Cactus is perhaps the most famous plant. It can be found at home, in offices, in schools. The green thorn is popular not only among flower growers, it has become a popular hero of the famous computer game Cactus McCoy.
This plant is legendary. According to one of them, a cactus and a rose made gifts to each other. The cactus gave the rose thorns so that it would not be so defenseless, and she gave him a charming flower. And now a rose always has thorns, and a beautiful flower blooms among the thorns of a cactus. So what is a cactus? How did he win the love of experienced and beginner flower growers?
Cactus care
Caring for a prickly flower is not difficult, but you should not forget about its existence for a long time. It must be remembered that the cactus will not forgive such an attitude towards itself and will completely refuse to bloom or get sick.
These flowers love the sun, but they can get burned from direct sunlight, so sunlight must be diffused. You should often ventilate the room in which cacti grow, and if possible, then in the summer and on warm spring and autumn days it is better to take them outside.
Transplant them in the spring, like most plants. At the bottom of the pot for surethere should be drainage, and small pebbles can be poured on the top layer of soil.
Soft water is used for irrigation. Water as needed with warm water when the soil dries. From the overflow of water, the roots of the plant can begin to rot. In winter, watering is stopped and the pot is transferred to a cool place.
Flowering
During flowering, you can not rearrange the pot and turn it. He does not like to be disturbed, and may drop open flowers and buds. He doesn't like drafts either. From direct sunlight during flowering, it must be protected with paper.
Cacti bloom for a very short time: from several hours to several days. With each subsequent flowering, the number of buds increases, and they become larger than the last time. During this period, it is possible to determine with accuracy which species the plant belongs to.
Variety of cactus species
There are more than 3000 names of indoor cacti. They differ in shape, size, colors, but they are united by common features: the presence of areoles - spines or hairs grow from them, as well as the ability to store and accumulate moisture in the cells of the stem.
The leaves of most cacti have been transformed into thorns, but in the subfamily of Pereskaceae they are completely preserved. This species is a shrub that grows flat leaves on a round stem.
After flowering, many cacti produce edible fruits. Other parts of cacti are also eaten. Therefore, some species are grown specifically for these purposes.
Beginner growers most oftengrow unpretentious desert cacti, reviews of which can be found on numerous forums and sites on floriculture. There you can also learn more about all the secrets and intricacies of caring for each species.
Mammillaria
Mammillaria is a profusely flowering small cactus with bizarre spines, varieties of which are often found in flower growers' collections. Unpretentious and easily blooms at a young age. Flowers appear at the top in the form of a wreath. After flowering, beautiful fruits remain, which decorate the flower with bright berries for a long time. The stem of the mammillaria is covered with papillae arranged in a spiral, and at the top of the areola comes a bunch of spines and hairs. Propagated by seeds and shoots.
Echinopsis
Echinopsis is a cactus that changes its shape depending on the amount of sunlight: when there is not enough sun, it stretches, and when there is too much, it becomes like a ball. Only young plants bloom. Flowers can be pink, yellow, red or white. Unfortunately, the flower lasts only one night, so you should not miss this bewitching sight. Echinopsis reproduce by children, as well as by seeds. Children should be taken from the plant that has already bloomed at least once.
Rebutia
Rebutia is a small, beautifully flowering cactus. Numerous bright flowers are located at the base of the stem and, at times, cover it with themselves. Blooms in the second year of life. Flowering lasts about three days. In this speciescactus in a pot very quickly there is no free space due to the many children who fill up all the free space. Therefore, for planting, you need to choose a shallow, but wide capacity.
Ountia
Prickly pear is a large cactus with a flat stem, the branches of which grow in different directions and give it a bizarre shape. It is protected by very sharp dangerous thorns of two types: thick, which are clearly distinguishable, and thin, almost invisible - they dig into the skin and cause very unpleasant sensations. Opuntia practically does not bloom at home. But if you plant it in a large pot and take it outside in the summer, it will delight you with its flowering.
You can admire its flowers in greenhouses. After flowering, pear-shaped fruits remain, which contain many useful substances. Prickly pear is used in food, used in medicine and added to animal feed.
The store usually sells whole sets of different cacti, from which you can create beautiful compositions. But in order to provide them all with the necessary care, you need to know their names and properly care for each of them individually, and for a beginner it will be difficult. Therefore, it is better to gradually acquire those plants about which information can be easily found. Knowing what a cactus is and how to properly care for it, you can constantly replenish your flower collection with new interesting specimens of such cute thorns.
