the fleshy steam
helps in cactus survinig without water for many days
Answers
How do Cacti survive in the Desert?
Cacti are able to survive in the desert because they’re designed to! There are a whole range of tricks that cacti use to beat the heat and soak up every stray drop of water.
How Long Can A Cactus Live Without Water? A Detailed Explanation
No matter how hard these desert plants are, they cannot survive without water forever. Science tells us that a cactus plant is a living thing, and all living things require water to survive.
It is only that cacti plants have developed unique features that help them go for longer periods without water. In fact, some cacti species can survive for as long as two years without water supply.
These desert plants usually use water stored in their roots and stem much more efficiently compared to non-desert plants.
Furthermore, they don’t give up water through evaporation as easily as other plants since they don’t have leaves.
This might make you think that cacti plants have developed deep roots to help them acquire more water from underground.
On the contrary, they have a shallow and extensive root system that stays just a few inches beneath the ground. The roots can also extend a few meters from the plant to help in collecting as much water as possible.
They also tend to develop more roots quite fast once the rains come and will shrivel back up and break as soon as the dry season kicks in to help it store its water supply.
How long a cactus plant can survive without water supply will also depend on the species of the plant, its size, and the location where it is growing.
For instance, the mammillaria cacti species and other small cactus species can survive without any problems during the whole winter season without water.
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This is approximately four months without water, but they must be stored near-freezing temperatures to a couple of degrees up during the summer season.