The Health Benefits of the Prickly Pear Nopal Cactus
Many individuals keep a prickly pear cactus in their homes or gardens for decoration. What you may not realize, however, is that the prickly pear cactus is full of antioxidants that are beneficial to your health. It also boasts a high concentration of vitamin C. This is the vitamin known to provide a boost to the human immune system. Also known as the nopal cactus, the prickly pear is native to Mexico and fares best in warm climates.
Weight Control and Diabetes
This type of cactus is particularly beneficial for diabetics. A 2005 study performed by researchers in Mexico City demonstrated that a diabetic who incorporates the nopal cactus into his daily diet can expect to see his glucose levels drop dramatically. This may be partially due to the fact that certain nutrients within the pads of the cactus prevent the body from absorbing excess sugar from other foods.
If you enjoy nature, chances are you also enjoy bringing elements of nature into your home. Houseplants can infuse your living space with natural beauty that – if done correctly – can complement the décor and lift your mood.
When it comes to caring for plants, there are several primary needs you should address: potting, soil quality, lighting, temperature, moisture, and maintenance. You can address these in needs with six simple steps.
Step 1: Choose the right pot. If you are transferring the plant from another pot, be sure to wash thoroughly and spray the pot’s surface with a microbial inoculant product as it may harbor harmful bacteria or disease. Be sure to keep your pot size proportionate to the plant it will house. Too large a pot can lead to root disease and too small a pot will prevent the plant from thriving.
Whatever flower or vegetable we may particularly enjoy planting, the overall soil quality and root health will be the deciding factor in how our little plants turn out, from germination to full size. With that being said, one such problem a gardener could potentially face during the growing season is root rot.
Essentially root rot comes from unhealthy soil conditions, whether it is outside or inside plants. Unhealthy soil conditions can point to things like too heavy or too dense of soils, such as soils with large amounts of clay and soils that do not contain near enough amounts of nutrient-rich materials to sustain healthy plants. All of us gardeners have been faced with the dreaded problem of a plant that will simply refuse to grow; one that continually looks rather unhealthy.
You need a product that has many different purposes to help the soil become a rich source of nourishment for the plant, and for root system protection. These are such things as improving the soil structure and available water capacity to the plant. As well, the product works to increase the biological activity in the soil, increase the availability of nutrients in the soil, reduces the amount of nitrate leaching in the soil and allows a nutrient rich foliar spray to be used most effectively to help in the growth and overall health of the plant
