Almería Drives Cactus and Succulent Cultivation as a Symbol of Plant Resilience

Almería has consolidated the cultivation of cacti and succulents as a strategic bet due to their resilience, low water consumption, and adaptability to extreme climates, in a 2025 campaign marked by market moderation and species diversification, Plantaespaña reported this Friday. According to a note from Coexphal, sector producers, demand remains stable in southern Europe –especially in Spain, Italy, France, and Portugal–, while exports to the northern part of the continent have fallen significantly due to geopolitical instability, economic uncertainty, and changes in consumption. "The northern European market is practically at a standstill," summarizes Francisco Serrano, from Cactus Serrano nursery. Cactus cultivation, mostly propagated by seeds, begins in March when minimum temperatures exceed 15 degrees and can take between three and four years to reach commercial maturity. Succulents, on the other hand, have a faster development, mainly reproducing by cuttings and leaves, as ...