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Although deserts and sharp spines often come to mind when people think of cacti, certain members of this plant family actually grow in tropical regions. Cacti are originally from the Americas and can be grown outdoors in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 12. Since the cactus family contains roughly 2,000 species, there is a cactus suitable for almost any garden.",[35,36,38],"h2",{"id":37},"cacti-and-succulents-compared","Cacti and Succulents Compared",[16,40,41],{},"Within the more than 25 plant families that contain succulent species, the cactus family stands as just one botanical family. Succulents and cacti alike possess fleshy leaves, stems, or roots that serve as water storage. Although many of these plants come from dry environments, not every one is a desert plant.",[16,43,44],{},"Every cactus is a succulent, but cacti differ from other succulents by having round, modified buds known as \"areoles\" on their stems and\u002For fleshy pads. These areoles look like indentations and frequently produce spines; in Opuntia and Cylindropuntia species, they also give rise to tiny barbed, hairlike spines called glochids. Areoles are present on tropical cacti as well, but these cacti do not have prickly spines; instead, they produce tiny hairs along the edges or in the spaces between stem segments.",[35,46,48],{"id":47},"desert-habitat-of-cactus","Desert Habitat of Cactus",[16,50,51],{},"Strictly speaking, not every cactus labeled as a \"desert\" cactus actually grows in deserts. As a group, these cacti generally require a bright, sunny, and dry environment. The soil may be sandy, rocky, or rich in organic matter, provided it drains well. Prickly pear cacti (Opuntia spp.) grow well in USDA zones 4 through 10, depending on the species. 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Their aerial roots take in moisture from rain and nutrients from organic debris that collects around the plants. The only cactus known to grow naturally outside the Americas is the mistletoe cactus (Rhipsalis baccifera), which occurs in Central and South America, Florida, the Caribbean, and tropical Africa in USDA zones 9 through 11. In its native habitat, mistletoe cactus can also be found growing on rocky outcroppings.",[16,66,67],{},"For home cultivation, provide bright filtered light in a location free of drafts. Water when the soil is dry to a depth of 1 inch. Avoid overwatering, but do not let the plant dry out completely either. 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