Page 52 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2014Q3

Juicy

Bonsai

Knowing

Your

Succulents

By Nikunj Parekh,
Jyoti Parekh and Sujata Bhat, India
Photos by Mr. Niraj Chawla
and Gemini Studio

very place on earth has a unique atmosphere. environment. Some of these species are now cultivat-
All nature’s elements—soil, air, water and ed and made available in nurseries. Most important
sunlight—play specific roles in creating this among these are ornamental succulents and cacti.
environment in a particular region. When- Both these plants have special features. Many a times
Eever there is balanced atmosphere for plants we are confused about the difference between a suc-
to grow, beautiful forests are created by nature. There culent and cacti. Some of the succulents are used very
are places on earth where the atmosphere is so harsh effectively for Bonsai.
and unfriendly, the soil rocky and sandy that we can- All cacti are succulents but all succulents are not
not think of any plant life in that area. But like a great cacti. The most distinguishing characteristic, which
magician, God put life into unusual plants that can separates cacti from other succulents, is that all the
survive even on morning dewdrops. By the process members of the cacti family produce ‘areoles.’ The ar-
of evolution, these plants have developed unique size, eoles are round or oval structures composed of two
shape, color, form and texture to survive in such an perpendicular buds. From the upper bud, flowers,

50 | BCI | July/August/September 2014