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In recent years there has been a lot of talk about the environment. With global warm on the rise as well as expanding urbanization, there is certainly cause for concern regarding the health of nature and society. Though these issue are arising there is still hope for a sustainable future. Many young people have been passionate about bring awareness and solving the problem. This has lead to incredible in innovations like Green buildings. Although trees were cut down to build urban cities, engineers create green buildings to reintroduce nature in the city and keep the air clean. Theres hope for the future because of amazing innovations like these.

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Though green buildings aren't new in the world of architecture, they've taken on a renewed sense of importance as we work to create sustainable cities and reduce our impact on both human health and the environment. Between 2005 and 2014, green construction spending in the US alone increased 12 fold, driven largely by tax credits and desirable operational cost savings.

In this piece, we'll look at what green building is, the features that make a building 'green,' and some of the key benefits that green buildings deliver.
Green Building Architectural Rendering by: RealSpace 3D
Understanding green building

The World Green Building Council broadly defines a green building as one that, "in its design, construction, or operation, reduces or eliminates negative impacts and can create positive impacts on our climate and natural environment." Green buildings are intended to both preserve natural resources and improve quality of life. The most widely used certification for green buildings is LEED - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

Efficient use of resources, including energy and water;

Use of renewable energy (e.g., solar energy);

Inclusion of waste reduction, re-use, and recycling measures;

Good indoor environmental air quality;

Use of non-toxic, ethical, and sustainable materials;

Consideration of the environment in design, construction, and operation;

Consideration of the quality of life of occupants in design, construction, and operation; and/or

A design that enables adaptation to a changing environment.

What makes a building green varies widely and may include, but is not limited to, the following:

It's critical to note that there isn't a single 'right' approach to green building. Green buildings can and should vary depending on context, with importance being placed on factors such as climate, culture, building type, and regional priorities (environmental, social, and economic).
Architectural rendering provided by: RealSpace 3D
Regardless of the location, green buildings offer a wealth of benefits ranging from energy savings to improved health and wellness.

The economic benefits of green building

For many organizations and cities, design and building decisions often come down to the bottom line. But green building and economic viability aren't mutually exclusive. According to a 2016 Dodge Data & Analytics report, building owners report that green buildings - both new and renovated - command a 7 percent increase in asset value over traditional buildings, while research published by National Geographic shows a 20 percent drop in maintenance costs and 17 percent higher occupancy rates in LEED-certified buildings versus traditional construction. Beyond this, there are two key economic benefits to green buildings: energy savings and boosts in human performance.

Energy savings

While these savings aren't recognized immediately, green buildings do show significantly reduced energy demand over the long term.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes green roofs and living walls as two mitigation strategies to the urban heat island effect, which increases peak energy demand, air conditioning costs, air and water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and heat-related illness and mortality in cities. While outdoor living walls act as a barrier and reduce the strain on HVAC systems in the buildings they adorn, indoor living walls act as insulation and regulate the environment inside a building, protecting it from temperature swings. In a study published by the journal Indoor and Built Environment, researchers found that living walls cooled a space by four to six degrees Celsius, a shift that significantly reduces the burden on air conditioning systems - particularly during periods of extreme heat.

Overall, studies show that green roofs result in up to 75 percent air conditioning savings and 25 percent winter heat savings, as well as 11 percent natural gas savings and 2 percent electricity savings.

Employee health and performance

It should come as no surprise that employee health is directly correlated to a company's bottom line. OSHA estimates that sick leave and poor work performance costs employers about $15 billion annually, while the American Institute of Stress puts the annual toll on U.S. businesses at $300 billion.

Many green buildings create living walls to introduce greenery and use non-toxic building materials, both of which contribute to improving air quality indoors, where we spend about 90 percent of our time. Indoor air quality is an important, but often overlooked health and safety issue that can be incredibly costly to employers. By improving ventilation, reducing concentrations of CO2 and pollutants, and choosing materials that don't use toxic chemicals, businesses can benefit from reduced sick leave and improvements in performance of up to 8 percent.

Hospital research specifically links the presence of plants to lower health care costs, finding that patients recovering in rooms with plants experienced significantly shorter hospitalizations, a reduced need for analgesics, and lower anxiety. This group also reported being more satisfied, relaxed, comfortable, and calm - all feelings that bolster wellness in the workplace.

Productivity, of course, is a key factor contributing to a company's bottom line, and a study out of Washington State University examined the impact of greenery on worker productivity. Researchers found that participant productivity increased a whopping 12 percent when there were plants in the room. Another conducted by Texas A&M University placed participants in office environments with or without plant life and asked them to perform a variety of creative problem-solving tasks. Those in the plant-adorned spaces demonstrated greater innovation and ideation, with men generating an average of 15 percent more ideas overall and women offering more creative solutions than their counterparts without plants.

Linking green building and wellness

From an overall wellness perspective, the case for green building is compelling. Studies show that a 20-minute walk in nature can reduce all inflammatory markers in our bodies. In the same vein, being surrounded by plants - such as those on living walls or rooftop gardens in green buildings - increases our sense of well being and reduces stress. Organizational psychologist Cary Cooper found that employees with access to natural elements in their workspaces reported increased perceptions of well being by up to 15 percent.

The green building movement isn't just about reducing waste and opting for more sustainable solutions, but about taking a holistic approach that considers how buildings affect the people who use them. As the report Human Spaces: The Global Impact of Biophilic Design in the Workplace notes, "The relationship between individuals and their environment can be a crucial determinant of how they feel, perform, and interact with others. So, designing spaces that inspire, energize, and support the people who use them is a global imperative."

With 'wellness' continuing to be a buzzword in businesses around the world, the question isn't so much whether we can afford to invest in green buildings, but whether we can afford not to.

The final word

Green building may cost more up front, but the long-term returns certainly outweigh the initial investment. Whether it's the use of eco-friendly materials, re-use and recycling programs, renewable energy inclusions, or wellness features like living walls, there is plenty of evidence backing substantial economic, human, and environmental benefits of green building. And as the focus on sustainability in cities continues to grow, there's little doubt that investment in green buildings will, too.

Maja Markovski is a Bachelor of Architecture and the founder of ArchitectureArtDesigns.com, a leading online platform dedicated to showcasing the best in architecture, interior design, and creative living. With a deep passion for architecture and everything related to it, Maja curates, edits, and writes content that both inspires and educates. As an architect and design enthusiast, she brings a professional perspective to every article-highlighting innovative projects, timeless aesthetics, and emerging trends. Her mission is to bridge the gap between architectural professionals and everyday design lovers by sharing insightful, well-researched content that celebrates creativity, functionality, and artistic expression. Through ArchitectureArtDesigns.com, Maja aims to foster a deeper appreciation for how architecture shapes the spaces we live in-offering practical ideas, curated collections, and thought-provoking features for architects, students, and design-minded readers around the world.

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Green Buildings: What They Are, How They Work, And Why They Matter

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Though green buildings aren't new in the world of architecture, they've taken on a renewed sense of importance as we work to create sustainable cities and

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In modern society medicine and medical technology have advanced greatly. Treatments have improved and life expectancies have extended. However, these solutions and remedies have been around and perfected for centuries. From pain relievers to oral hygiene and even birth control, Native American tribes revolutionized medicine. This article covers many of the important inventions in the history of public health. For example, Natives created an effective plant-based sunscreen made from oils scientifically proven to protect the skin. As a result, these are still used in sunscreens today.

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Natives treating the sick, United States of America, engraving by Vernier from Etats-Unis ... [+]
DeA / Biblioteca Ambrosiana

November is National American Indian Heritage Month, a time of recognition for the substantial contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S. But, the month and remembrance, like many Native influences, still frequently go unrecognized in our day-to-day lives. Whether it's the invention of vital infrastructure such as cable suspension bridges or sport for fun like lacrosse, so much of what exists in modern culture today is a direct result of what was created before newcomers occupied these lands.

And the world's health ecosystem, ranging from preventative measures to administration of medicine is no different, owing much of its practices and innovations to those ancestral peoples and healers.

Here are seven inventions used every day in medicine and public health that we owe to Native Americans. And in most cases, couldn't live without today:
1. Syringes
In 1853 a Scottish doctor named Alexander Wood was credited for the creation of the first hypodermic syringe, but a much earlier tool existed. Before colonization, Indigenous peoples had created a method using a sharpened hollowed-out bird bone connected to an animal bladder that could hold and inject fluids into the body. These earliest syringes were used to do everything from inject medicine to irrigate wounds. There are also cases in which these tools were even used to clean ears and serve as enemas.
2. Pain Relievers
Native American healers led the way in pain relief. For example, willow bark (the bark of a tree) is widely known to have been ingested as an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever. In fact, it contains a chemical called salicin, which is a confirmed anti-inflammatory that when consumed generates salicylic acid - the active ingredient in modern-day aspirin tablets. In addition to many ingestible pain relievers, topical ointments were also frequently used for wounds, cuts and bruises. Two well-documented pain relievers include capsaicin (a chemical still referenced today that is derived from peppers) and jimson weed as a topical analgesic.
3. Oral Birth Control
Oral birth control was introduced to the United States in the 1960's as a means of preventing pregnancy. But something with a similar purpose existed in indigenous cultures long before. Plant-based practices such as ingesting herbs dogbane and stoneseed were used for at least two centuries earlier than western pharmaceuticals to prevent unwanted pregnancy. And while they are not as effective as current oral contraception, there are studies suggesting stoneseed in particular has contraceptive properties.
4. Sun Screen
North American Indians have medicinal purposes for more than 2,500 plant species - and that is just what's currently known between existing practices. But, for hundreds of years many Native cultures had a common skin application that involved mixing ground plants with water to create products that protected skin from the sun. Sunflower oil, wallflower and sap from aloe plants have all been recorded for their use in protecting the skin from the sun. There are also noted instances of using animal fat and oils from fish as sunscreen.
5. Baby Bottles
It wouldn't be considered sanitary - or safe - by today's standards, but long before settlers made their way to American lands, the Iroquois, Seneca and others created bottles to aid in feeding infants. The invention consisted of the insides of a bear and a bird's quill. After cleaning, drying and oiling bear intestines, a hollowed quill would be attached as a teat, allowing concoctions of pounded nuts, meat and water to be suckled by infants for nutrition.
6. Mouth Wash & Oral Hygiene
Although tribes across the continent used various plants and methods for cleaning teeth, it is rumored that people on the American continent had more effective dental practices than the Europeans who arrived. In particular areas, mouthwash was known to be made from a plant called goldthread to clean out the mouth. It was also used by many Native cultures as pain relief for teething infants or a tooth infection by rubbing it directly onto the gums.
7. Suppositories
Hemorrhoids are nothing new. Nor is the pain and discomfort associated with having hemorrhoids. But before modern-day solutions and dietary changes, Indigenous peoples throughout the Americas created suppositories from dogwood trees. Dogwood is still used today (although not often) externally for wounds. But hundreds of years ago small plugs were fashioned by moistening, compressing and inserting the dogwood to treat hemorrhoids.

It's easy to go about our day-to-day lives without thinking about the role that public health and medicine play in keeping us safe and healthy. But it's even easier to take those things for granted without recognizing the brilliant innovations and inventors that got us where we are today. In some instances, we have sanitized, improved upon and perfected our modern-day practices. But in other instances, we are not much further than our ancestors were. Those healers who knew how to use the land and its resources to produce effective methods and substances for ailments.

As technology moves us ever forward, let's not forget that as we grow into the future, we are still rooted in history.

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7 Native American Inventions That Revolutionized Medicine And Public Health

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November is a time of recognition for the substantial contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S. And the world's health practices-from preventative measures to administering medicine-owes much of its practices and innovations to ancestral peoples and healers.

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Unit 6 | Development of Agrarian Civilizations 

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Unit 6 | Development of Agrarian Civilizations 

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Many people may be unaware of how the agricultural revolution directly affected the industrial revolution. Around the 18th century, the agricultural revolution was the jump start to a more advanced society. Plant domestication came about as a result of new farming techniques. More tools were built that made farming and mass plant production easier. This lead to a lower number of people having farms. Those people were able to focus on other things such as creating new tools for construction. As a result, society was catapulted into the industrial revolution. Urbanization soon followed leading society to the modern world that we know today.

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Instructor: Patricia Chappine Show bio

Patricia has a Ph.D. in Progress, History and Culture as well as a master's degree in Holocaust and genocide studies. She has taught heritage of the western world and U.S. history.

The Agricultural Revolution in 18th-century Europe was a time of growth and improvement for the farming and agriculture industry. Learn more about the timeline, causes, inventions, and effects of new farming techniques, such as crop rotation and improved livestock utilization, which led to new types of crops, land patterns, and social change throughout Europe. Updated: 09/22/2021

Historians have often labeled the first Agricultural Revolution (which took place around 10,000 B.C.) as the period of transition from a hunting-and-gathering society to one based on stationary farming. During the 18th century, another Agricultural Revolution took place when European agriculture shifted from the techniques of the past.

New patterns of crop rotation and livestock utilization paved the way for better crop yields, a greater diversity of wheat and vegetables and the ability to support more livestock. These changes impacted society as the population became better nourished and healthier. The Enclosure Acts, passed in Great Britain, allowed wealthy lords to purchase public fields and push out small-scale farmers, causing a migration of men looking for wage labor in cities. These workers would provide the labor for new industries during the Industrial Revolution.

The Agricultural Revolution began in Great Britain around the turn of the 18th century. Several major events, which will be discussed in more detail later, include:

The perfection of the horse-drawn seed press, which would make farming less labor intensive and more productive.

The large-scale growth of new crops, such as potato and maize, by 1750.

The passing of the Enclosure Laws, limiting the common land available to small farmers in 1760.

Video

Quiz

Course

Contributing Factors to the Agricultural Revolution

In many ways, British agriculture advanced more rapidly than any other European nation. The increased agricultural production of the 18th century can be traced to four interrelated factors:

The increased availability of farmland

A favorable climate

More livestock

Improved crop yield

Let's look at each of these areas in more detail. The available farmland increased due to changes in landholding patterns spurred on by new methods of cultivation. Previously, the open-field system was prominent. This system was problematic because it allowed part of the land to remain unplanted at all times in order to avoid depleting the soil. Since growing crops removes nutrients from the soil, a field must be replenished in order to continue to yield food.

One solution to this situation was to continue to move crops to different land. This was not feasible in Great Britain because the country lacked a large percentage of available land. Instead, farmers began to utilize barren soil by planting different crops, such as clover or turnips.

These plants have roots rich in nitrogen, a necessity for replenishing soil. The cultivation of turnips was important because they could be left in the ground through the winter. This ultimately led to an increase in livestock because these plants were also utilized for grazing. The boost in livestock fundamentally changed the diet of much of Europe.

Not only were Europeans consuming more meat, but the livestock was producing much needed fertilizer for crops. The addition of fertilizer allowed an improved production rate per acre. By the beginning of the 18th century, the colder climate of the 'little ice age' had ended. The resulting mild summer months created ideal conditions for crop cultivation.

Important Inventors

Several innovators created tools that greatly influenced the new agriculture. For instance, a significant step forward was pioneered by Jethro Tull, an English agriculturist.

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The Agricultural Revolution: Timeline, Causes, Inventions & Effects - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

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The Agricultural Revolution in 18th-century Europe was a time of growth and improvement for the farming and agriculture industry. Learn more about...

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This article explains the beginning of plant domestication around the world. 10,000 years ago people breed plants specifically to meet the needs of society. This lead to the neolithic revolution also know as the first agricultural revolution. as advancements were made in agriculture less people were need to farm large amounts of crops. This allowed for people who were not farming to begin creating and innovating. The efficiency of farming and technological advancements were intended for society. However, people began to settle causing a higher population density in some areas. This led to the unintended spread of disease.

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Domestication is the process of adapting wild plants and animals for human use. Domestic species are raised for food, work, clothing, medicine, and many other uses. Domesticated plants and animals must be raised and cared for by humans. Domesticated species are not wild.

Plant Domestication
People first domesticated plants about 10,000 years ago, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Mesopotamia (which includes the modern countries of Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and Syria). People collected and planted the seeds of wild plants. They made sure the plants had as much water as they needed to grow, and planted them in areas with the right amount of sun. Weeks or months later, when the plants blossomed, people harvested the food crops.

The first domesticated plants in Mesopotamia were wheat (Triticum aestivum), barley ( Hordeum vulgare), lentils ( Lens culinaris or Lens esculenta), and types of peas. People in other parts of the world, including eastern Asia, parts of Africa, and parts of North and South America, also domesticated plants. Other plants that were cultivated by early civilizations included rice ( Oryza sativa in Asia) and potatoes ( Solanum tuberosumin South America).

Plants have not only been domesticated for food. Cotton plants were domesticated for fiber, which is used in cloth. Some flowers, such as tulips, were domesticated for ornamental, or decorative, reasons.

Animal Domestication
About the same time they domesticated plants, people in Mesopotamia began to tame animals for meat, milk, and hides. Hides, or the skins of animals, were used for clothing, storage, and to build tent shelters.

Goats were probably the first animals to be domesticated, followed closely by sheep ( Ovis aries). In Southeast Asia, chickens (Gallus domesticus)also were domesticated about 10,000 years ago. Later, people began domesticating larger animals, such as oxen ( Bos taurus) or horses ( Equus ferus caballus), for plowing and transportation. These are known as beasts of burden.

Domesticating animals can be difficult work. The easiest animals to domesticate are herbivores that graze on vegetation, because they are easiest to feed: They do not need humans to kill other animals to feed them, or to grow special crops. Cows, for instance, are easily domesticated. Herbivores that eat grains are more difficult to domesticate than herbivores that graze because grains are valuable and also need to be domesticated. Chickens are herbivores that eat seeds and grain.

Some animals domesticated for one purpose no longer serve that purpose. Some dogs ( Canis lupus familiaris) were domesticated to assist people in hunting, for instance. There are hundreds of domestic dog species today. Many of them are still excellent hunters, but most are pets.

Throughout history, people have bred domesticated animals to promote certain traits. Domestic animals are chosen for their ability to breed in captivity and for their calm temperament. Their ability to resist disease and survive in difficult climates is also valuable.

Over time, these traits make domestic animals different from their wild ancestors. Dogs were probably domesticated from gray wolves ( Canis lupus).

Domesticated animals can look very different from their wild ancestors. For example, early wild chickens weighed about 0.9 kilograms (two pounds). But over thousands of years of domestication, they have been bred to be larger. Larger chickens yield more meat. Today, domestic chickens weigh as much as 7.7 kilograms (17 pounds). Wild chickens only hatched a small number of eggs once a year, while domestic chickens commonly lay 200 or more eggs each year.

Effects on Humans
Domestication marked a major turning point for humans: the beginning of an agricultural way of life and more sedentary communities. Humans no longer had to wander to hunt animals and gather plants for food.

It's improtant to understand, however, that while hunter gatherers did not grow crops they tended plants in allotted areas. Once grown, the plant could then be collected as food.

Agriculture-the cultivating of domestic plants-allowed fewer people to provide food for the community. The stability that came with regular, predictable food production led to increased population density. The world's first villages and cities were built near flooplains where fields of domesticated plants could be grown more easily.

Plant domestication also led to advances in tool production. The earliest farming tools were hand tools made from stone. People later developed metal farming tools, and eventually used plows pulled by domesticated animals to work fields.

Fast Fact

Dogs and Wolves
Though today's dogs were likely domesticated from gray wolves, they are now a distinct species. Dogs' scientific name is canis lupus familiaris, while the scientific name for gray wolves is canis lupus.

Fast Fact

Wild Horses
The process of domestication continues. Cowboys and other horse experts train horses ( Equus ferus caballus). Sometimes, this is called "breaking" a horse. Training a horse to allow a saddle and rider requires an enormous amount of physical work, training, and patience. Horses that are born on ranches or in stables still need to be trained, although training a young horse is easier than domesticating a horse caught in the wild.

Media Credits

The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

Illustrators

Mary Crooks, National Geographic Society

Editors

Jeannie Evers, Emdash Editing, Emdash Editing

Producer

National Geographic Society

other

Last Updated

October 19, 2023

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Domestication is the process of adapting wild plants and animals for human use

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This article explains the factors contributing to plant diversification in a tropical rainforest biome. The tropical rain forest biome 170,000 of the worlds 250,000 species of plants. That is more than half of all known plant species. There are some that contribute to this being the ideal environment for plants to grow. One of these factors is it's canopy structure. The canopy is made up of the branches and leaves overlapping at the tops of rainforest trees. This creates many places where plants can begin to grow while protecting the plants from harsh weather that could cause damage.

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THE RAINFOREST CANOPY

An estimated 50-90 percent of life in the rainforest exists in the trees, above the shaded forest floor. Primary tropical rainforest is vertically divided into at least five layers: the overstory, the canopy, the understory, the shrub layer, and the forest floor. Each layer has its own unique plant and animal species interacting with the ecosystem around them. The overstory refers to the crowns of emergent trees which soar 20-100 feet above the rest of the canopy. The canopy is the dense ceiling of closely spaced trees and their branches, while the understory is the term for more widely spaced, smaller tree species and juvenile individuals that form a broken layer below the canopy. The shrub layer is characterized by shrubby species and juvenile trees that grow only 5-20 feet off the forest floor. The forest floor is the ground layer of the forest made up of the trunks of trees, fungus, and low-growing vegetation. These layers are not always distinct and can vary from forest to forest, but serve as a good model of the vegetative and mechanical structures of the forest.

The overstory is characterized by scattered emergent trees that tower above the rest of the canopy, the tops of some species exceeding 210 feet (65 m). Below the overstory trees, the canopy stretches for vast distances, seemingly unbroken when observed from an airplane. However, despite overlapping tree branches, canopy trees rarely interlock or even touch. Instead they are separated from one another by a few feet. Why the branches of these trees do not touch is still a mystery, but it is thought that it might serve as protection from infestations from tree-eating caterpillars and tree diseases like leaf blight. To survive, canopy dwellers must have the ability to negotiate these gaps by climbing, leaping, gliding, or flying.

The billions of leaves of the canopy, acting as miniature solar panels, provide the source of power for the forest by converting sunlight to energy through photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert atmospheric carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and simple sugars. Since the rate of photosynthesis of canopy trees is so high, these plants have a higher yield of fruits, seeds, flowers, and leaves which attract and support a wide diversity of animal life. Besides attracting a broad array of wildlife, the canopy plays an important role in regulating regional and global climate because it is the principal site of the interchange of heat, water vapor, and atmospheric gases. In addition to collecting solar energy and regulating the climate, the canopy shields the understory from harsh and intense sunlight, drying winds, and heavy rainfall, and retains the moisture of the forest below. Thus the forest interior is a far less volatile environment than the upper parts of the canopy ceiling. The interior region is protected from the extremes of the canopy: temperature fluctuations, damaging solar radiation, and strong winds. Light levels are diffuse and subdued, the humidity is higher and more constant, and there is very little direct sunlight in the lower canopy.

Review questions:

Where does the rainforest derive its energy?

Where do the majority of rainforest species live?

Other versions of this page

Continued / Next: Studying the rainforest canopy

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An estimated 50-90 percent of life in the rainforest exists in the trees, above the shaded forest floor. Primary tropical rainforest is vertically divided into at least five layers: the overstory, the canopy, the understory, the shrub layer, and the forest floor. Each layer has its own unique plant and animal species interacting with the ecosystem around them.

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This video explains the history of plant evolution. This is necessary to know when studying why plants are different in different climates. Scientists believe that plants originated from green algae. The video explains a few adaptations that plants developed. One being the cuticle. this is essentially a waxy covering that locks the water in since the plant no longer lives in water. Adaptation is simply the plant adapting and changing to better suit its environment. Taxonomic nomenclature happens as a result of speciation. Speciation is when new groups form during evolution, whereas taxonomic nomenclature is when different species adapt into one as a result of being in the same environment.

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Best conditions for a healthy Prickly Pear cactus

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This article explains the best conditions and climates for a prickly pear cactus. It is important to pay attention to things for best results from the plant. For example the article states that this plant thrives in temperatures above 100 degrees and does not survive in temperatures under 20 degrees. So this plant will likely do better somewhere like Arizona versus a more northeastern state like New York. Additionally for anyone that likes the aesthetic of the plant, they will now understand it would be best as an outdoor plant instead of indoor.

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Totem pole cactus (Lophocereus schottii) requires warm climates in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 9 through 11 where it receives minimal moisture and frost exposure. It can grow well in moist climates or cooler regions as a potted plant that's kept indoors for part of the year. The cactus grows slowly, which makes it especially suitable as a potted plant. The upright plant has a knobby appearance and no spines. It sometimes produces pale pink flowers.

Place the totem pole cactus where it will receive full, direct sunlight all day. A location near a south-facing wall works well outdoors while a south-facing window provides enough sun indoors.

Water the cactus when the soil completely dries. Add water to the soil at the base of the plant until the excess drains from the bottom. Empty the drip pan beneath the pot so the cactus isn't sitting in water.

Fertilize the cactus in mid spring with a fertilizer formulated for cacti and succulents. Apply the fertilizer at the package-recommended rate for your plant size.

Bring outdoor cactus indoors in fall before the first frost, or before the wet season in coastal climates. Place it back outdoors after the last spring frost or when the dry season begins.

Repot the cactus in spring when the base grows to within 3/4 inch of the pot's rim. Fill a pot one size larger with a cactus and succulent soil mixture. Set the totem pole cactus in the new pot at the same depth it was growing at previously.

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How to Care for a Lophocereus Schottii Cactus

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How to Care for a Lophocereus Schottii Cactus. Totem pole cactus (Lophocereus schottii) requires warm climates in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 9 through 11 where it receives minimal moisture and frost exposure. It can grow well in moist climates or cooler regions as a potted plant that's kept ...