Gymnocalycium: mix and other popular plant species and cactus care at home
Content:
Despite the absence of the usual villi or bristles on the surface of the plant, Gymnocalycium mix belongs to the Cactus family. A native of Latin America got its name, which is translated from Latin as "naked cup", thanks to its unusual appearance.
Bloom
With good care, the hymnocalycium blooms already in the 3rd year. The plant gives buds in spring and fragrant almost until November. With the appearance of bell-funnel-shaped flowers, the cactus is transformed, becoming original and unsurpassed.
Tropical charm
Flowering begins with the appearance at the top of the tubes, covered with smooth scales. A large number of petals are formed there, collected in a bud, the average diameter of which is 5 cm. The length of the petals varies from 3 to 10 cm (depending on the species).
Each flower produces dark green fruits about 3 cm long and 1.5 to 5 cm in diameter. They are spindle-shaped or oval in shape. Inside are spherical small seeds.
Gymnocalycium has blossomed
Types and varieties of hymnocalycium
In nature, there is a wide variety of these plants, all of them stand out for the original forms of flowers. General signs allow not to confuse the hymnocalycium cactus with any other member of the family:
- the roots of most species are fibrous, but there are also bulb-like roots;
- the stem is round or flat-shaped with a smooth surface;
- the thorns are collected in groups and are located on the cactus in islands, outwardly resembling a spider, spreading its paws to the side;
- flowers form at the crown of the plant and are elongated scaly tubes.
If a cactus ball appears in the house, it will not be easy to immediately determine which species it is until the plant blooms. There they already look at the shape of the flower, its color, and sometimes the number of buds is also counted.
Cactus species gymnocalycium
| Name | Description |
| Gymnokalycium Mikhanovich | In mihanovichii gymnocalycium, the greenish-gray stem is significantly flattened, which is why the plant barely reaches a height of 5 cm. The peculiar shape of the ribs is characteristic of the species (there are 8-10 of them): · The edge is wavy, pointed; · In section are triangles; · On the edges there is a row of areoles, from which pointed transverse protrusions depart. Each areola contains 5 gray spines bent towards the stem. Between the spines at the top of the ball, the plant throws out beautiful pinkish-green flowers. There are also varieties with other shades: white, pure pink and yellow. |
| Gymnocalycium Reductum | A large cactus is often called humpback due to its elongated shape. Young plants are pretty rounded gray-green balls with a bluish tint. In adulthood, a cactus is able to reach a height of 0.5 m. Releases long, straight, hard spines from the areoles. During the flowering period, it is decorated with beautiful creamy buds. |
| Baldianum hymnocalycium | Gymnocalycium baldianum looks like a flat ball of gray-green color, reaching a diameter of 7-9 cm. Formed from 9-11 ribs, acquiring clear tuberosity with age. Areals contain only radial spines (5-7 pcs.) Of various shades: from gray with pink to ashy. In Bald's hymnocalycium, multiple flowers up to 5 cm in diameter can be white, orange, pink, but dark red are more common.Appear at an early age. |
| Horst Gymnocalycium | Small shoots can sometimes appear on a spherical stem 10 cm in diameter. The cactus itself is divided into 5 flat ribs. Each segment has 3-4 round areoles containing 5 lateral spines raised above the body of the plant. Young areoles grow long (up to 11 cm) pale pink or white flowers, framed by the same scales. |
| Bruchii gymnocalycium | Branching of the trunk is characteristic of Bruch. Multiple small processes appear on a rounded column 6 cm high and 5 cm in diameter. Lateral spines are soft, light. In some individuals, a straight central needle sometimes grows. On each process, pale pink flowers with yellowish anthers bloom. |
| Quehlianum gymnocalycium | The cactus Quela is characterized by a greenish-blue color of a spherical stem with a diameter of about 10 cm. It consists of 10 tuberous rounded ribs, tightly pressed against each other. There are no central spines, radial, ivory-colored, gathered at the base in a reddish margin. There are varieties with white, yellow, red-brown spines. It blooms with beautiful large bicolor buds. The red pharynx of the flower is framed by white curved petals. |
| Friedrich Gymnocalycium | The cactus friedrichii gymnocalycium is the result of Japanese selection. The main feature of the species is the absence of chlorophyll in the tissues. Therefore, the trunk is painted in various warm shades (yellow, orange, red, burgundy), but not green. The buds are lilac or pink. Small curved brown spines grow on a spherical ribbed cactus. The hybrid, as an independent plant, does not take root - the cactus needs grafting. |
| Amerhauseri gymnocalycium | The ball 5-6 cm in diameter is strongly flattened and barely reaches a height of 2.5 cm. The thick glossy green epidermis of the trunk casts a gray or bluish tint. The trunk is assembled from 8 tuberous, indistinctly defined ribs. On them, oval areoles covered with yellowish wool are formed, which become bald with age. Radial, slightly curved spines, 6-12 mm long, arranged in a star-shaped manner. They have a double color: at the base - dark red, at the top - white. In adults, there is also a central spine, which rises significantly above the radial ones. Its length is 1.2-1.5 cm. The plant pleases the eye with funnel-shaped small flowers from creamy white to pink. Greenish scales are framed with a light pink border. Neck shades red |
| Cardenasianum gymnocalycium | It is also called spherical-columnar. Outwardly, it resembles a rounded column 20 cm high. Densely pubescent with numerous long spines, most of which are inclined towards the stem. On the crown, low (up to 5 cm) whitish-pink flowers bloom, barely showing through the thorns. |
| Gymnocalycium denudatum | In the naked hymnocalycium, the dark green glossy stem is strongly flattened. An irregularly shaped sphere consists of rounded edges. Their number ranges from 5 to 8. The average diameter of the cactus itself is 10 cm. The radial "spiders" have 5-8 thorny legs a little more than 10 mm long. They are sinuous, gray-brown in color and tightly pressed against the cactus. Blooms in large white or light pink single buds. |
Mikhanovich cactus
Gymnocalycium called mix is a whole group of cacti that differ in their miniature size. They differ in shape, color of the stem and flowers. From such cacti, you can create unusual compositions by growing in one pot.
Grafted japanese
Home care
Spherical exotics easily take root, grow quickly and bloom early. Despite the unpretentiousness to growing conditions, it is necessary to properly provide the hymnocalycium with a mix of home care. Only compliance with the rules of agricultural technology will allow cacti to develop comfortably.
Soil and top dressing
Tropical plants require loose soil with a low pH. In order not to be mistaken with the preparation of the substrate, it is recommended to buy a ready-made mixture designed specifically for cactus plants.
The same applies to dressings. In flower shops there are always fertilizers that are most suitable for the hymnocalycium. They need to be used in the spring-summer period, applying under the plant 1 time in 2-3 weeks.
Lighting and temperature
Cacti love to bathe in sunlight. Therefore, it is necessary to provide good lighting throughout the year (even in winter). But in a sultry summer, the window will still have to be shaded, protecting the plant from direct rays.
Gymnocalycium do not like heat - cacti need a moderate temperature. During the rest period, it is important to maintain the parameter within + 15-18 ° С. Although the plant feels fine at + 5-10 degrees.
Air humidity and irrigation
Comfortable for cacti in low humidity. Therefore, they do not need irrigation from a spray bottle. Watering is also carried out in moderation, trying not to flood the soil.
In the process, warm settled water (preferably soft) is used. Since autumn, watering is gradually reduced and in winter it is rarely carried out with a small amount of liquid.
Transfer
Young plants are handled every year at the beginning of spring. This stimulates the cactus to actively develop. In this case, the new pot should be slightly larger than the previous one.
Transfer to a new container
The second reason why an unscheduled transplant is required is root rot, provoked by waterlogging of the soil. If the plant has become lethargic, it should be removed from the pot, rinsed the roots and rotted areas removed. After drying, the cactus is placed on a new rooting substrate.
Breeding options
It is not difficult to dissolve hymnocalycium at home. The breeding method depends on the type of cactus.
By shoots
Some species produce babies. After flowering, they are separated from the mother plant by simply turning the layering around the axis. Further, they adhere to the following algorithm:
- the baby is kept on the table for several days so that the cut dries;
- taking a small pot (or a plastic cup) with a drainage layer and a substrate, the layers are simply laid on top of the soil;
- moisten the soil around the baby.
The transplanted cut should be looked after as if it were an adult plant.
Cactus with babies
Seeds
In those species that do not produce layering, the only breeding option is seed. Although flower growers prefer this method for cacti with children. In this case, young plants are healthy and strong.
When breeding, they adhere to the following recommendations:
- the soil mixture is taken as standard for cacti, but with a smaller fraction;
- seeds are pre-disinfected with steam or calcined in the oven;
- sown in small containers without burying them in the ground;
- make sure that the soil is always moist (it is recommended to cover the container with a film);
- water through a pallet or spray the soil from a spray bottle;
- keep the room temperature + 20 ° С and provide good lighting.
Seed reproduction
You can sow cacti at any time of the year. With proper care, seedlings will appear quickly and begin to actively develop. After 12 months, they can be planted in permanent pots.
