![]() ![]() However, some species may produce regular leaves right before blooming. Their leaves are actually their spines.They are covered by a paper-like sheath and, in some species, these can be pretty colorful and glamorous. Cholla cacti have barbed spines with a nasty habit of attaching to clothing, skin, and fur.These stems are modified branches responsible for the photosynthesis, blooming, and fruit-bearing. They have succulent stems that store large amounts of water.Depending on the species, they can reach between 5 and 15 feet (1.5-4.5 m) in height.Most of them are trees and shrubs, but some are creepers. ![]() The species of Cholla cacti have an interesting diversity of shape.If you want to pair your Cholla cacti with other plants, succulents like aloe, agave, yucca, and many other cacti make excellent companions for them.Ĭholla Cactus Cholla Cacti Features: An Overview.Make sure you grow them in a place where curious cats, dogs, and children are not tempted to go. Their spines are not toxic, but they can be painful to the touch. Cholla cacti will not hesitate to cling onto fur and skin.Maintain the fresh look of your Cholla cacti by pruning any unhealthy parts with sterilized loopers or pruners.When growing them in a container, you should opt for a pot that has drainage holes. Plant them in a desert-like soil or look for a well-draining potting mix that is suitable for cacti and succulents.Over-watering can result in root rot and this may cause irreversible damage to your cacti. They are very tolerant of drought, so you do not need to water them frequently. The best thing you can do for Cholla cacti is to leave them alone.For both indoor and outdoor growing, you should place your Cholla cacti in a location where they can receive plenty of sunlight. They thrive in bright and direct light.Fulgida (Jumping Cholla) can live for decades in their natural habitat. If you do happen to find one mysteriously attached to you, wedge a comb between you and the cholla to yank it away. Animals eat their fruit and find shelter among their stems. The cholla play an integral role in the ecosystem. It might be hard to believe, but their prevalence is actually a good thing. They grow in the sandy soil of washes and on hillsides and grasslands, according to the guide. You'll find jumping cholla all over Southern Arizona, especially in the Tucson area, and down into Mexico. Photos by Doug Kreutz / Arizona Daily Star So even when you pry those painful spines from your skin or clothing and toss the cholla joint to the ground, you've just planted a cholla in a new location, according to this Arizona Daily Star story.Ī chain fruit cholla, also known as a jumping cholla, at Saguaro National Park west of Tucson. That's why they latch onto passersby - to cover more ground. Jumping cholla can root in the ground right where they fall, so really, by attaching to your shoelace, they're just trying to share the cholla love. They do this to reproduce.īecause they're able to detach, root and then grow into a large cactus, often within close proximity to one another, jumping cholla often grow in "clonal colonies" according to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Instead, they just have super sharp spines with a lot of barbs that easily detach from the parent plant and onto the nearby victim. Doug Kreutz / Arizona Daily Starįirst of all, jumping cholla don't actually jump. Jumping cholla further increase their reproducing potential by hitching a ride on passing people or animals. ![]()
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