Cactus is a perennial flowering plant from the Carnation and Cactus family. It grows in the arid territories of South America. When caring for this plant at home, you will need to follow a number of rules.
Cactus description
Cacti are distinguished by the absence of foliage, the function of which is performed by a thick green stem. In its shape, the plant can be columnar, cylindrical, trihedral. On top of the stem are thorns and bristles of various shapes and colors, length up to 12 cm. Flowers of both sexes, tubular and funnel-shaped.
Varieties of cactus
A number of varieties of this plant are distinguished, suitable for growing indoors:
| View | Description |
| Decembrist | There are no thorns, flowering occurs in winter, at a dormant stage in other species of the family. |
| Hatiora | Homeland - the tropics of Brazil. During flowering, small yellow bells form. |
| Aporocactus | The stem can reach a length of up to 5 meters, covered with thin spines. |
| Epiphyllum | Flat or trihedral (rarely) long stem. Spines replaced by serrated edges. The flowers are white or purple. |
| Ariocarpus | A small plant with a long stem. Every spring, inflorescences are formed, the color is white, yellow or red. |
| Mammillaria | It has the shape of a ball or cylinder. Between the spines there are thin white hairs. |
| Prickly pear | Branches resemble pancakes in shape. Yellow flowers, arise only with quality care. |
| Austrocylindropuntia subulata | An unusual form of foliage, popularly called the "needle of Eve." Forms large inflorescences. |
| Echinocactus | A plant reaching a height of 1.5 meters. The color of the flowers is yellow, red. |
Cactus Care Rules at Home
The flower is among the succulents, therefore, accumulating water, it can grow for a long time in a drought. But when grown at home, there are still a number of rules that are recommended to be followed.
Watering
In spring and summer, the plant needs to be watered every 7 days. If there is no intense heat, then the interval increases to once every 1.5 weeks. In winter, hibernates, so the frequency of water application is reduced to 1 time in 2-2.5 weeks.
Cacti are forbidden to fill, because their root system is not oxygenated and rots.
Bloom
For a cactus to bloom in the house, you will need to make a lot of effort and provide it with the most comfortable conditions. Flowering is completely related to the type of succulent. There are representatives with small flowers (mammillaria) and large (echinopsis). The largest inflorescences have a Dutch cactus.
Flowers can have completely different colors, with the exception of black and deep blue.
Transfer
For transplanting, you need to choose a suitable pot and the right soil. When choosing a container for a flower, it is advised to give preference to clay or plastic. The first dries quickly, so this is ideal for adult plants. Plants take root faster in plastic pots.
The substrate can be prepared with your own hands, for this, in equal proportions, the following components are taken:
- leaf soil;
- turf land;
- coarse river sand;
- brick crumbs;
- charcoal.
Having prepared the components, you can proceed to the transplant:
- A drainage layer, such as crumb brick, is placed in a new pot. To disinfect the soil and roots, a layer of charcoal is laid out in the container.
- The earth is poured and a recess is created according to the size of the root system.
- The cactus gently grabs the trunk and is separated from the old pot. Hands remove excess land.
- The plant is placed in a new container and sprinkled with earth.
Breeding
Reproduction of the cactus is carried out using seeds and processes. The second method is more popular with gardeners, since it is faster.
Tips for beginner gardeners
Beginning gardeners are advised to adhere to a number of rules:
- in winter, you should not completely abandon watering the plant;
- during the rest period of the cactus, 4-5 hours of lighting are sufficient;
- the plant cannot be rotated during the flowering period, otherwise it will lose buds.
Mr. Dachnik advises: where to place the cactus
It is recommended to place the plant in the southeastern part of the house - this is a wealth sector. Cactus is a symbol of accumulation and savings, therefore, it helps to improve the financial situation of the family.
It is recommended to place such plants in the yard only if the residents of the house are in danger, then the cactus will act as a protector.
