In home floriculture, different types of desert cacti are grown, for example, Echinopsis, Achinocereus, Ferocactus, Rebucius. Hedgehog cactus, or Echinocactus, belongs to the genus of spherical desert cacti.
In nature, there are several types of Echinocactus:
- Echinocactus Gruzoni;
- Echinocactus Rainbow;
- Echinocactus horizontal;
- Echinocactus Parry.
Echinocactus
The plant was first discovered in Mexico in the 19th century. Succulent was named after Herman Gruzon, an engineer, industrialist, philanthropist and famous cactus artist of the 19th century.
Description
The plant is also called the golden barrel, the golden ball. The succulent got its name due to the spherical shape of the stem in young and barrel-shaped - in adulthood. According to scientists, cacti can live up to 500 years.
The stem has a ribbed surface. The ribs are densely covered with spikes of white or light yellow. With age, spines acquire a light brown color. The color of the stem is dark green.
Large pubescent areoles in the upper part of the stem join to form a beautiful yellow cap. From each areola, two types of spines grow: central and radial. The central ones grow up to 5 cm, the radial ones grow up to 3 cm. The thorns, depending on the variety of cactus, can be straight and curved.
Note! The roots of the plant are short and are located near the surface of the soil.
In the natural habitat, the height of succulents can reach 3 m and 1 m in diameter, in homes their diameter does not exceed 40 cm.
The plant has several varieties that differ from each other in length, thickness, color and shape of spines.
So, for example, Echinocactus grusoniivar intertextus has beautiful curved spines, Echinocactus grusoniivar subinermis, on the contrary, has very small spines, Echinocactus grusonii f. monstruosa differs in that it grows in different directions, has short yellowish-white spines and an edge.
Varieties of Echinocactus Gruson
Echinocactus Gruzoni red
Flower shops sell Gruzoni cacti with red thorns. This color of needles is unnatural for a cactus. It is obtained by artificial tinting using food colors, which are added to the sandy soil.
With watering, the dye will absorb the succulent, and gradually the needles will acquire the desired color. Thus, the needles are tinted not only in red, but also in bright yellow, blue and green. Full staining lasts several years.
If food coloring is used for tinting, then it will not cause harm to the health of the plant.
Attention! If the dye is removed from the soil, then the thorns again acquire their natural color over time.
Home care for Echinocactus Gruzoni
Echinocactus succulent is easy to care for. Therefore, it is quite in demand among flower growers.
Lighting
The plant needs to organize good lighting, so flower pots are placed on the south or southeast window sills. It is not afraid of direct sunlight. However, if there is insufficient lighting, this can lead to the falling of thorns. In place of the fallen, new ones will grow, but they will be thinner and paler than their predecessors, the plant itself will lose its beautiful appearance.
After the winter dormant period, it is not recommended to immediately install a flower pot on the southern windowsill, as direct sunlight can burn the trunk. Succulents are taught to the sun gradually. Therefore, in the spring it is necessary to shade the cactus.
Humidity and temperature
Cactus is a heat-loving plant, however, if the ambient temperature becomes more than 30 ° C, the plant slows down or stops growing. The optimum temperature for echinocactus grusonii during the growing season is 20-25 ° C.
Echinocactus does not like too high temperatures
Succulents are not very picky about humidity and develops well in dry air. However, during very hot summers, it is advisable to periodically spray the cactus with spray water.
You also need to periodically place the plant under the shower in order to remove the dust that accumulates between its ribs.
Watering and fertilizer
In summer, the plant is watered no more than once a week. It is better if watering is carried out by immersing the pot in a tank with standing warm water. After that, allow excess water to drain into the pan. So that the roots do not rot, the water from the pan is also immediately removed.
During the growing season with a frequency of 1 time per month, the plant is fed. For these purposes, special formulations intended for cacti are purchased in the store. They contain a minimal amount of nitrogen. For this, fertilizers are used: Gilea, Stimulus, Flovit and others.
Wintering
How to care for Echinocactus in winter? Winter is the time when the dormant period begins for the cactus, so the temperature in the room is lowered. It should be in the range from +10 to + 15 ° С.
Attention! Low temperatures are unacceptable for the plant.
If the pot is on the floor, you need to isolate it from the cold coating. You can install the flower on wooden slats or lay a rag under it. If this is not done, then the roots may freeze.
Lighting even during this period is not reduced. In autumn, watering is carried out once a month, in winter it is stopped. Also, during this period, do not feed.
Landing and transplanting
Cactus is transplanted as necessary, at least 1 time in 2 or 3 years.
Attention! When transplanting, you need to try not to injure the roots. Succulents are very sensitive to damage to the root system.
A flower pot is best taken shallow. Its size should be 3-5 cm larger than the old. The best time of the year for a transplant is spring.
To grow cactus, the soil is either bought ready-made, or the soil mixture is prepared on its own.
Soil composition:
- 2 hours of turf land;
- 1 teaspoon of sand;
- 1 tsp of leafy earth;
- 0.5 hours of fine river gravel or crumbs from brick.
You can also add crushed charcoal to the mixture. This will protect the roots of the succulent from damage by fungi.
Echinocactus Grisoni Transplant
Before transplanting the plant, it is advisable to sanitize the soil and flower pot. For this, the soil mixture is placed in the oven for half an hour, the container is poured several times with boiling water.
Transplant procedure:
- Remove the cactus from the container. Inspect the root system. Remove rotten and broken off roots. Dust damaged areas with crushed activated carbon. After that, the cactus is placed in a dry container for 3 days. During this time, cuts will heal on the roots.
- Fill a drainage layer with a thickness of 1-2 cm into the tank. Expanded clay, small pebbles, broken brick are suitable as a draining material.
- To fill up a small layer of soil.
- Place the cactus in a pot, spread its roots.
- Fill the roots with soil. Shake the pot lightly so that the soil is evenly distributed between the roots. Tamp the soil slightly.
- Top up with a small layer of small pebbles.
- Place the pot in a room with dim lighting. The temperature is maintained in the range from 24 to 27 ° C. Start watering after half a month.
Flowering echinocactus
Cactus begins to bloom in late spring - early summer at the age of more than 20 years. In addition, Gruson's Echinocactus enter the flowering period if the stem diameter is at least 40 cm.
Echinocactus Flowers
Buds are usually formed in the apical part of the stem, sometimes they can be located in several tiers. The cactus blooms in single yellow, pink or red flowers, shaped like bells.
The flower tube is short, with a felt edge. Petals are narrow, also covered with a hem. The length of the flower is up to 7 cm. In the evening, the flower closes.
After pollination, inedible dark fruits of chocolate-brown color are formed in place of flowers.
Breeding options
Succulents propagated by seeds and children. The second option is simpler. However, children rarely appear in Echinocactus. This usually happens if the tip of the cactus is damaged.
Echinocactus seeds
The baby is first carefully separated from the parent, then planted in a prepared container.
Seeds
To breed cacti with seeds, you need:
- Soak the seeds for several hours in water, then for 10 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
- Prepare the container. Germination will require a wide and shallow box or a pot of sand.
- Put the seeds on moist sand and sprinkle a little on top with a sand layer 1-2 mm thick. Cover the container with a plastic bag.
- In order for the seeds to germinate normally, it is important to organize periodic ventilation of the greenhouse. Watering at this time do not produce.
- Shoots appear within 20-30 days.
- Young succulents dive and sit in separate pots.
With proper and constant care of Echinocactus, the plant will delight the owners with a beautiful appearance and beautiful flowers.
