Cactus Science Education
Common Name
Paddle Cactus
- Habitat
- Western Hemisphere. There are some 200 plus species distributed throughout the Americas.
- Care
- Very hearty, require little maintenance and water. Allow pot to dry out before re-watering. Drought tolerant.
- Location
- Indoors though can go outdoors in its container when nights are above 50 degrees.
- Observation
- They can be planted in the ground in a protected area to survive winter. They are edible and the paddles can be transplanted easily. Stake paddles if they become top heavy.
- Geology
- Native to tropical and southern Africa, however is found in many parts of the world, including Western Australia and California. It is a flowering perennial herb.
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Science
- Scientific study of plants. Botanical research increase and improve our supply of medicines, foods, fibers, building materials, and other plant products.
- Life Science, Biochemistry, Bilogical Sciences, Biology, Plant Biology, Microbiology, Entomology.
- Conservation
- Not considered to be threatened.
- Resource
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Cactus Science Education
Common Name
Drooping Prickly Pear, Cochineal Prickly Pear, Barbary Fig
- Habitat
- Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Also found in Australia and South Africa. Likes moist lowland forests and sandy shores. In some areas considered invasive species.
- Care
- Very hearty, require little maintenance and water. Allow pot to dry out before re-watering. Drought tolerant.
- Location
- Indoors though can go outdoors in its container when nights are above 50 degrees.
- Observation
- The paddles can be transplanted easily. Main trunk grows tall with the paddles growing from the trunk and each other.
- Geology
- Native to tropical and southern Africa, however is found in many parts of the world, including Western Australia and California. It is a flowering perennial herb.
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Science
- Scientific study of plants. Botanical research increase and improve our supply of medicines, foods, fibers, building materials, and other plant products.
- Life Science, Biochemistry, Bilogical Sciences, Biology, Plant Biology, Microbiology, Entomology.
- Conservation
- Not considered to be threatened.
- Resource
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Succulent Science Education
Common Name
Crown of Thorns, Christ plant, Christ thorn
- Habitat
- The crown of thorns cactus (Euphorbia milii) is an evergreen, succulent plant, native to Madagascar, however it has been successfully acclimatized and grown commercially in many parts of the world.
- Care
- Very hearty, require little maintenance, easy to grow. Drought tolerant. Allow soil to dry out.
- Location
- Indoors or out until nights dip below 45 degrees. Appreciated for its showy flowers and lush, thick, gray-green leaves, the crown of thorns is a good choice for outdoor beds or mixed borders in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 10 through 15. In cooler regions subject to frost, it does well as a houseplant in a sunny window and can successfully overwinter indoors.
- Observation
- If leaves fall off either too much or too little water. Do not let water stand on roots, causes rotting. Too much sun causes leaves to fall off, thus introduce to outside sun gradually if moving from indoors to out. Prefers to stay in one location once established. Likes full sun during part of the day.
- Geology
- There exists substantial evidence that the species, native to Madagascar, had been brought to the Middle East before the time of Christ.
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Science
- Scientific study of plants. Botanical research increase and improve our supply of medicines, foods, fibers, building materials, and other plant products.
- Life Science, Biochemistry, Bilogical Sciences, Biology, Plant Biology, Microbiology, Entomology.
- Conservation
- Threatened, rare
- Resource
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Jade Succulent Science Education
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Common Name
Jade Plant, Friendship Tree, Lucky Plant, Money Plant
- Habitat
- Native to South Africa, though as a houseplant they are worldwide. Wild in open forests, on sandy-clay grey soil.
- Care
- Very hearty, require little maintenance, easy to grow. Water regularly, let soil dry between watering. They will sunburn if they are suddenly moved from subdued lighting to full sun, thus move gradually to avoid sunburn.
- Location
- Indoors or out until nights dip below 45 degrees. Indirect light produces greener leaves.
- Observation
- The more direct the light the leaves change from total green to a rim of reddish brown on the leaves which is fine. Be careful outside in direct noon day sun that can burn the leaf. Leaves grow back if lost to drought, too much sun or cold.
- Geology
- Jade plants are cultivated around the world orginating from South Africa. It is grown indoors and out in Europe, North America, East Asia and practically worldwide for over a hundred years.
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Science
- Scientific study of plants. Botanical research increase and improve our supply of medicines, foods, fibers, building materials, and other plant products.
- Life Science, Biochemistry, Bilogical Sciences, Biology, Plant Biology, Microbiology, Entomology.
- Conservation
- Not extinct.
- Resource
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Lily Science Education
Common Name
Spider Plant, Airplane Plant
- Habitat
- Native to tropical and southern Africa, however is found in many parts of the world, including Western Australia and California. It is a flowering perennial herb.
- Care
- Very hearty, require little maintenance, easy to grow. Allow surface to dry before re-watering. Thrives in a wide range of conditions. One of the easiest house plants to care for. It tolerates incosistent watering, pests and lighting conditions.
- Location
- Indoors or out until nights dip below 45 degrees. Indirect light produces greener leaves while direct sunlight turns leaves a pale green which returns to a darker green with less light.
- Observation
- The more direct the light the leaves change from green to a paler green. Will return to a darker green the less direct light it receives.
- Geology
- Native to tropical and southern Africa, however is found in many parts of the world, including Western Australia and California. It is a flowering perennial herb.
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Science
- Scientific study of plants. Botanical research increase and improve our supply of medicines, foods, fibers, building materials, and other plant products.
- Life Science, Biochemistry, Bilogical Sciences, Biology, Plant Biology, Microbiology, Entomology.
- Conservation
- Not considered to be threatened.
- Resource
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Succulent Science Education
Common Name
Aloe, aloe vera, True Aloe, Medicine Plant, Burn Plant, Wonder-plant
- Habitat
- Hybrid, with origins from Africa. Its cultivation is extensive and as an example, it is a common garden plant in Southern California. There is 400 plus species of Aloe.
- Care
- Requires little maintenance, easy to grow. Water regularly and allow pot to dry out completely before re-watering.
- Location
- Indoors or out until nights dip below 45 degrees. Indirect light produces greener leaves.
- Observation
- The more direct the light the leaves change from green to reddish brown. As the direct light goes to indirect the leaves return to vibrant green.
- Geology
- Aloe vera is cultivated around the world. It has escaped from cultivation and become naturalised in the Mediterranean, north Africa, the Indian subcontinent, South America and the Caribbean.
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Science
- Scientific study of plants. Botanical research increase and improve our supply of medicines, foods, fibers, building materials, and other plant products.
- Life Science, Biochemistry, Bilogical Sciences, Biology, Plant Biology, Microbiology, Entomology.
- Conservation
- Not considered to be threatened.
- Resource
- More Info
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