Online Studies in Cacti and Succulents - expand your plant skills.
- Learn to identify and grow a wide variety of different cacti and succulents
- Create hardy gardens with a completely different aesthetic
- Grow them as decorative container plants, inside or out
- Use them for roof gardens or green walls.
Cacti and Succulents are a very large group of unusual plants. These plants are very often grouped together, for example, in both in articles and books. They're also often seen planted together in gardens. Cacti and succulents are, however, two very different groups of plants. Learn about their differences and care with this fascinating course!
Course Structure and Lesson Content
There are 8 lessons, as follows:
1. Introduction
Review of the system of plant identification
Physiology
Information sources
2. Culture A.
Planting
Staking
Mulching
Soils
Feeding
Pruning etc.
3. Propagation
Methods of propagating cacti and succulent plants
Propagation of selected varieties
Using Cacti & Succulents
Edible succulents
Garden Design
Garden Styles
Mexican gardens
Using Colour
Rock Gardens
Growing Cacti or Succulents in containers
4. Culture B.
Pests and Disease
Irrigation
Greenhouse growing
5. Cacti - developing your plant knowledge.
General guidelines for growing cacti
Review of Cacti Genera
Zygocactus - featured plants
6. Succulents - developing your plant knowledge.
Review of Succulent Families
Bromeliads - featured plants
Kalanchoe
Sansevieria
7. Special Project
Course Duration: 100 hours of self-paced study.
Start Date: You can start the course at any time which suits you.
Course Aims
- Understand how these plants are named and classified scientifically.
- Discuss the horticultural and landscaping potential of cacti and succulents.
- Evaluate needs, then select or improve growing media for cacti and succulents.
- Propagate different types of cacti and succulents.
- Explain a range of uses for cacti and succulents.
- Manage growing conditions for cacti and succulents.
- Explain the cultivation of a range of cacti.
- Explain the cultivation of a range of succulents.
What are Cacti and Succulents?
“Succulent” is not a particularly precise term. It can mean different things to different people and throughout various locations. However, one phrase that remains consistent is when thinking about what a succulent is - containing more moisture.
Succulents are plants with “fleshy” foliage, higher in water content than other plants. They include a very diverse range of plants varying in both appearance and the conditions under which they grow. Some need a hot climate, while others need a cold climate. Some may thrive in relatively dry soils, while others need moisture and are likely to deteriorate rapidly in very dry conditions.
Cacti are generally succulent plants belonging to the Cactaceae family. They are most commonly characterised by possessing spines and lacking distinct leaves.
Broadly speaking, succulents grow better under poorer conditions and require less maintenance than most other types of plants. This doesn't mean that they can be completely ignored, but it can mean that:
- They may require less watering, pruning or weeding.
- They propagate faster, and easier.
- They can grow in poorer soils, with less need for fertiliser.
- They may survive extreme weather events better (e.g. drought, heat waves, storms).
- Most have fewer pest or disease problems than woody plants.
If they get too large, you can prune most as heavily as you like, and they will survive (unlike many woody shrubs that may suffer if pruned too heavily).
Consider climate, and choose appropriate succulents for the temperature, rainfall and humidity. Some interesting considerations include:
- It is wrong to think of succulents as “desert plants” - some species have trouble in hotter, more humid climates.
- Light frosts (up to -3 °C) are not a problem for most species. Though a few tender cultivars can suffer mild frost damage on leaves.
- In colder climates, one should be more selective about the species grown. Some succulents will tolerate frosts beyond -7 °C!
- Most prefer higher light intensity and growth tends to be more compact with more light.
- Poor ventilation/lack of oxygen can be an issue if grown in air-conditioned spaces for too long.
Growing cacti and succulents can be rewarding, but the correct conditions must be created to produce the healthiest growth. Succulents are frequently easy to grow, but it can be harder to grow superb looking specimens. The main requirements of most cacti and succulents are strong light, adequate drainage, and to be sufficiently dry during any dormant period.
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