Cacti, just like any other plant, produce oxygen. Due to their unique stance, people seldom doubt their ability to produce oxygen. Another popular query is—how much oxygen do these produce? Let us check out the probable answer here.
Cacti are unique stem succulents that store water in their stems. They have distinctive growing shapes that are generally globular or cylindrical. They are found in arid and semi-arid areas that are usually not accessible. Cacti are considered wonderful decorative pieces. Plant lovers always prefer adding cacti to their indoor collections.
Cacti produce oxygen just like any other plant. They produce oxygen in the form of O2 from the process of photosynthesis—the process by which plants make their food from sunlight.
How Much Oxygen Does Cactus Produce?
Cacti produce oxygen after photosynthesis. This is because they have the ability to absorb sunlight. They absorb water from the soil and combine sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create glucose and oxygen. What makes a cactus different from other plants is its positioning of stomata in them. In general, plants have stomata in their leaves that facilitate the exchange of gases through the opening of their pores. In cacti, stomata are present in the stems; however, the function is the same as that of others.
We can easily interpret that cacti produce oxygen just like any other plant. However, how much oxygen does the Cactus produce? This is an interesting question.
Cacti produce oxygen, however, not in such significant amounts that would improve the levels in the room. The amount of oxygen produced by a cactus is almost negligible. You would need hundreds of such cacti to produce an ample amount of oxygen.
The stomata in Cactus have a unique feature of opening at night instead of the day—this facilitates their survival in harsh weather conditions. This feature of cacti can be considered as we select them to adorn our houses. At night, having cacti in the bedroom can improve the levels of oxygen. Something is always better than nothing.
Do Cactus Purify Air?
Cactus produces oxygen after photosynthesis. This makes this plant capable of increasing the atmosphere in the home. Purification of air is something that makes Cactus stand out among other indoor plants. Having decontaminating plants in the house is ideal for the purification of air. Among various options available, cacti are mostly the best option.
Do Mini Cacti Purify The Air?
Mini Cactus is ideal for decorative purposes. There are many other underlying advantages of the same. When placed on the table on television or computer, Cactus may act towards protecting from the harmful electromagnetic rays.
Not only this, cacti in the home can absorb many invisible chemical compounds around us, thus making air pure around us. You can get cacti that are proven to purify the air around you.
Some cacti that purify air are:
- Peruvian Cactus (cereus peruvianus)
- Christmas Cactus, etc.
Having an exciting combination of cacti and other species can make the work many folds better. That combination that has the ability to absorb more will make the air purer.
Do Cacti Produce Oxygen At Night?
Plants, in general, do not perform photosynthesis at night, because of the absence of sunlight. However, there are a few species like orchards, areca palms, and Succulents that are able to produce oxygen even at nighttime. They are able to perform photosynthesis at night because of a unique process, which is called CAM, that is, Crassulacean acid metabolism. This process allows the stomata of the plant to open at night so that all the carbon dioxide is absorbed in, and there is thus gas exchange before sunrise. Moreover, since cactus do not have leaves, the stems perform photosynthesis for this succulent.
Thus these plants are good to keep at home, boosting the amount of fresh air. Since cacti are stem Succulents, therefore, Yes, cacti would produce oxygen at night.
Highest Oxygen-Producing Cacti
All the cacti produce oxygen. However, we can select those of the highest oxygen-producing types that we can prefer to have at home. Here are our best picks:
Barrel Cactus
These are also known as fierce Cactus. They are known for their rigid spines that they use to protect their juicy and edible pulp. As the name suggests, they are barrel-shaped that can grow up to 10 feet if the atmosphere supports them. These cacti can be planted and maintained both indoor and outdoor.
Key points:
- Sparingly water
- Available in yellow, orange, and green
- Partial sunlight enough
Bishop’s Cap
These unique-looking Cactus are characterized by deeply ridged spheres covered by stiff spikes. Over time, they develop a frosty white coating. This may seem like it has some disease. However, it is a defense mechanism that it uses to protect itself from the sun.
Key features:
- Scientific name: Astrophytum ornate
- Requires full sunlight
- Infrequent watering is enough
- Available in Green and yellow
Old lady Cactus
This Cactus has a unique personality. They have while fur-like hair and spines. They form small colonies of almost 9-10 inch tall spheres. The most beautiful part is that they are crowned with halo pink blossoms.
Key Features:
- Scientific Name: Mammillaria hahniana
- Requires full sunlight
- Spare watering for once a month
Saguaro Cactus
These cacti have been characterized by their pure spherical structure adorned with solid spines. They have a very long life span—almost a couple of centuries. This can be good potted Cactus at an early stage.
Key features:
- Requires full sunlight
- Water every ten days
- Available in green, white, and yellow centers.
Rat Tail Cactus
These are thin Cactus that grow just like shrubs. These have medicinal values and are indigenous in Mexico. These cacti are used as medicines for heart problems.
Key features:
- Scientific name: Aporocactus Flagelliformis
- Its stem grows upto 3 feet long
- Requires direct sunlight
- Needs water regularly
- Available in Green, violet-red. Pink and orange.
Angel Wings Cactus
They look like prickly baby pear. They belong to the prickly pear family. They are characterized by a combination of pads or segments that grow one on another. These Mexican natives can grow upto five feet with time.
Key features:
- Scientific name: Opunta Albispina
- Requires full sunlight
- It requires just moisture of water, don’t soak it in water
- Available in green and Yellow
House Plants That Give 24 Hours Oxygen
Indoor plants not only add to the interior appeal but also have benefits like air purification. Cacti is one of them. Let us look into those plants that produce the most oxygen and are suitable for indoor other than cacti.
Which Indoor Plant Produces The Most Oxygen?
There has always been a symbiotic relationship between animals and plants. The same is the case with humans too. Humans directly depend on plants for various needs, including oxygen. Having those plants that give oxygen is always a good sign.
Here are some of our picks of the best plants that produce the most oxygen:
Areca Palm
These are basically mini palms that could grow up to 7 feet. They adjust 6-10 inches a year. However, they have the ability to constrain their growth as per the container it is in. They need no fertilizer and thus are easily maintainable. They are generally placed indoors and turn yellow-green under direct sunlight. They provide a lot of oxygen and purify the air against harmful pollutants, thus strengthening the nervous system.
Snake Plant
Also known as “Mother in law’s tongue,” these are natives of Africa and Brazil. These are the most loved indoor plants due to their looks. They grow not more than 3 feet in height. The only care that should be taken is that this plant needs bottom-watering. They love indirect sunlight and grow fast. Thus, they may need regular repotting.
Spider plant
This plant is named after the appearance of its leaves. They usually grow white flowers and need bright yet indirect sunlight—the best suited to be placed in well-drained soil.
Weeping Fig
Do you want a dense, glossy-leaved plant for good oxygen? Weeping fig should be your pick. These plants can be easily potted. They can grow up to 5-6feet in pots and about 60 feet outdoors. They require regular watering for healthier growth. It is believed that this plant can instantly grow up oxygen levels.
Gerbera Daisy
These plants have a stunning stance. They can grow up to 8-24 inches tall, and their flowers can be up to 5 inches wide. Bearing flowers not only makes the visuals impeccable, but these plants also provide ample oxygen. They are seldom prone to fungal diseases thus require proper care. These beauties can survive around a couple of years if good care is taken.
Peace Lily
These are another option of pretty indoor plants that are eye-catchy. Flowers have a hoodlike appearance. They are claimed to increase the humidity, thus helping in sound sleep. These are some of the best oxygen-giving plants yet are dangerous to cats.
Orchids
Orchids are white, pink, or purple colored pretty flowering plants. They are entirely functional and can act as a symbol of love, elegance, and fertility. Some care has to be taken to them as they need proper water drainage to prevent their roots from drying.
Pothos Plant
These are the easiest to care for plants and are thus suitable to start with. These grow in indirect light areas and adapt in both water and soil. They are commonly known as “Money Plants” in some places.
Aloe vera and Tulsi are those plants that we can easily find in our homes. These are great in the supply of oxygen. Taking care of these plants is also easy.
Final Wrap up
Cacti are an excellent choice for indoor decoration. They indeed have many advantages, like purifying the air and absorbing harmful chemicals. Cactus produces oxygen but in small amounts. However, what makes them unique is that they also manage to provide oxygen at night too. This is the reason they may be preferred as an indoor plant. Some claim that Cactus in the home is not a good idea. It all depends upon personal choice. If you want an alternative to Cactus, several succulents and other oxygen-giving plants will fill your needs.
