How can a cactus live without water?

Plants

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by Mya Kagan (whyzz writer) >> more about the author

Plants need water to survive, which is an idea you’re probably already pretty familiar with. But a cactus is known for being able to live with very, very little water!

Cactuses (sometimes also called "cacti") are a type of plant called a "succulent," and are best known for living in hot, dry places like the desert, where they do not get a lot of water. Cactuses do need some water to survive, but can get along with a lot less than most plants.

One reason cactuses can get along with less water is because they don’t have leaves, so the water a cactus drinks does not evaporate as much as the water other plants drink. Additionally, cactuses have thick stalks which allow them to store water for a long time and roots that are good at finding and soaking up water even when its scarce! - Neat!

Water Storage

Just like a cactus is able to get along in the desert with very little water, there’s an animal also known for living in the desert who stores water too! – Do you know what animal that is?? The answer is the camel!

If you were going to be in a hot place, what are some things (like water) that you might plan to bring along??

Posted by sureshree on 2009-08-31 00:13:51

Of course, every plant rather every living thing needs water. Hence, in the first place, cacti do need water for survival. Then how come they grow in dry places which have almost no water source? Here we get to know one phenomenon. Dry places like deserts have hot days and cool nights. The cold in the night helps dew or droplets of water accumulate on the cacti which is sucked inside the plant and stored.

Posted by Faby1234 on 2010-05-08 07:06:55

The catus can live without water because, it is water inside of the catus.