The Mighty Saguaro

The Saguaro cactus is the symbol of the Southwest. With arms that jut out, and a straight tall frame, they are easily personifiable. Reportedly the largest cactus in the U.S., these cacti can reach a height of 12 meters (that's 39.37007874015748 Feet) and live to be over 200 years old. In the Arizona desert, small animals burrow into the cactus and make it their home. In the early 1900's the Saguaro's cactus flower was named Arizona's territorial flower, and thirty years later, named as the state flower.

Grafting: You, Too, Can Be a Mad Scientist

Succulent plants allow a grower to graft two entirely different plants onto each other, to essentially create one.
Grafting is strange, and usually not seamless.
1: Remove one inch off of the top of a healthy succulent.
2: Select a healthy stem or section of another succulent
3: Cut away the outer plant skin from the edges of the second succulent (about a half inch)
4: Cut a slit down the middle of the original succulent
5: Slide the second succulent's exposed end into the slit of the original succulent
6: Secure the two parts by skewering the two sections so they remain intact, and tie a string around the joined section.
7: Leave in a bright and airy place, make sure the temp does not go below 50 degrees and wait about four weeks for growth.
Eventually, the plant will grow as if it were always grafted in such a way. Interesting combinations can be made.

Soil: Essential to a Healthy Plant

Soil is perhaps the most important element in your plant's life. Good succulent soil facilitates drainage and ensures that your plant does not sit in moisture. Moisture is a succulent's worst enemy. Good soil will be made from one third part soil, one third part pumice or gravel and one third part sand. Try to mimic a desert growing environment. The cactus soil on the market contains too much organic material and does not allow for adequate drainage. Buy this, and add your own pebbles and or pumice stones, and sand. Make sure that the water runs quickly through your final mixture before you plant your succulent in it. If you think your plant is on its last legs, and you need some help, better soil may be the answer.

Tequila: Fermented Succulent Juice

Tequila is the final beverage that comes from fermenting juice from the agave succulent. By law, tequila can only be made from one kind of agave plant: the blue agave. For information on how to make tequila, and how to find the blue agave plant, read this. There are blue agave farms in Mexico. The photo below was taken at an agave farm.


The blue agave plant is cut at the root, the spiny leaves are cut off, and the heart of the agave is then used to draw liquid from for the fermentation process. As you can see, the part of the agave used for tequila looks more like a pineapple than its original form.

Euphorbias: Ethiopia's Poison

Euphorbias are extremely enticing. They vary largely from plant to plant, while some look like common shrubs, others look like cacti.

There are over 2,000 species in this plant genera. There are so many variations within this genera that it can be difficult to identify a plant as a euphorbia. The name, euphorbia is analogous with "poison" in Ethiopia due to the poisonous, milky sap that the plant emits if it is cut or broken.

If you are handling a plant from the genus euphorbia, wear gloves, or wash your hands thoroughly after handling the plant. Try not to touch your eyes or skin while handling the plant and for some time after if you want to play it safe. Some people react more to the milky sap than others. At the least, the sap will sting and produce a red rash on the skin.

If you are interested in euphorbias, you can check out the International Euphorbia Society. If you want to read stories about how powerful the sap from these plants is, read this, or this, or this.

Incredible edible cacti: The Prickly Pear

The prickly pear is a wonderful treat and the ingredient in one of my favorite appetizers at Mom Is Cooking in San francisco. They are tricky to eat, but well worth the work. There are a litany of uses for this plant, (including beauty products). If you are looking for recipes for your prickly pears first look up how to harvest the cactus. In many of the instructions I've seen they suggest some drastic measures: either dipping your cactus in bleach (which does not sound like a good idea to me) OR using a blow-torch to burn off the cactus spines before handling the plant. Though they are both tactics not normally applied in the kitchen, the latter sounds like a much more food-friendly solution.

Succulents on the roof?

Green buildings seem to be the latest in development among environmentally-minded folk--and green rooftops are part of the new environmental trend. Hardier plants are recommended for rooftops, and succulents are some of the most resilient and hardy plants around. Succulents are recommended for green roofs.
Weight is the primary issue of concern, so if considering building a succulent rooftop, state this clearly to contractors and builders because they will have to build accordingly. All weight issues aside, their presence can lower both heating and cooling costs, and serve to protect a house from fire and leaks. For more info, read: Crazy About Cacti and Succulents.