As hot and dry as the summers in Brazil are, some people wonder if there is anything that is really easy to grow during the hot days of Dezember through April. For those of you who want to grow a low maintenance plant, you may want to consider cactus.



Why would anyone want to grow cactus?



Primarily, ease--if you can't grow cactus, we can't help you! Can you imagine anyone having the nerve to admit they’ve killed a cactus?! (But a word of caution.... be careful not to OVERWATER!)



Cacti are a group of plants that are not only easy to grow, but offer a variety of shapes, color and form. They can be grown in any sunny, well-drained area. They require little maintenance. They make excellent houseplants and many hardy varieties may be grown outside.



If you want small specimens (less than one inch above the ground), you will want to grow lithops, which is Greek for "living rocks". Other cacti which mimic the appearance of rocks include titanopsis, lapidaria, penestraria and gibbaeum.



Some cactus and succulent types can be used as pot plants. These include Aloe Vera, crassulas, Echeverias, peperomias and kalanchoe.



Larger-growing cactus and succulent plants make dramatic floor plants with heights from 3 to 10 feet or more. These include Cereus peruvianus, Yucca elephantipes, Euphorbias, ponytail palm or bottle palm.



The cactus family (Cactaceae) is one of the most striking, distinctive, diversified and specialized groups in the plant kingdom. It includes about 2,000 species, and all of them are perennial and succulent.

Replying to [terrabrazil]:

Interesting contribution! - Here in the north of Mexico (part of the Chihuahua Desert) we have many kinds of cacti, and in our neighbor city, El Paso, TX, they are used abundantly to adorne front yards.

Though being a trader, I have the obligation to ask this question: are there any possible profitable uses for any of these plants?

Replying to [terrabrazil]:

Interesting contribution! - Here in the north of Mexico (part of the Chihuahua Desert) we have many kinds of cacti, and in our neighbor city, El Paso, TX, they are used abundantly to adorne front yards.

Though being a trader, I have the obligation to ask this question: are there any possible profitable uses for any of these plants? Aside from uses of Aloe Vera, I don't know any.

Replying to [adimec]:
That's it adimec. What about cactus exportation? If you do everything your country's regulation of environment laws ask for, you got a good idea and a good business at your hand! Good luck!

Replying to [adimec]:
Adimec
There's a kind of oil from the cactus. It's also very usefull.

Replying to [terrabrazil]:

Let me know more about the oil. From what kind of cactus do you extract it, what is it used for, do you have an idea about the demand for this product, price, etc.?