it to a larger one so it can continue to grow.
Although cacti can continue to grow for several years, all depending on the species in your possession, but some of them can grow to be quite tall; Saguaro cactus is one of those. A cactus that traces back to the Sonoran Arizona Desert, if you have one of those, you can expect your cacti to grow to be quite tall.
Soil And Climate
When we think about where cacti come from, slow growth is part of their durability. They come from desert climates, where there is rain and a lack of nutrients.
All plants need these things to carry out the photosynthesis process. Because they don’t have these two essential plant needs, they can’t grow big and they can’t grow very fast.
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