Pereskia is a cactus that has become widespread among lovers of home flowers. With proper care, the plant blooms and gives small fruits, and in some species they are edible.
What does Pereskia look like to which family
Peresius flowers are representatives of the Cactus family. Under natural conditions, distributed in Central and South America, in the form of a large shrub or small tree.
Pereskia prickly
The culture has strong straight stems, covered with thorns. Reduced leaf plates of a dark green hue, when the temperature drops to 10 degrees, they can fall. With age, the leaves lose their bright color, turn pale.
Common varieties
The following representatives belong to indoor flower varieties:
- Peresia prickly;
- Peresia shark (aculeata);
- Peresius Godseff (godseffiana).
Important! The latter variety is characterized by pinkish or purple lower leaves and growth of up to 10 m.
Pereskia Godseff
Pereskia - home care
If you want to grow an exotic plant, you must follow the rules of care. If the content requirements are violated, the culture will not be able to grow and develop normally.
- Temperature
For the summer period, the optimum temperature regime for the cactus will be 22-23 degrees. The plant should receive enough fresh air. With the onset of autumn, a temperature drop of up to 15 degrees is allowed.
Important! The room where the flower is located must be regularly ventilated, avoiding sharp gusts of cold air.
- Lighting
Cactus is a light-loving species, but direct sunlight can cause burns on foliage. If the pot is located on the south side, then the window must be shaded.
Important! Lack of lighting leads to strong elongation of the stems and a decrease in leaves in size. Due to the constant exposure to the sun, the deciduous cover becomes dull.
- Watering
Pereskia does not require constantly moist soil. In the summer and spring months, watering is carried out after drying of the upper soil in the boxes.
- Spraying
Beautiful and shiny foliage of the plant is preserved only with regular spraying. At the same time, you need to monitor so that during the procedure the earth in the containers does not get wet.
Spraying indoor flower
- Humidity
For a leaf cactus of Peresia, a certain humidity does not matter. The flower calmly transfers very dry air.
- Priming
In the cultivation of all varieties of peresk, loose and fertile soil is used. With independent creation of the soil, a mixture of humus, sand, sheet and clay-soddy ground is made.
For reference! Gardeners recommend buying ready-made compositions for cacti and succulents in flower shops.
- Top dressing
Particular attention is paid to the requirements of the plant in the spring. At this time, it is better to fertilize with a special solution for cacti: it is applied under the root every two weeks.
Important! Fertilizers are needed during the growing season and during the formation of buds. The procedure is combined with watering.
Features of winter care, rest period
In winter, the flower feels pretty well at a temperature of 12 degrees. Humidification is reduced to once a month, starting in late autumn.
The dormant period ends in the spring, with the arrival of heat.
When and how it blooms
Owners of a cactus can tell exactly how the Godseff Peresia blooms at home: cream flowers collected in inflorescences appear on an exotic plant.
The buds appear in early summer and disappear by the end of August. Other varieties may have flowers with a white, reddish, yellow, or orange hue.
How peresia propagates
Gardeners use two methods of propagation: by seed and cuttings. Both methods help to obtain healthy and viable seedlings.
Seed germination
It begins with the preparation of boxes filled with sand-peat mix. Sowing is carried out in early spring, planted seeds require regular watering.
After planting, the containers are covered with plastic wrap, the improvised greenhouse is periodically aired.
Important! If during this period to properly care for, the first shoots will appear by the end of the month.
Rooting cuttings
For cuttings, healthy shoots are chosen, the procedure is carried out in the spring or in June. Branches are cut into small cuttings, places of cuts are treated with charcoal powder.
Later, the trim is placed in boxes with a perlite-peat mixture. Boxes are covered with polyethylene, periodically watered and aerated.
Important! In a few weeks, young sprouts will appear, capable of developing without a film.
Transfer
Transplant procedures are carried out every 2-3 years, when the pot is completely filled with the root system. Young plants are transferred to containers with a large volume as they grow.
Peresia after transplantation
Diseases and pests
Common parasites that can attack pereskia include:
- Spider mite - the defeat of the cactus is determined by the thinnest web, located on the lower leaves. The upper areas are covered with small dots, the leaf plates become pale, lose their natural color. The cause of the pest is considered to be too dry air in the room and the lack of regular spraying. As a prophylaxis, rubbing the leaves with a damp cloth and timely removal of fallen plates are used.
- Cactus scale shield - the pest is represented by small insects (up to 2 mm), with an orange or yellow color. The insect attacks the upper parts of the foliage, you can determine its appearance by spots of a yellowish tint. Over time, the leaves fall off. Treatment consists in the mechanical removal of the parasite with a cotton pad soaked in soapy water.
- Mealybug - the standard size of the insect does not exceed 4 mm. The pest prefers young shoots, as a result of its life on the foliage, a spider web and accumulation of sticky liquid occurs. The flowers begin to fall, a strong deformation is noted at the shoots. The treatment consists in treating the green part of the plant with a soap-alcohol solution, carried out three times, with an interval of one week.
Improper cactus care can lead to illness. Excessive waterlogging provokes rotting of the root system with the subsequent formation of gray rot. Therapy involves reducing the frequency of irrigation, lowering air humidity and transplanting the flower into a pot with clean soil.
Care at home for prickly prickly or Godseff varieties involves moderate watering, regular spraying of the green part of the plant and spring dressing. In winter, exot is at rest and does not require frequent procedures. Compliance with the rules will help to grow a healthy plant, with regular flowering.
