Guest Author - Connie Krochmal Pollination is critical for most
cacti and succulents. A good crop of seeds are needed to ensure
the survival of the species. Under most circumstances, cross-
pollination is preferred by most plants in order to sustain a
strong healthy plant population. So, self pollination is usually
an exception. This does occur in a few cacti and succulents. In
the case of frailea, this cactus takes the route of self
pollination. Once considered to be an echinocactus, this is
native to South America. These are rather small cacti with small
blooms located on the top of the plant. These are unusual in
that they can be pollinated without the flowers ever opening.
Depending on the species, frailea flowers are often yellow. They
open when the weather is sunny. Rather than wait for cross-
pollination, the blooms often donít open at all. The reason is
that inside the blooms are the seeds, which were already
produced through self-fertilization. As an aid to pollination,
some species of cacti and succul