Arizona Is So Hot Right Now, Even Cactuses Are Crumbling

According to experts, the summer of 2023 is currently the hottest on record. States that aren’t strangers to heat, such as Arizona, are witnessing flora and fauna affected by the steamy temperatures.

Saguaro cactus in Arizona, a representation of the American West, are buckling under the state’s record-breaking heat wave, shedding arms, and occasionally toppling over. After experiencing weather over 110 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 days in Phoenix, the cacti’s reliance on summer monsoon rains has failed.

This is putting the desert giants’ capacity for survival in both the wild and urban areas to the test. These plants can withstand the heat, but eventually, they must cool off and water is required for survival.

Many people believed the plants were fully adapted to extreme temperatures and dryness up until lately. Phoenix is a heat island, so researchers are studying cacti there to better understand how increasing temperatures in the future may affect plants in their natural environment.

Saguaro Cacti

One of the vegetation that characterizes the Sonoran Desert is the saguaro cactus. These succulents are huge, tree-like tabular cacti, some of which never sprout arms. Others can have over 25 of these arms, which often curve upward.

Sturdy spikes adorn saguaros, which also have white blooms in the springtime and red fruit in the summer. As you can guess, this plant is no stranger to high temperatures and little moisture.

In fact, these are the two main elements that affect growth. The saguaro can be killed by frost and cold weather if the elevation is too high. These iconic plants receive the vast majority of their water during the rainy season throughout summer.

How Long Can Saguaro Cacti Live Without Water?

Plain and simple: plants cannot survive without any water. Cactuses are made to be able to survive without a lot of water. Furthermore, compared to other plants, it makes far better use of the water it possesses.

It’s crucial to remember that living things constantly perspire in humid environments if you want to understand how cactus continues to retain water. After rainfall, they frequently swiftly develop thicker roots. In order to help them store their water consumption, the roots start shrinking and fall off as the dry season begins.

Because it lacks leaves, Saguaro cacti cannot allow water to escape with the same speed as other plants. This plant has strong stems with plenty of room for holding water and a protective coating that traps the water inside.

200 gallons of water may be stored and absorbed by a mature Saguaro during a downpour. One mature saguaro may store 1,500 gallons of water, enough to endure for several months, within its soft pulp.