Fluffy cactus: what is the name and care options
Content:
The fluffy cactus, or, as it is also called, the espostoa cactus, has about 16 varieties. All of them have not only traditional spines, but also fluffy soft hairs, thanks to which the plant got its name.
general description
The shaggy cactus grows mainly in Peru and Ecuador on rocky mountain slopes at an altitude of no more than one and a half kilometers.
The fluffy cactus received its second name in honor of the famous botanist Esposto Nicholos, who was the first to notice this succulent and began a thorough study of it.
Hairy cactus looks very unusual
A shaggy cactus looks like fluff has clung to its needles. It is this fluff that reliably protects the plant from most of the known pests. The unusual furry look makes this succulent stand out from other varieties of cacti.
The plant has erect green cylindrical stems with low vertical ribs. Spines are usually hidden under the pubescence. Blossoming occurs infrequently, with flowers from three to five centimeters in diameter, the petals of which are painted in white, greenish or pink shades. The type of flowers is funnel-shaped. They have an unpleasant odor.
Main varieties
Having figured out what a shaggy cactus is and what it is called, it's time to consider the most common varieties of a flower.
Espostoa woolly
This cactus is known to many flower growers under the unofficial nickname Fluffy. The flower is ideal for growing at home. Under natural conditions, a succulent grows up to 5 meters in height, while reaching a diameter of 50-60 centimeters.
In the wild, furry cacti grow to gigantic sizes.
In this case, its pubescence is preserved only in the upper part of the plant. On the windowsills of Esposto, woolly grows no higher than 70 centimeters, and then only if it is provided with proper care.
Espostoa Lanata
Espostoa Lanata is the most common succulent plant in indoor floriculture. A distinctive feature of this cactus is the stem in the form of a pillar, on which there can be up to 25 ribs. Shoots begin to appear only in mature plants. The color of the stem of Espostoa Lanata is green, the needles are yellow with reddish tips. All this beauty is as if wrapped in a cloudy shroud. In care, a shaggy cactus is unpretentious, but practically does not bloom as a houseplant.
Cephalocereus
Cephalocereus, or, as it is also called, Senilis, is another popular columnar cactus native to Mexico. At home, the plant reaches an average of 35 centimeters in height, while in the wild it can grow up to 15 meters. This white fluffy cactus is quite comfortable both on the windowsills of apartments (provided that they are located on the sunny side) and in greenhouses.
The white hairs that cover the cactus make it look a bit like a head covered in gray hair. Therefore, many, when asked about a shaggy cactus, how this species is called, answer - the head of an old man. Of course, this name is unofficial.
Compared to other species, the Cephalocereus is relatively moody.He does not tolerate waterlogging or excessively dry air, his hairs will have to be periodically unraveled. In some subspecies of Senilis, the spines resemble a hook.
Care rules
Caring for a hairy cactus is not particularly difficult. The plant consumes a minimum amount of nutrients from the soil, does not need regular watering and perfectly tolerates direct sunlight.
Hairy cacti don't need frequent watering
However, there are some rules to follow to make the flower feel as comfortable as possible.
Temperature
Fluffy cactus is very fond of warmth, therefore, in the summer, the temperature in the room in which it is grown should not be lower than +22 degrees. The succulent is most comfortable when the temperature remains at around +30 degrees.
In winter, the plant hibernates. In this regard, the temperature regime can be lowered to +16 degrees.
Humidity
A shaggy cactus is not highly sensitive to moisture. The only thing that is highly discouraged is to spray the plant with water. As a result of this procedure, limescale appears on the hairs of the succulent, and the flower looks extremely untidy.
Watering
A shaggy cactus prefers loose and dry soil, so excessive moisture can be detrimental to it. Watering the plant is enough on average once a week as the soil dries out. In winter, this procedure should be repeated no more than once a month. Succulent reacts very negatively to excess water. Typically, the flower begins to rot at the bottom of the trunk.
The soil
To grow espostoas, it is recommended to mix sand and garden soil in equal proportions with the addition of vermiculite or expanded clay. If planting is done in a ready-made substrate for cacti, some garden soil should also be added to it. This will make the soil more nutritious and moisture-absorbing. Particular attention should be paid to the organization of good drainage.
Top dressing
The hairy cactus requires little or no fertilization. Top dressing is applied in minimal doses from May to September. You should first water the plant by wetting the roots. Otherwise, fertilization is likely to burn the root system.
As a top dressing, any mineral composition for cacti and organic matter is optimal.
Blooming cactus
The flowering of a shaggy cactus in practice happens very rarely. For this to happen, it is required to create conditions close to natural.
Flowers are usually white or pale pink, funnel-shaped. Their average diameter is about 5 centimeters, and their height is 5-6 centimeters. The opening of the buds occurs exclusively at night.
Breeding options
Reproduction of a hairy cactus is quite difficult because its trunk is completely covered with needles. This greatly complicates the process of separating babies or cuttings. In addition, the low probability of flowering makes it impossible to collect seeds for growing on a regular basis.
Fluffy cacti at home rarely bloom, but beautifully
If a florist wants to get high-quality seedlings of shaggy white cacti, the simplest solution is to purchase the necessary one in a specialized store.
Another option is to use the air lay method.To do this, you will need to clean the lateral shoot in the place where it connects to the trunk from needles and cover the resulting open wound with wet moss. Moss should be carefully covered with polyethylene foil. You can remove it only after the newly formed roots break through the polyethylene. Further, it remains only to separate the resulting stalk from the mother cactus and place it in the ground without removing the moss.
A hairy cactus is an excellent choice for those who want to decorate their apartment with fresh flowers, but don't really want to spend a lot of time caring for them. Due to its unusual appearance, this succulent stands out from other representatives of its species. Thanks to the variety of varieties available on the market, finding the perfect houseplant is easy.
