Colored cacti: a colored miracle and a gift of nature. Multi-colored charm: Gymnocalycium - home care

"ambush" for newbie cactus growers.

Continuing the theme of buying store-bought, so-called “Dutch” cacti. Diseases and pests, as well as lack of adaptation to normal conditions Growth is not the only problem when purchasing these cacti. What other “ambush” can await novice cactus growers? So..

What the monster manufacturers don’t do is to force you to buy a couple of extra cacti (and not only those)). They stick on the poor plant and
artificial flowers are pinned on, hats are spanned, and especially unlucky cacti like prickly pear, for example, even get eyes. The height of cynicism was the process of painting cacti from sprayers in different cheerful colors. An almost iconic cactus was chosen as a victim - Echinocactus gruzona.... and store shelves were quickly overgrown with red, purple, burgundy and other echinocacti of the same color as their spines and epidermis. And naive cactus beginners began to joyfully buy them, believing that their collection had been replenished different types cacti. It wasn't here..

This cup has not passed me either. This winter, one very good person, but who knows nothing about cacti, knowing that I collect cacti, gave me this painted cactus. Having finished pulling out my hair from such a replenishment, I began to rehabilitate the cactus. Although the appearance of this unfortunate creature almost threatened with disaster, because in my collection I already have an echinocactus gruzona about 30 cm in diameter, and my small apartment clearly cannot stand a second such monster!!!

After visually inspecting the cactus and making sure that there are no signs of rot,
The echinocactus was sent to wash the roots from the old soil. This procedure can only be carried out if the plant looks completely healthy, otherwise it is better to remove the peat lump manually, simply stirring it up with tweezers or a toothpick and shaking off the roots. Getting water on a rotten cactus will kill it. After a cleansing shower, the load was left to dry on a shelf in the hallway for a couple of days. This is necessary to allow the roots to dry out and heal minor damage. Well, the last ones, accordingly, I planted the cactus in new, sterile soil and sent it to the windowsill, placing it away from everything just in case.
collections.

More than six months passed, the echinocactus successfully took root and grew safely all summer with the entire collection of cacti in the country greenhouse. And here comes the moment of truth, which for some will be a revelation or not. pleasant surprise. Fresh young pricksThe cactus glasses grew not red, but yellow! That is, this is exactly the color that the Echinocactus gruzon should have. And the epidermis is a wonderful bright green color, without red tints. I didn’t expect anything else))

So, of course, you can buy multi-colored cacti of all shades, from red to purple, or whatever importers come up with. But as a result, after a year, on your windowsill there will be a prickly company consisting of absolutely identical echinocactus gruzons in their normal, natural appearance - green with yellow spines. Only skirts made of thorns will remind you of the previous look. different colors, on the bellies of cacti.

Cacti still occupy a worthy place in the collections of many gardeners and are considered one of the most unusual plants. To decide on the choice of original succulents for growing, we suggest first looking at what types of cacti there are and their photos with names.

Brief description and types of cacti

The homeland of these exotic plants is America, although in nature they can be found in desert areas of Africa, Asia and even Europe. Wild cacti usually have big sizes. They grow in hot areas of the planet and are widespread in Argentina, Mexico and Chile. Some varieties of cacti grow in the tropics, as well as in coastal zone Mediterranean and Black Seas.

Amazing natural conditions their growth, which is very common for cacti:

1. Many species grow in desert regions with low humidity. Although there are varieties that prefer humid areas, therefore they live exclusively in the tropics.
2. Cacti are adapted to sudden temperature changes, which in deserts can sometimes reach up to 50 °C.
3. Most often, plants live on loose gravel and sandy soils, with a low humus content, but with big amount minerals.

Cacti have an unusual structure - a fleshy stem and dense skin. This feature helps the plant adapt to moisture deficiency. To prevent its loss, cacti have specific protective properties:

• thorns instead of leaves;
• hair that shades the plant from the scorching sun;
• a waxy coating protects against moisture evaporation;
• a ribbed stem, along the grooves of which morning dew flows to the roots;
• long roots are protected from drying out.

To compensate for the lack of leaves, cacti have thick, fleshy stems. For the most part, they are spherical, so they absorb light in approximately the same amount as the leaves. Some cacti have ridges that provide slight shade from the sun.

A fleshy plant saturated with water, it is an excellent prey for desert animals. To protect itself from them, an ordinary cactus has spines. In some species they are a natural cover from sun rays.

By appearance cacti are divided into the following groups:

• shrubs;
• tree-like;
• herbaceous;
• Liana-shaped.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the most common types of cacti among gardeners in the photo with names.

Desert and forest cacti

Depending on the place of growth, there are 2 main groups of cacti: desert and forest (tropical).

In nature, desert cacti grow in the hot desert or semi-desert zones of America and Africa. They are characterized by a high degree of adaptation to conditions environment, have massive shoots and elongated, strong spines.

Desert cacti can be divided into three types:

At home, during the period October - March, it is better not to water desert cacti at all. They require constant hitting sunlight, otherwise they will not bloom. Therefore, it is better to place plants on southern windows.

Below are the most popular types of cacti in the photo and their names in Russian.

Most cacti are inhabitants of purely arid regions of deserts and semi-deserts. But there are species that grow in tropical humid regions. Natural environment forest cacti grow in tropical zones South America, Africa and Australia.

Located on trees, they are supplied with organic decompositions. And on the rocks, their roots cling to stone ledges and are content with a small amount of humus. Almost all tropical cacti are characterized by an ampelous shape and long, leaf-shaped, hanging stems. Instead of regular spines, they have fine hairs.

At home, during the cold winter period, limited watering is recommended for forest cacti. And in the hot summer they need obligatory shading. It is best to place them on eastern or northern windows.

Home blooming cacti

About half of all varieties of flowering cacti can be expected to bloom when they are 3-4 years old. In the future, they are able to delight others with their flowers every year. Most cacti bloom in the spring. But you can successfully select several species, the flowers of which will decorate the interior throughout the year.

Unusual flowers, which bloom in some types of cacti, are presented in the photo with names.

In order for the cactus to bloom quickly, it needs to create the most natural conditions possible. Most often, flowers appear only on new growth. And for its appearance, the cactus needs appropriate care in summer and rest in winter.

1. It is necessary to take very careful care of the plants, because even one damaged thorn can significantly reduce the possibility of flowering.
2. IN autumn period it is necessary to reduce the amount of watering, and closer to winter, stop it completely. You can start watering only in March, first spraying the cacti with water.
3. In winter, it is worth keeping plants in a cool room with dim lighting.
4. When buds begin to form, cacti cannot be replanted or fertilized, otherwise there is a chance that they will be left without flowering.

Growing a cactus in a cramped pot speeds up its flowering. It is advisable not to turn it towards the sun. different sides, otherwise it will lose the chance to bloom.

Types of flowering cacti with photos and names

Cactus Mammillaria has a spherical stem shape, green with a bluish tint, up to 25 cm high. characteristic feature are white thin threads that bind long spines.
Pink or lilac flowers are placed on the top of the cactus. Often its bloom resembles a wreath of flowers.

Prickly pear cactus has flat shoots covered with sharp spines. Therefore, when caring for the plant, you need to be very careful. Its spines easily break off and get stuck in human skin. Prickly pear blooms orange in summer big flowers. The fruits from which they are prepared in America may begin to set. various dishes. Opuntia grows in very diverse natural conditions: in tropical and coniferous forests, deserts and semi-deserts, savannas, on sea coasts.

Peyote cactus from the genus Lophophora, small in size, gray-green in color, without spines. It grows naturally in Mexico and some US states. Favorite habitat is fine gravel. The top of the cactus resembles flattened molars, and the lower part of the stem is underground. Flowers appear on top, white or Pink colour. The fruits are elongated red berries that form throughout the summer.

The cultivation of Peyote in Russia has been prohibited by law since 2004 due to the hallucinogenic substance mescaline, which is contained in the pulp of the plant stems.

Cereus cactus- This is a source of pride for many gardeners. The columnar stem with thick protruding ribs sometimes has a height of up to 1 m. The ribs have long and sharp spines. In summer, Cereus begins to bloom. Some of its species have flowers up to 15 cm in length. It is interesting that the flowering of different varieties of Cereus is not the same. Some varieties bloom during the day, while others bloom at night.

Echinopsis cactus translated from Greek means hedgehog-like. The plant is distinguished by a green spherical stem with powerful ribs and short spines. In the future, the stem may become cylindrical. Large funnel-shaped flowers can have a diameter of up to 20 cm and are white, red or pink. They begin to bloom in the evening, and by midnight their delicate scent becomes very strong. Flowering begins in spring and ends in autumn. The flowers stay on the stem for 2-3 days.

Cactus Gymnocalycium translated from Greek as naked cup. A spherical cactus, which is characterized by apical flowers with a long tube without hairs and spines.
Its stems do not have chlorophyll, so they are yellow, red, and pink. There are transverse tubercles along the ribbed surface. The cactus begins to bloom relatively early, at 3-4 years of age.

It is worth mentioning separately about the Euphorbia succulent from the Euphorbia family, which is also called the Euphorbia cactus. This is a shrub with small leaves and bright original inflorescences. If you properly care for the plant, about 25-30 inflorescences can bloom on it at the same time. In nature, Euphorbia is distributed on all continents. In Russia it can be seen along river banks, near roads and in fields.

Euphorbia contains poisonous milky sap. It can cause burns to the skin and mucous membranes, as well as disruption of the digestive tract if it enters the stomach.

Euphorbia is unpretentious to the conditions of detention, throughout the entire time it has decorative look. In winter, the plant should be placed in a cool room and not watered to prevent rotting of the roots.

Ten of the most beautiful cacti - video

Gymnocalycium mihanovichii is a plant from the genus Gymnocalycium of the Cactaceae family, whose natural habitat is the river valleys of Argentina and Paraguay.

This cactus has a wide, ribbed, spherical, red-brown stem, up to 6 cm in diameter and about 5 cm in height. The ribs are large, narrow, wavy, with a triangular cross-section, “equipped” with centimeter-long light radially growing spines. The flowers are funnel-shaped, multi-petaled, yellowish-green or light pink, about 5 cm in diameter.

IN indoor floriculture Chlorophyll-free mutations of Gymnocalycium Mihanovich, having red, yellow, pink and orange stem colors, have become widely popular. Incapable of independent life, they can only grow grafted onto another cactus, which is usually a slow-growing species with a thin ribbed stem. The result is a rather original flower plant: a spiky, brightly colored, flattened ball on a thin green stem. Unfortunately, such mutations are quite short-lived.

Gymnocalycium care at home

Lighting. The cactus prefers bright, diffused light. Best location the room for him will have windows of eastern and western exposure. A south-facing window will require protection from midday sunlight. Otherwise, unsightly burns that look like dry brown spots will remain on the juicy stem balls.

Temperature. Gymnocalycium is quite indifferent to the temperature, provided that it is constant. It feels great at both 15 and 30 °C, but cannot tolerate sudden temperature changes and drafts. Therefore, when ventilating the room in which Gymnocalycium grows, in the cold season it should be protected from air flow from the street.

In winter, it is advisable to lower the temperature and keep the plant at 10 - 15 °C. This time for him it is a period of rest, during which the cactus stops growing and “goes into hibernation.”

Water Gymnocalycium Mihanovich should be planted sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out sufficiently. Like all cacti, this species is not afraid of drought, but it has a very negative attitude towards constant flooding and can quickly rot.

Watering is done with soft, well-settled water at room temperature. If necessary, if tap water too hard, it is filtered or slightly acidified with vinegar or citric acid.

IN winter time When the day gets shorter, watering should be reduced even more, as the plant enters a dormant period and consumes less moisture.

Air humidity. The cactus does not need to increase air humidity and can easily tolerate dry indoor conditions, even when the central heating radiators are running.

The soil. To grow Gymnocalycium Mihanovich, a slightly acidic, loose, moisture- and water-permeable substrate is required. You can purchase specialized ready-made soil in the store, or you can prepare soil mixture independently, taking for this purpose turf, humus, leaf, peat soil and coarse sand or perlite in equal proportions.

Before planting, it is necessary to create a good drainage layer at the bottom of the pot, and the pot itself should be chosen to be small in size, commensurate with the root system, since the cactus will bloom better in small containers.

Top dressing. From mid-spring to mid-autumn, Gymnocalycium is fed twice a month with a specialized fertilizer for cacti. In the cold season, feeding is stopped, giving the plant the opportunity to rest.

Transfer. Young specimens are transplanted annually, in the spring, into pots of larger diameter. Adult plants can be replanted once every 4 years, in the same container filled with fresh soil. In this case, you should carefully shake off the old depleted and alkalized soil from the roots.

Reproduction. The easiest way to obtain a new gymnocalycium is to cut off the lateral shoots, which are formed in large numbers on the mother plant. After drying the cut a little, the baby is rooted in a separate pot, simply placing it on the surface of damp soil.

Cactus can also be propagated by seeds. For their successful germination, you must follow the instructions indicated on the bag or in specialized literature.

Diseases and pests. As a rule, the plant is not affected by pests.

From diseases, due to excessive watering, root rot can develop, which in advanced cases can lead to death. At the first signs of disease, the cactus should be removed from the ground, washed from the old soil, cut off the affected roots, dried a little and placed in a healthy substrate for new rooting.

Our grandmothers, growing garden strawberries, or strawberries, as we used to call them, did not particularly worry about mulching. But today this agricultural technique has become fundamental in achieving high quality berries and reducing crop losses. Some might say it's a hassle. But practice shows that labor costs in in this case pay off handsomely. In this article we invite you to get acquainted with the nine the best materials for mulching garden strawberries.

Succulents are very diverse. Despite the fact that “little ones” have always been considered more fashionable, the range of succulents with which you can decorate modern interior, it’s worth taking a closer look. After all, colors, sizes, patterns, degree of prickliness, impact on the interior are just a few of the parameters by which you can choose them. In this article we will tell you about the five most fashionable succulents that amazingly transform modern interiors.

The Egyptians used mint as early as 1.5 thousand years BC. It has a strong aroma due to the high content of various essential oils, which are highly volatile. Today, mint is used in medicine, perfumery, cosmetology, winemaking, cooking, ornamental gardening, and the confectionery industry. In this article we will look at the most interesting varieties mint, and also tell you about the features of growing this plant in open ground.

People began growing crocuses 500 years before our era. Although the presence of these flowers in the garden is fleeting, we always look forward to the return of the harbingers of spring next year. Crocuses are one of the earliest primroses, whose flowering begins as soon as the snow melts. However, flowering times may vary depending on the species and varieties. This article is dedicated to the earliest varieties of crocuses, which bloom in late March and early April.

Cabbage soup made from early young cabbage in beef broth is hearty, aromatic and easy to prepare. In this recipe you will learn how to cook delicious beef broth and cook light cabbage soup with this broth. Early cabbage cooks quickly, so it is placed in the pan at the same time as other vegetables, unlike autumn cabbage, which takes a little longer to cook. Ready cabbage soup can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. Real cabbage soup turns out tastier than freshly prepared cabbage soup.

Blueberry – a rare and promising berry crop in the gardens. Blueberries are a source of biologically active substances and vitamins and have antiscorbutic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and tonic properties. The berries contain vitamins C, E, A, flavonoids, anthocyanins, microelements - zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, as well as plant hormones - phytoestrogens. Blueberries taste like a mixture of grapes and blueberries.

Looking at the variety of tomato varieties, it’s hard not to get confused - the choice is very wide today. Even experienced gardeners He's annoying sometimes! However, understanding the basics of selecting varieties “for yourself” is not so difficult. The main thing is to delve into the peculiarities of the culture and start experimenting. One of the easiest groups of tomatoes to grow are varieties and hybrids with limited growth. They have always been valued by those gardeners who do not have much energy and time to care for their beds.

Once very popular under the name of indoor nettle, and then forgotten by everyone, coleus today is one of the brightest garden and indoor plants. It is not for nothing that they are considered stars of the first magnitude for those who are primarily looking for non-standard colors. Easy to grow, but not so undemanding as to suit everyone, coleus require constant monitoring. But if you take care of them, bushes made of velvety unique leaves will easily outshine any competitor.

Salmon backbone baked in Provençal herbs - “supplier” delicious pieces fish pulp for light salad with fresh wild garlic leaves. The champignons are lightly fried in olive oil and then sprinkle with apple cider vinegar. These mushrooms are tastier than regular pickled ones, and they are better suited for baked fish. Wild garlic and fresh dill get along well in one salad, highlighting each other’s aroma. The garlicky pungency of wild garlic will permeate both the salmon flesh and mushroom pieces.

Conifer tree or shrubs on the site is always great, but a lot of conifers is even better. Emerald needles various shades decorates the garden at any time of the year, and phytoncides and essential oils, released by plants, not only aromatize, but also make the air cleaner. As a rule, most zoned adults coniferous plants, are considered very unpretentious trees and shrubs. But young seedlings are much more capricious and require proper care and attention.

Sakura is most often associated with Japan and its culture. Picnics in the canopy flowering trees have long become an integral attribute of welcoming spring in the country rising sun. The financial and academic year here begins on April 1, when the magnificent cherry blossoms bloom. Therefore, many significant moments in the life of the Japanese take place under the sign of their flowering. But sakura also grows well in cooler regions - certain species can be successfully grown even in Siberia.

I am very interested in analyzing how people's tastes and preferences for certain foods have changed over the centuries. What was once considered tasty and was an item of trade, lost its value over time and, conversely, new fruit crops conquered their markets. Quince has been cultivated for more than 4 thousand years! And even in the 1st century B.C. e. About 6 varieties of quince were known, and even then methods of its propagation and cultivation were described.

Delight your family and prepare themed cottage cheese cookies in the shape of Easter eggs! Your children will be happy to take part in the process - sift the flour, combine all the necessary ingredients, knead the dough and cut out intricate figures. Then they will watch with admiration as pieces of dough turn into real Easter eggs, and then with the same enthusiasm they will eat them with milk or tea. How to make such original cookies for Easter, read our step by step recipe!

Among tuberous crops, there are not so many decorative deciduous favorites. And caladium is a true star among the variegated inhabitants of interiors. Not everyone can decide to own a caladium. This plant is demanding, and first of all, it requires care. But still, rumors about the extraordinary capriciousness of caladiums are never justified. Attention and care can avoid any difficulties when growing caladiums. And the plant can almost always forgive small mistakes.

We have prepared a hearty, incredibly appetizing and simply easy-to-prepare dish for you today. This sauce is one hundred percent universal, as it goes with every side dish: vegetables, pasta, or anything. Chicken and mushroom gravy will save you in moments when you don’t have time or don’t want to think too much about what to cook. Take your favorite side dish (you can do this in advance so everything is hot), add some gravy and dinner is ready! A real lifesaver.

Cacti are very peculiar and unusual plants, and not every person is able to appreciate their beauty. Red cacti look even more unusual, as well as yellow, pink and purple ones. Their colors are usually very bright and saturated, which makes them look incredibly exotic. These artificially bred creatures contain absolutely no chlorophyll, do not use light for photosynthesis, and therefore can only live when grafted onto a green base, which serves as a kind of photosynthesis factory for them and a supplier of all necessary organic substances.

The red cactus was first bred by the Japanese biologist Watanabi. Taking a Gymnocolicium seedling with red spots (such a small mutation is not uncommon among cacti), I cut out a red areola and grafted it onto an Echinopsis cactus (an areola is a specific formation in a cactus, containing spines and hairs, and suitable for rooting and grafting). I again took the areola with redness from the grown cactus and again grafted it onto a green cactus.

After repeating this procedure many times, he managed to get a completely red cactus grafted onto a green, unpretentious echinopsis. The red caps of Gymnocalyciums created a real sensation among cactus growers and at first were incredibly expensive.

Then it turned out that they reproduce perfectly, only the red baby cannot be planted in the ground, it will die, it needs to be grafted onto some green cactus and you will get a new beautiful specimen with a red cap. Even a novice cactus grower can easily carry out this procedure.

Growing conditions

Lighting. Echinocactus is a very light-loving plant, so a southern window is the right place for it. In March, the pot with the plant needs to be slightly shaded until the cactus emerges from hibernation. Hedgehog cactus does well in a well-ventilated area.

Temperature. The heat-loving cactus does not tolerate temperature drops below 8°C. In summer it can be taken out to an unglazed balcony (daily temperature changes are beneficial for it), and in winter it can be placed in a room with a temperature of 10-12°C.

Air humidity. Tolerates dry air well. In summer, once a month you can spray, trying to prevent water from getting on the flowers.

Watering. From April to September, the echinocactus is watered moderately, when the soil layer is one third dry. Severe overdrying can cause a cactus to shrink, and overwatering can cause its stem to rot.

In autumn, watering is reduced, and in winter almost no watering occurs.

Top dressing. From April to September, it is recommended to feed the echinocactus with fertilizers for cacti once every 3 weeks.

Transfer. Young cacti are usually replanted in the spring once every 2 years, older plants - once every 3-4 years. It is recommended not to immediately place a plant extracted with a clod of earth. new pot, and leave for 2-3 days so that the damaged roots dry out. At the bottom of the new pot, you must pour drainage from expanded clay or broken brick in a layer of 3-4 cm.

As a substrate, you can use store-bought slightly acidic (pH 5.5) soil for cacti or prepare it yourself. To do this, you need to mix equal parts of low-fat soil, coarse sand and expanded clay. The mixture must be steamed to destroy germs and pests.

Trimming and shaping. Not required.

Bloom. The hedgehog cactus blooms in summer with white tubular flowers. With some luck, the plant can produce 5-6 flowers at the same time up to 8-10 cm in diameter.

As already mentioned, echinocactus rarely blooms in room conditions. However, this event can occur if the cactus overwinters in a cool, dry, bright room.

Reproduction of colored cacti by grafting

The best time for any vaccination is spring, when sap flow begins after winter period peace. If you have a colored baby of Gymnocalycium, Stenopleurum or another type of cactus, choose a young healthy specimen of Trichocereus, Peruvian Cereus or another type of cactus belonging to universal rootstocks as a rootstock.

First, use a thin knife to cut off the top of the rootstock, but do not remove it so that the rootstock does not dry out while the scion is being prepared. Then we cut off the bottom layer of the colored cactus, open the cut of the rootstock and connect their centers. Then the top of the scion is covered with cotton wool so as not to damage it, and tied to the pot of the rootstock with an elastic band. The joint is tied with woolen threads.

The grafted plant needs to be watered, but not sprayed. If everything is done quickly (the cuts should not be open for more than one minute) and cleanly, then you can combine almost any type of cacti. After 10-12 days, the jar can be removed, and the elastic bands and threads can be removed. Luck can be judged by the growth of a cactus. If the scion does not grow, you can try to repeat the grafting by making new sections.

The so-called “traffic lights” look very impressive when a red one is grafted onto a green cactus, and yellow onto a red one (or vice versa). And when they also bloom, which is not at all uncommon when proper care, the plant looks simply surreal. These plants are great for decorative compositions, living jewelry computer desks. They do not stretch out in dim lighting and, on the contrary, do not tolerate direct sun well. But, unfortunately, most often colored cacti live no more than two years.

Diseases and pests

Excessive drying may cause damage spider mite And mealybug, especially at a young age.

When overwatered, the roots and stem of the plant rot.