What’s the Difference Between a Cactus and a Succulent?
A cactus is any of many types of desert plant, usually with sharp spines and thick stems for storing water. A succulent is a plant such as a cactus in which the leaves and/or stem are thick and can store water. Therefore, all cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti.
How Many Species of Cactus and Succulent are there?
There are roughly 1,750 species of cacti worldwide. These plants are primarily native to North America, South America, and South Africa. While most cacti thrive in arid and semi-arid regions, some species can also be found in tropical areas. The term "cactus" comes from the taxonomic family Cactaceae, from the Greek word kaktos (meaning "spiny plant").
The world is home to approximately 10,000 succulent species. These plants are known for their ability to store water in their leaves, stems, or roots, enabling them to thrive in arid environments. Succulents are comprised of 60 families found on every continent except Antarctica. South Africa is home to one-third of all succulents worldwide. Unlike the taxonomic category "cactus", the term "succulent" is not a taxonomic category.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Dirt on Soil
Soil is an extraordinary and complex substance. It is made up of air, minerals, organic matter, water, and countless living organisms. Forming at the Earth’s surface, soil exists in many different types and textures. As the thin, outermost layer of the planet’s crust, soil is essential to life—much like our own skin. Without it, plants, animals, and humans could not survive.
Unlike dirt, which is lifeless, soil is alive. It is full of interactions happening every moment. Soil provides habitat for an immense variety of organisms, most of them invertebrates and microscopic life forms that make up the majority of living things on Earth. It also plays a critical role in purifying water and recycling nutrients, including carbon, allowing these resources to be reused again and again. For plants, soil offers physical support, moisture, and access to essential nutrients.
As a gardener, making your own soil mixes is both simple and rewarding. Homemade blends are more economical and allow you to tailor the mix to the specific needs of different plants. Once your mix is prepared, lightly moisten it before using it for seeds or transplants to ensure even hydration.
We encourage the use of coco coir instead of peat moss, as coco coir is sustainably produced and avoids the environmental damage caused by peat mining. If a coco-based mix becomes slightly acidic, you can add dolomite lime to help balance the pH.
When reusing pots, trays, or flats for seedlings, proper cleaning is essential. Wash containers thoroughly, then rinse them in a solution of one part chlorine bleach to ten parts water. This step helps eliminate plant disease microorganisms that could harm young, sensitive seedlings.
What are Seed Balls?
Seed balls—also known as seed bombs or earth balls—are a simple, natural way to grow flowers with almost no effort. Each one contains seeds blended with clay and nutrient-rich materials that protect them and help improve germination once they reach the soil. Our Seed Babies are packed with everything young plants need to thrive, including sphagnum peat moss, perlite, sand, clay, plant food, and a generous mix of wildflower seeds. Just toss them where you want blooms to grow and let nature do the rest. Seed balls have ancient roots, dating back to ancient Egypt, and were revived in the 1930s through the natural farming movement. This method works with nature—not against it—supporting local biodiversity and encouraging healthy ecosystems while creating beautiful, flower-filled spaces.
How to "Plant" a Seed Baby (our special seed balls):
Choose a spot: Find a sunny or partially shaded location with bare soil, or place the Seed Baby in a pot or container. Make sure the Seed Baby is in contact with the soil. Do not bury the Seed Baby or break it apart. (Do not place Seed Babies on private or public land without permission.)
Water lightly and keep moist until seedlings emerge. Water regularly when seedlings are a few inches tall.
ENJOY YOUR NEW WILDFLOWER GARDEN!
What is Stratification?
Many seeds have a natural coating that prevents them from sprouting too early and dying off during the winter. In natural conditions, temperature, moisture, and abrasion act on the seed coating, softening and wearing it off, allowing moisture to enter the seed in early spring to initiate germination. To ensure germination, you must replicate these conditions through a process called stratification. Most milkweed seeds need exposure to both cold temperatures and moisture in a process known as "cold moist stratification".
STEPS FOR COLD MOIST STRATIFICATION:
Soak milkweed seeds in water for several hours or overnight; tap water is okay.
Moisten a paper towel and place the milkweed seeds on one half. Fold in half and place in a labeled Ziplock bag with species name, date in, and projected day out (four weeks). Place in refrigerator. Check your seeds every day or so; some seeds may begin to germinate in the bag, in which case you go to the next step.
Place seeds about 1/4 inch deep in damp (not soggy), well-draining seed-growing medium. Mist to moisten surface thoroughly and check daily. As seeds germinate, mist occasionally. Expose seeds to bright, indirect light. A plant heating pad under the seed tray improves the germination rate.
After seedlings have sprouted, wait at least six weeks before transplanting them into a larger pot or into the ground.
Note: COLD-MOIST STRATIFICATION IS NOT NECESSARY for the following milkweed species, most of which thrive in warm and/or wet climates:
Asclepias angustifolia (Arizona Milkweed)
Asclepias currassavica (Tropical Milkweed)
Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed)
Asclepias perennis (White Milkweed)
Asclepias subulata (Rush Milkweed/Desert Milkweed)
Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Milkweed)