Cacti are a very unusual group of houseplants, often a collector's item. Achieving flowering from thorny succulents can be difficult, but it attracts rather than repels. Moreover, a flowering cactus is a bewitching and delightful sight.
Description
Cacti, or simply cacti (Latin form of the name: Cactaceae) belong to the family of flowering perennials of the dicotyledonous class, order Carnation and are divided into 4 subfamilies: Pereskaceae, Prickly Pear, Mauhieniva and Cactus.
It is believed that the evolutionary isolation of cacti occurred no less than 30 or even 35 million years ago. Both Americas and the islands of the West Indies are considered the birthplace of cacti.
A distinctive feature of the described plants is the presence of hairs or spines, which are an axillary bud. There is another feature - this is the unusual structure of the flower and fruit, a significant part of which is the tissue of the stem.
Most species of cacti are xerophytic plants, well adapted to prolonged droughts, can bevarious in shape and size. Among them are huge giants of a columnar shape, growing to a height of several meters. And there are the so-called branched candelabra, the weight of which can reach several tons.
There are cacti that form thorny thickets, or tiny spherical plants that are only 2 cm in diameter when mature. Some more types of cacti can be prickly lashes creeping along the surface. And there are those that are almost entirely made up of a round, turnip-like root that is mostly underground.
Cactus varieties
There are countless types of cacti. Even more distinguish varieties and different types of these succulents. Plants gained such immense popularity due to their unpretentiousness, unusual appearance and, of course, incredibly beautiful flowering.
As mentioned above, there are four subfamilies of cacti.
- Pereskiaceae (lat. Pereskioideae) - this subfamily contains only one genus, which is recognized by scientists as an evolutionary link between cacti and deciduous plants, since shrubs of this genus actually have full leaves and non-succulent stems.
- Opuntia (lat. Opuntioideae) - this subfamily combines plants with simplified leaves that are present in young shoots, succulent stems and the presence of glochidia (fragile spines growing in bunches). Cacti of this subfamily are characterized by a variety of shapes and sizes, but they are alwayscan be recognized by flowers and seeds, similar in shape and structure. Opuntia seedlings have clearly defined cotyledons, and the stems have a segmented structure.
- Mauhienivye (lat. Maihuenioideae) is a subfamily consisting of one genus. In nature, they are distributed exclusively in Patagonia. Outwardly, they resemble prickly pear, but are not endowed with glochidia. Similarity with prickly pear can be traced in the presence of long-lived small (up to 10 mm) succulent leaves that have a conical shape. Shoots of this subfamily are similar to sprouts of deciduous plants. Mauchien succulents do not have CAM metabolism, unlike other cacti.
- Cactus (lat. Cactiodeae) is a subfamily that unites all the remaining genera, of which there are a huge number. Here, the leaves are completely absent, except perhaps for the rudimentary ones located on the flower tube in some plants. This subfamily includes both epiphytic cacti with stems and succulents with flat leaves or lashes, as well as xerophytic cacti in all their diversity.
There is also a classification into forest and desert cacti.
Forest indoor cacti
It is believed that forest species of cacti are the most demanding for home care. These plants are very fond of heat and high levels of humidity in the place where they are kept. However, direct sunlight is contraindicated for them, so such cacti need to be provided with diffused bright light. Next, popular forest types of indoor cacti with photos and names will be presented.
In nature, such plants are mainlyare epiphytes of shrub forms growing on trees, rotten stumps, snags, rock crevices, which are rich in natural vermicompost. The aerial roots of such cacti provide moisture to the plants. The stems of forest epiphytes are flexible, soft and quite long. The spines on them are replaced by small bristles resembling hairs.
Schlumbergera cactus
Forest species of indoor cacti (photo in the text) include such a well-known indoor plant as the Decembrist, which is otherwise called the Schlumberger cactus.
This plant is a bush that reaches 30 cm in height. However, its shoots can grow up to 1 m in length. Decembrist blooms, as the name implies, in winter with bright bell-shaped flowers of white, red or pink color.
Ripsalis
Among the forest home species and names of cacti, there is also a hatiora plant, lat. Hatiora salicornioides, also known as ripsalis.
The shoots of this cactus resemble highly branched whips. Like the Decembrist, ripsalis does not have thorns. But their flowers are very similar in shape. Hatiora has beautiful, bell-like inflorescences of yellow hues.
Aporocactus
The aporocactus (lat. Aporocactus) also belongs to the forest species of indoor cacti. The creeping stems of this plant can grow up to 5 m in length.
They are cylindrical in shape and densely covered with small bristly spines. Aporocactus inpeople called it the rat's tail. Its flowers are shaped like Decembrist flowers, only larger, and grow directly from the body of the lashes, covering them with a beautiful pink cloud.
Epiphyllum
Another magnificent representative of forest cactus species (photo confirms this) is epiphyllum (lat. Epiphyllum) or phyllocactus. The group of these plants has up to 20 subspecies.
The stems of epiphyllums are branched, long and often flat, sometimes trihedral. Spines of an adult plant are modified into jagged edges. The flowers are also bell-shaped, ranging from pure white to purplish red.
Desert indoor cacti
The homeland of these plants is distinguished by harsh conditions for life. The lack of moisture and sudden temperature changes in mountainous areas and deserts forced cacti to learn to adapt and survive.
Types and names of desert cacti, which are often grown at home, will be presented a little later. And now about the conditions of their detention.
- Illumination should be as complete as possible. Therefore, southern, southwestern and southeastern windows can be an ideal option. Desert natives are not afraid of direct sun, but the lack of light will significantly slow down their growth and prevent them from blooming.
- During the dormant period, cacti of this type should be kept at much lower temperatures (+12 … +15 ° С), minimal watering and poor lighting.
- When spring comes, cacti are watered abundantly, put in the sunand then moisturize about once a month.
Listing the species and names of indoor cacti that belong to the desert, it is best to start with an interesting genus.
Ariocarpus
These plants have a low and flattened stem. Some species have unusually colored stems of a gray or brown hue, but all of them have down in the axils of the tubercles. All types of cacti (photos and names of some are presented in the article) are characterized by incredibly beautiful flowering. Ariocarpus is no exception. Sometimes it is difficult to achieve and wait for flowers, but all the efforts and all the patience are more than paid off when this miracle blooms. The flowers are bell-shaped, painted in yellow, red or white tones, up to 5 cm in diameter.
According to various sources, the genus Ariocarpus has about 10 species. For example:
- Ariocarpus is agave, having a ball-shaped shoot with smooth skin and flattened thick papillae. Its top view resembles a star and the flowers are large and dark pink.
- Cracked Ariocarpus looks like a calcareous stone, the stem of the plant is almost completely immersed in the ground, and the part protruding on the surface is covered with hairs. Large purplish-red or pink flowers bloom from this hairy stone.
- Ariocarpus Kochubey is very cute. Its star-shaped shoot is adorned with stripes and a huge purple flower blooms in the center.
Gymnocalyciums
Quite a numerous genus. The unifying feature here issmooth flower tube, devoid of hairs. Grows well in well-drained soils. Outwardly, they can look completely different. They can have both large and small tubercles, and the spines vary in color and size.
Cleistocactus
Plants of this genus grow up to 40 cm at home, have a strong root system. The stems are almost regular cylindrical in shape with inexpressive ribs. They can be upright, branched or decumbent, and their thickness varies from 2 to 10 cm. The bristly spines along the ribs are painted in white, yellow, gray or red.
Cleistocactus bloom is abundant, starting from mid-spring. Many bright pink or red flowers bloom at the same time, located on the lateral surface of the stem at the ends of a small sessile tube. The upper part of the flower opens with scales, turning into lanceolate petals.
Seeds are found in bright fruits formed by self-pollination. Their surface is bristly and glossy, and inside the fruit is a white fragrant pulp with small black seeds.
The Strauss Cleistocactus is considered the most common species.
Corifanta
Quite a numerous genus. Translated from Greek means "blooming at the top." These are mostly solitary plants, only occasionally forming clumps. Stem of various shapes: from spherical to cylindrical. There are no ribs here, and the tubercles are arranged in a spiral and have a groove on the upper surface.
Flowers are often yellow, rarely red, from 2 to 10 cm in diameter, located at the top of the plant. Almost all species are self-pollinating. The fruits are large, oblong, green or yellowish in color, ripen for a long time. Brown seeds are smooth or covered with a light mesh.
Small cacti
Among the many species and names of domestic cacti, this genus cannot be ignored. These plants are also called melon cacti. They form single stems of medium size. The shape of melon cacti is from compressed-spherical to short cylindrical with high ribs and strong straight spines.
Melocactus differs from other relatives in a very peculiar peduncle at the top of the stem. It is a generative shoot called cephalium, which has no stomata, is densely covered with bristles and edging. In young plants, cephaly is absent, since its purpose is exclusively in fruiting and flowering. Pollination occurs with the help of birds (hummingbirds), less often by bees and other insects. Many melocacti are also capable of self-pollination.
Echinocactus
The genus Echinocactus belongs to the subfamily Cereus. The stems of these plants are spherical when young and slightly elongated when mature. Numerous protruding ribs are covered with thorns with edging.
Flowers are located on top. They can be yellow, pink or red. The flower tube is short, covered with scales and edging. There are also narrow petals at the endspubescent. In the wild, echinocactus can grow up to 3 m in height, their weight can be up to 1 ton, and their age can be up to five hundred years. Mexicans use the pulp for food.
Indoor plants of this genus love slightly acidic drained soil and bright sun (it is better to shade in the spring, gradually accustoming to direct rays).
Azteciums
Small genus, including only three spherical species (the last one was discovered in 2009). These plants look like Aztec sculptures. They have characteristic transverse folds and slight spines. All members of the genus are characterized by very slow growth. They grow by 3 mm in two years. They are usually propagated by re-grafting babies that form on grafted mother plants.
Types of domestic cacti are incredibly diverse and numerous. Unfortunately, it is not possible to describe them all within the framework of one article. However, from the foregoing, we can conclude that cacti are the most interesting plants, and their maintenance and cultivation can be a great pleasure.
