I like to handle my plants so I took a nail clipper to this cactus. I thought I was smart until I saw Costa Farms website. Spines are all trimmed there. It makes a neater photo.
Spines are modified leaves. That’s like taking all the leaves off of a tree. They serve a legitimate function beyond physical protection, they can also create a buffer zone to prevent frost or sunburn, and they capture moisture in otherwise arid climates. They’re part of the plant.
Nivaris
…I thought I was right, I thought it better not to fight, I thought there was a virtue in always being cool…
Now I have that song stuck in my head. At least it’s a good one, so thank you for that.
bluegills92
Why do you no longer feel smart because of the website? I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.
Fizzy_Fizzure
Sometimes I get how this can be detrimental, but there are many cacti that have small spines that serve very little function. I like to think that this is like a bonsai technique. Sure it’s not what the plant wants, but the plant ain’t in charge
PawsomeMeows
But why would you get a cactus if you don’t want it to be a cactus? 😅
motherofhellhusks
I’m genuinely curious, what kind of handling are you doing?
Maat1985
Why get a cactus if you don’t want spines?
Get a cactus, enjoy it in all its spiny glory
Software_Gurl
Boooo
Mr-Lahey1
Check out some Trichocereus scopulicola, they’re naturally spineless
Pomstar1993
You should’ve just bought an inermis type (no spine) if you didn’t want spines and want to handle the cactus with your bare hands 😑
DizzyList237
This just seems so wrong, there are so many varieties with few spines, astrophytum asterias is a good example.
14 Comments
Declawing your cacti smh
[removed]
Spines are modified leaves. That’s like taking all the leaves off of a tree. They serve a legitimate function beyond physical protection, they can also create a buffer zone to prevent frost or sunburn, and they capture moisture in otherwise arid climates. They’re part of the plant.
…I thought I was right, I thought it better not to fight, I thought there was a virtue in always being cool…
Now I have that song stuck in my head. At least it’s a good one, so thank you for that.
Why do you no longer feel smart because of the website? I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.
Sometimes I get how this can be detrimental, but there are many cacti that have small spines that serve very little function. I like to think that this is like a bonsai technique. Sure it’s not what the plant wants, but the plant ain’t in charge
But why would you get a cactus if you don’t want it to be a cactus? 😅
I’m genuinely curious, what kind of handling are you doing?
Why get a cactus if you don’t want spines?
Get a cactus, enjoy it in all its spiny glory
Boooo
Check out some Trichocereus scopulicola, they’re naturally spineless
You should’ve just bought an inermis type (no spine) if you didn’t want spines and want to handle the cactus with your bare hands 😑
This just seems so wrong, there are so many varieties with few spines, astrophytum asterias is a good example.
Ill be taking this treason to the council