Wild cacti. Types of cacti and their names with photos

There are various types of domestic cacti that differ in appearance and size. This page presents the most common types of indoor cacti that can be grown at home. All types of indoor cacti with a photo and are accompanied by brief botanical characteristics. You can also find out their correct names.

Cacti have long been grown as houseplants, but they are rarely considered as important element decor.

For those wishing to collect houseplants, this is a long lasting and varied group that can be easily collected. For the not-so-enthusiastic indoor gardener, cacti are convenient because they don't need regular watering, pruning, transplanting, spraying, etc.

Decorators need to be aware of the thorns, which are a danger to people watching and caring for these plants. Wear heavy gloves or use a folded strip of newspaper when handling prickly cacti.

Another issue is cost - adult Strauss Cleistocactus or Monstrosa saureus can certainly serve as a focal point as a single plant, but they are too expensive.

An alternative approach is to arrange a special type of indoor garden. This desert garden can be housed in any type of container, from a large outdoor designer box to a window sill dish. They start by laying a layer of soil, then cover it with sand on top and, if there is space, place a few stones and pebbles. Various types of cacti are planted in this soil - the longest-lived plants of special groups.

As noted above, cacti can survive with little care, but this approach should have no place in interior design. In order to grow exemplary plants worthy of attention and possibly flowering, it is necessary to read the information in the adjacent column.

Care and transplantation of domestic cactus species

Home cacti care is not complicated, but correct in terms of agricultural technology. Different types of cactus care may require both special and conventional care, which is used when growing other plants. The following describes the basic procedures for cactus farming: care and transplantation, watering and feeding.

Temperature: Moderate from spring to autumn. Keep in winter in a cool place - ideally 10°-13°C, but nothing bad will happen at 4°C. Plants from the windowsill should be moved into the room at night if the weather is very cold and there is no artificial heating.

Light: Choose the brightest spot available, especially in winter. In a greenhouse, some shade may be needed during the hottest months.

Watering: Increase watering in spring, and from late spring to late summer, treat as you would a regular houseplant, watering thoroughly when the soil begins to dry out. Use warm water. At the end of summer, watering is reduced, and from mid-autumn the soil is kept almost dry - there should be enough water just to prevent wrinkling of the plants.

Air humidity: Do not spray in summer (exception: Cleistocactus). The main requirement is fresh air - open windows in hot weather. summer days.

Transfer: Transplant at a young age annually; subsequently transplant only if necessary. Transplant in spring into a pot that is only slightly larger than the previous one.

Reproduction: Cuttings of most varieties root easily. Take stem cuttings or offspring in spring or summer. It is very important that the cuttings dry out for a few days (large cuttings for 1-2 weeks) before planting them in peat-based compost. Another method of propagation is by sowing seeds; temperature for seed germination 21-27°C.

How to make a cactus bloom - so that cacti bloom

Although some cacti will bloom at a fairly young age, there are others, such as prickly pear and saguaro, that are more difficult to bring to a flowering state. In order for cacti to bloom, they need to create conditions close to their natural habitat. The following is a discussion of how to make a cactus bloom at home using simple methods.

In a large number of cases, cacti are able to bloom indoors by the time they reach the age of three or four years. They will bloom every year, usually in the spring. You can also collect a small collection of cacti that bloom at different times during the year.

The secret is that most cacti can only flower on new growth. For growth to occur, cacti will need summer care and relative dormancy in winter, as described in the Success Secrets section. You also need to remember that flowering encourages growing in a slightly cramped pot.

Names of indoor types of cacti

Aporocactus whip-shaped(Aporocactus flagelliformis) easy to grow. Its stems, 1 cm thick, grow several centimeters a year, and flowers 8 cm in diameter appear in spring. Suitable for hanging baskets.

Astrophytum capricornus(Astrophytum capricorne) grows at first as a ribbed ball, but becomes cylindrical with age. Yellow daisy-like flowers form in summer on mature specimens, which reach 15-30 cm, depending on the species. A. capricorne has curved spines; A. decorated (A. ornatum) has long straight spines.

Cereus Peruvian(Cereus peruvianus)- one of the most important cacti for interior design, suitable for growing as a separate plant. The stem eventually reaches 0.6-1 m and blooms in summer with large flowers 15 cm long.

Chamecereus Silvestri(Chamaecereus silvestrii) grows rapidly; red flowers appear on its 8 cm long stems in early summer.

Cleistocactus Strauss(Cleistocactus straussii) is another cactus suitable for design. In adulthood, it reaches 1 m or more. The white hairs and spines covering the surface give the plant a silvery appearance.

Echinocereus comb(Echinocereus pectinatus) grows into a column 25 cm high, studded with thorns. E. Salm-Dick (E. salm-dyckianus) has fragrant bright flowers.

Gymnocalycium Mikhanovich, a variety of Friedrich (Gymnocalycium mihanovichii friedrichii) is also called Hibotan, or Little Red Riding Hood. Its colored stem is grafted onto a green rootstock cactus. This is an attractive and original cactus.

Mammillaria bokasskaya(Mammillaria bocasana) is a silvery plant that blooms in spring with white flowers arranged in a ring around the stem. M. Wild (M. wildii) is similar to her, but has an oval, not rounded shape.

Notocactus Otto(Notocactus ottonis) spherical, with hard spines. At the age of several years, he has flowers 8 cm wide. N. Leninghausa (N. leninghausii) is grown for its cylindrical stem, and not for the sake of flowers.

Prickly pear(Opuntia microdasys) grows to a height of about 30cm and bears small, hooked spines. They can be red or white, depending on the species..

At Rebutia tiny(Rebutia miniscula) spherical stems 5 cm in diameter. It is able to bloom every summer with dense orange tubular flowers. R. senile (R. senilis) is a ball with a diameter of 8-10cm.

Trichocereus whitening(Trichocereus candicans) in its mature state it is a stately plant - a column 1 m high, which expands freely as it grows older. T. Shpaha (T. spachianus), reaching a height of 1.5 m or more.

These are plants that have an exotic look and are unpretentious in their care, which is why they are now one of the most popular. Types of domestic flowering cacti are united by the absence of leaves and the presence of a thick large stem. Despite this, many different types these have their own characteristics that distinguish them from others.

Astrophytum

The name of this type of cactus is taken from Greek and in translation means "star plant", because, if you look at it from above, this cactus looks like a star with rays.
This species is distinguished by a variety of subspecies: some of them are without needles, and some boast rather long curly needles; some grow quite quickly, while others take a long time to grow at least a couple of centimeters.

Stem: strong, spherical, elongated.

flowers: wide open, white or yellowish. Blooms at a young age.

Flowering period: 2-3 days in spring-summer.

During dormancy, it is better to keep such cacti at a temperature of +10 ... +12 ° С. Do not need additional manipulations to humidify the air. During astrophytum, it is rarely necessary (after the earth is completely dry) and so that the soil is completely saturated with water.
It is better to carry out the bottom watering so that water does not fall on the plant itself. In autumn and winter, if you keep them at low temperatures, you do not need to water them.

Aporocactus

These unusual cacti were brought to us from Mexico and from mighty thickets on the mountain slopes successfully turned into popular house plants.

Stem: branched into many thin stems, the length of which can reach one meter. The ribs on such stems are not very pronounced, the spines are bristly. First, the stems grow up, then down.

flowers: tubular, their length is about 10 cm, color - pink, raspberry, orange, red (depending on the specific species).

Flowering period: may bloom throughout the spring.
Maintenance and care: for aporocactus, the best option is bright light without direct rays (it can get burned). especially important good lighting is in a dormant period, since the laying of buds and abundant flowering in the future depend on the light.

In spring and summer, such a plant can be placed on a terrace where there is open air, but there is no direct sunlight. At such a time, the optimum temperature for aporocactus is +20 ... +25 ° С. In winter, a bright, cool room will be a suitable place for the plant.

Aporocactus normally tolerate drought, but in summer they are better. warm water. In the warm season, such a flowerpot must be watered regularly, preventing the soil from completely drying out. Watering should be bottom, you can not let the water in the pan stagnate.

In winter, it is necessary to water less often, waiting until the soil is completely dry.

Mammillaria

This type of cactus boasts a huge number of varieties and variations. Plants of the genus are small, can acquire different shapes and colors. This genus is the most numerous in the cactus family.

Stem: spherical or cylindrical. On the stem, cone-shaped soft papillae are arranged in even rows. Spines - bristly, soft, thin.

Did you know?The largest home collection of cacti in the CIS countries was collected by a Ukrainian on the roof of his mansion. It has more than 20 thousand plants. The total value of the collection exceeds several tens of thousands of dollars.

flowers: small (diameter - up to 2 cm), diurnal. Color - pink, yellow, white, cream, rose-white. When such a cactus blooms, a “crown” of flowers forms on top of the stem.
Flowering period: Mammillaria genus is considered rare flowering. As a rule, flowers appear in early spring. In summer, a suitable temperature is about +25 ° С, in winter - +10 ... + 12 ° С for green species and +15 ° С for pubescent ones. In very hot weather, the plant can be sprayed. Like other cacti, mammillaria do not like when the soil is waterlogged, so watering such a flowerpot should be done infrequently.

In winter, when the plant is kept in a cool room, it is not necessary to water at all.

Rebutia

This is one of the most common plants in the world and a very popular houseplant that attracts more growers every year.

Stem: These flowering indoor cacti have a round, fleshy stem with a depression at the top, covered with spiral ribs and short, stiff, silvery or yellowish spines.

flowers: diurnal, have elongated tubes of glossy petals that have grown together, and a diameter of about 2.5 cm. Can be cream, pink, purple or scarlet.

Flowering period: about two days in April-June.

Maintenance and care: they are not afraid of direct sunlight when the room where the cactus is located is well ventilated, they feel comfortable at temperatures from +5 ° C to +25 ° C and are well adapted to sudden temperature fluctuations. It is necessary to water rarely, waiting until it dries well.

Cereus

The name of this variety of cacti in Latin sounds like "Cereus", and in translation means " wax candle". Such cacti are long-lived in the plant world. AT natural conditions cereus is a giant plant that can grow up to 20 meters in height. For home cultivation, more compact subspecies of cereus are chosen.

Stem: rough with pronounced ribs. Depending on the subspecies, it can be smooth or covered with sharp long needles.

flowers: large white, located laterally. Some subspecies boast a pleasant vanilla aroma.

Flowering period: end of spring - beginning of summer, at night. Blooms 24 hours after opening.
Maintenance and care: in order for such a flowerpot to feel comfortable at home and bloom, it needs good light and a long daylight hours. These plants love direct sunlight, but in summer they must be protected from burns.

So that direct light does not harm the plant in spring or summer, it is necessary to accustom the cereus to it immediately after the end of winter. As for the temperature, in winter, when the cactus has a dormant period, the optimum temperature for it is + 8 ... + 12 ° С.

At any other time, the cereus is unpretentious, calmly tolerates heat and sudden changes in temperature.

It is necessary to water with warm water, in the summer - more often, then reduce the frequency of watering. You can not overmoisten the plant: it can get sick and rot.

Rhipsalis

"Rhips" - the word from which the name of this species comes from, translated from Greek means "braid", which very accurately characterizes the appearance of this plant.

Stem: can be different: ribbed, rounded, flattened. As a rule, there is not one stem, but many curly hanging stems without thorns grow from one pot, which is the main difference between this species and others.

flowers: small, tender, like bells of pink, white, yellow or bright red.

Flowering period: several days in spring and summer.
Maintenance and care: representatives of this type of cactus prefer bright diffused light and can grow in the shade. In summer, you can place a pot with a plant on the veranda or in the yard, but so that direct rays do not fall on it.

For this type of cacti comfortable temperature in spring-summer - +18...+20 °С, in winter - +12...+16 °С. Such cacti are not sensitive to air humidity, but in summer they need to be sprayed with warm infused water.

During the period, the plant should be watered regularly when it dries up. upper layer, in the fall, watering should be reduced, and in winter, watering is very rare.

Echinopsis

Echinopsis is no different from most types of flowering cacti, which got their names thanks to outward signs. "Echinos" in Greek means "hedgehog", and this name is great for all representatives of this species.
Stem: at first it has a spherical shape, then it stretches and takes the shape of a cylinder. The color can be either bright green or dark. The ribs are even, pronounced. The size and density of the spines differs depending on the particular subspecies.

flowers: large (diameter - about 14 cm) funnel-shaped pink, white, yellow or orange, grow on a pubescent tube, the length of which can reach 20 cm.

Flowering period: 1-3 days in spring.

Maintenance and care: They like bright light, normally tolerate direct sunlight. Comfortable temperature in summer - from +22 °С to +27 °С, in winter - from +6 °С to +12 °С. In spring and summer, it should be watered a few days after the soil under the plant is completely dry. During the dormant period (in winter), you can not water it at all or do it very rarely. Do not need spraying even in summer.

Epiphyllum

These are cacti with a shrubby form of growth and a woody base.

The name of the species consists of two Greek words: "epi" - "above" and "phyllum" - "leaf". This plant for its extraordinary beauty, it was unofficially nicknamed the "orchid cactus."

Stem: leaf-shaped, fleshy, with notches.

flowers: appear on modified stems - cactus leaves. Funnel-shaped, fairly large in size, have a long tube and a pleasant aroma. Color: white, cream, yellow, pink, red.

Flowering period: spring, the flower disappears 5 days after it has blossomed.

Important!You can not change the location of the plant when the buds begin to appear, because they may fall off and the flowerpot will not bloom.

Maintenance and care: useful to receive a large number of scattered light. In the summer, you can take the flower outside, but put it where direct rays of sunlight will not fall on it.
The optimum temperature in spring and summer can range from +20 °C to +26 °C. When the plant has a dormant period, a comfortable temperature is from +10 ° C to +15 ° C. On hot summer days, it is recommended to spray it with warm water.

Since the epiphyllum is a type of cacti of the humid forests, it needs to be watered much more often than those cacti that come from dry areas.

Cacti are very common all over the world, as every year the number of people who are passionate about growing and breeding these amazing plants. There are very unusual species, not prickly at all, exotic, original, unusually beautiful blooming cacti types of photos with the names of various varieties are presented in the article.

The cactus family is very numerous and diverse, so it is easy to choose among this variety a type of cactus that would bloom and develop well when home care. Choose from all the magnificence and diversity of the plant to your taste is not difficult.

Cactus habitat and varieties

The best natural habitat for such unusual plants is the arid desert and semi-desert areas of Bolivia, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Peru, where the greatest variety of forms and types of cacti is found. They can be found in some countries of Spain, Asia, Africa, Australia, India. In the wild, cacti grow in the Crimea, on the Mediterranean coast.

Having adapted to the harsh climate, they began to spread through the high deserts: on the elevated plateaus of Peru and Bolivia, there are whole thickets of escobaria, mammillaria, telocactus, neobessia. Winter temperatures there can drop to zero, snow falls, plants have to adapt to such difficult climatic conditions.

The Brazilian, Uruguayan savannas are a suitable place for the growth of prickly pear, peresian, cereus, long dry periods are inherent in this climatic zone.

Mexico is the richest in variety of cacti, the most bizarre forms grow in the Andes mountains, a wide variety of beautiful views can be found in South America, which is considered the birthplace of cacti.

According to their appearance, cacti are conditionally divided into:

1. Shrubs.
2. Tree-like.
3. Herbaceous.
4. Lianoid.

Natural environmental conditions suitable for desert cacti:

• large differences in day and night temperatures, when it is very hot during the day and quite cool at night (differences can be up to 500 C);
• the humidity level is quite low (in total, up to 250 mm of precipitation can fall per year);
• depleted in humus, but very rich in minerals, sandy and gravel soils, loose and acidic.

Desert cacti are particularly unpretentious and adaptable to environmental conditions, they are endowed with powerful stems and long, strong spines. These cacti are divided into three types:

1. Echinopsis - they have thick round stems, on which rigid spines are located in even rows.
2. Prickly pear - with flattened, pancake-like leaf-shaped stems.
3. Astrophytums - having ribbed stems and developed, powerful spines.

Cacti from the pereskaceae family are the only ones that have ordinary flat leaves, hard spines are located on round tree-like stems.

Despite the fact that most of mankind is accustomed to consider cacti as plants of arid deserts, there is a multiple variety of plants of this family that live in the evergreen tropics, where the average annual rainfall is 200 - 300 mm per year, the average temperature is + 180º C.

It is interesting! Forest tropical cacti do not have thorns, the shape of the stems is mostly flattened.

Brief description of cacti

They belong to succulents - plants whose vegetative organs are adapted to collect and store water in their tissues. They are, indeed, perfectly designed to exist in extreme conditions:

• their fleshy stems are covered with thick skin that prevents moisture from evaporating;
• wax coating on the stems also protects against the evaporation of precious moisture;
• thorns grow on stems instead of leaves;
• along the grooves of ribbed stems, morning dew rolls down to powerful thickened roots,
• accumulating in large quantities for many months;
• cacti can shade themselves from the scorching sun, growing in multi-tiered bizarre forms or covering themselves with thin light hairs;
• the spherical shape of many species also prevents evaporation.

Since the cactus does not have leaves, the function of photosynthesis is taken over by the stems, the most diverse in shape: cylindrical, spherical, flattened, creeping, hanging, and others. Also different kind they also have spines - from barely noticeable, very thin to large, straight or curved. There are very unusual feather-like spines.

Cactus flowers are found from surprisingly small to huge sizes, all kinds of shades (there are no only blue and black flowers), very delicate and beautiful, single or in groups, pleasant aroma.

Desert cacti photos and names

Succulents adapt to the local conditions in which they have to grow. For example, ridges on ribbed stems are very clearly visible when there is a shortage of water, but during the rainy season they become almost invisible, as they swell from the supply of moisture, thus the surface of the plant is protected from cracking.

Some cacti have root system able to shrink, others have taproots deep underground, the roots of some specimens resemble a radish in shape, can accumulate a lot of water, and their small roots are located below the surface of the earth to absorb moisture from dew and fogs. The area of ​​​​small roots can occupy up to 5 m2 around its plant.

All these adaptations help a great variety of cacti species to grow, bloom and survive in difficult conditions for many thousands of years.

astrophytums- spherical in shape, with rather sparse ribs strewn with hairs, this species has beautiful varieties, star-like and hard, long spines.

Ariocarpus- with low, flattened stems, the axils of elongated tubercles are filled with fluff, they bloom amazingly beautifully.

Gymnocalyciums- some varieties of this species are quite unusual: due to the lack of chlorophyll in the stems, they are pink, yellow, red. Between the ribs there are transverse tubercles.

Cleistocactus- have cylindrical erect tall stems, densely covered with white or light yellow spines, flowers bloom at the very tops.

Mammillaria- one of the most common species, spherical stems are covered with tubercles, on which spines grow.

Lophophora- a cactus of an unusual appearance, similar to a pumpkin, has a smooth surface without thorns.

It is interesting! Lophophora juice has hallucinogenic properties, it is forbidden to collect it.

Cephalocereus- an unusual, atypical appearance for cacti: the spines are white, thin and very long, flowing, resembling hard gray hair. But appearances are deceiving, such thorns can seriously injure.

Forest cacti photos and names

Forest (tropical) cacti are demanding on other conditions than desert ones, they need high humidity, scattered light. AT vivo these are epiphytic shrubs, settling on trees or in rocky crevices.

Living on trees, they feed on organic decomposition, and on rocks, clinging to stones with their roots, they are content with the insignificant amount of humus available there. Aerial roots provide them with moisture.

The stems of these cacti are long, soft, thin, hanging down, instead of the usual thorns - bristle-like hairs.

Ripsalidopsis- low, up to 20 cm bushes, the stems consist of segments of a ribbed flat shape with jagged edges. The stem is drooping, becoming woody as the plant matures. An abundance of red or pink flowers laid at the ends of the stems.

Rhipsalis- its numerous stems are thin, rod-like, highly branched, without thorns, are rounded, flat, ribbed, of various green shades. Flowers have the shape of a bell, look very original in hanging planters.

Epiphyllum- with fleshy leaf-like stems, along the edges with notches and spines. The flowers are large, funnel-shaped, of different beautiful shades and a pleasant aroma.

Aporocactus- the ribbed stems of this original plant grow up to two meters in length, while having a diameter of up to 1.5 cm, covered with bristle-like spines, due to its appearance it is popularly called " rat tail". It blooms with large, bright, elongated flowers. Multiple shoots form whole bushes.

Distinctive features of cacti

Florist on early stages hobbies it can be difficult not to confuse cacti with other succulents, because there are species without needles, with leaves that are not at all like cacti.

In order not to be deceived, you need to carefully look at the plant to find areoles - small bulges in the form of pads with hairs or spines coming out of them. If pads with fine hairs are not found, then this is not a cactus, but another plant.

Desert cacti are clearly defined by the presence of ribs of various shapes, needles arranged in rows along them, and the stems are columnar or spherical in shape.

Moist forest cacti have stems mostly hanging down, they are leaf-shaped, consisting of small serrated segments, with soft spines.

Home blooming cacti

Cacti blooming on home windowsills can be a truly fabulous sight, their flowering is so unusual and beautiful. These flowers have won a strong place in the hearts of flower growers, especially cactus lovers are captivated by the fact that the plants are not capricious, do not require too much attention, and are very easy to care for.

It is interesting! It is often practiced to plant different types of cacti in a common container in order to create original compositions, because care for them is almost the same.

And the variety of varieties and species of the cactus family is simply amazing, so cute and bizarre specimens are found. But the most popular ones that do not require special conditions, they feel great on the windowsill or on a table near the window.

Types and names of home cacti

Mammillaria found in houses and apartments, probably most often, the species is quite popular, famous for its distinctive feature - the presence of a white web between the needles that entangles a cylinder or ball. Blooms start from early age, flowers of very beautiful colors are arranged around the top of the stem in the form of a wreath.

Rebutia during the flowering period, it can resemble mammillaria, only its wreath is located at the bottom of the stem, the spherical stem is completely covered with long spines diverging in different directions. Flowering is bright, plentiful, but for this the plant needs to provide winter rest in a cool sunny room, additional watering and ventilation. The ribs are replaced by tubercles, dwarf varieties reach only 2.5 cm.

Cereus at home, it reaches above half a meter in height, occurs with and without thorns. Its interesting distinguishing feature is that it does not tolerate direct sunlight. Flowering in some varieties of cereus is daytime, in others it is night, the flowers are white and large.

It is interesting! It stimulates the flowering of the cereus by keeping it in a cold room in the winter, without this mandatory flowering procedure, you can’t wait.

notocactus has the ability to bloom profusely and periodically resume flowering. At the top of the spherical stem, funnel-shaped flowers appear with petals in several rows of delicate shades.

A large number of species and intraspecific diversity allow you to find plants to your liking and preference.

Ways to make cacti bloom

Flower growers who have long been engaged in the cultivation and cultivation of cacti have collected considerable experience and many ways to achieve earlier and abundant flowering from these amazing plants.

It turns out that flowers do not like to be turned to the sun in different directions. Yes, if a plant constantly exposes only one side to the light, it bends its stem, but lays the opportunity for flowering.

And vice versa, substituting different sides of the flower to the sun, the owners make the plant lose this opportunity. We have to decide: the correct form of the stem or beautiful flowers.

When dusting cacti, you need to be extremely careful not to damage the spines: a broken spine can cost flowering. But this does not mean at all that you can let the cacti fall down with dust, you just need to work carefully. When loosening compacted soil, you should also try not to injure the roots.

AT autumn months the volume and number of irrigations gradually decrease, and by the beginning of winter they stop altogether, only with the approach of spring (mid-end of February) does the spraying of plants begin with warm water to awaken them from winter dormancy. In the same cold months, cacti are kept in cool rooms with moderate lighting.

During the formation of buds, it is forbidden to transplant and fertilize cacti, they will immediately drop their buds that begin to develop.

Grafting cacti

They also resort to such a method, forcing a non-flowering plant to lay buds - a cutting from a flowering variety is grafted to its cut. The sections are connected so that their surfaces must completely match, you can try to tie them with a thick thread.

The grafted plant should be moved to a warm, shaded room and covered glass jar. In about two weeks, tissue fusion should occur.

To carry out such an operation, you need a well-sharpened thin knife so that the cuts are even, the plants are not deformed.

Domestic non-flowering cacti

From the numerous cactus family, some flower growers are attracted to those species that do not bloom at home, but are particularly decorative. Among them:

1. Cephalocereus senile, having a cylindrical stem, entangled in many silver-colored hairs up to 10 - 12 cm long, making this plant very original.
2. Echinocactus Gruson, the most popular in indoor floriculture, has the shape of a ball and grows very slowly, the ribs are densely covered with yellow spines.
3. Cleistocactus grow even more slowly, it begins to bloom only after many years, on a columnar stem there are many ribs covered with short bristles, creating the effect of a silvery coating;
4. Espostoa woolly, in addition to silver bristles, has long sharp spines, can grow up to 70 centimeters.

Despite the absence of flowering, such specimens are often found in home collections, as they look very beautiful and allow you to create the most interesting design combinations.

echinocactus-grusonii

espostoa-sherstistaya

Features of caring for cacti at home

Caring for cacti at home is absolutely not burdensome, even a novice grower can take care of them. The main thing is to provide the plants with the conditions they want from the very beginning.

Suitable soil mixtures

Most of the substrate should consist of large particles, providing good walkthrough moisture and air. The presence of large doses of nitrogen in the soil for desert cacti will be detrimental, its amount must be strictly calculated when compiling the mixture:

• leafy ground, cleared of branches - 2 parts;
• sod land with clay - 2 parts;
• coarse sand or small pebbles - 2 parts;
• small broken brick - ½ part;
• charcoal - ½ part.

Optionally, a dessert spoon of superphosphate and a teaspoon of crushed chalk are added to the volume of such a composition.

Cactus transplant

In order for the transplant to be successful, the plant is not watered a few days before it, then the earth lump is easier to remove from the pot, the root system is not damaged. Most right time for such a procedure - March-April, deadline- the beginning of September, so that by winter the plant has time to take root and does not need watering.

The pot must be purchased a size or two larger than the previous one. The transplant container must be disinfected, as well as the soil for filling.

At the bottom of the prepared flowerpot, put a layer of pebbles for drainage, pour some slightly moistened earth, put the cactus removed from the pot and gently sprinkle the roots with earth to the upper root collar. A stem buried in the ground will begin to rot when watered. You can only water after two days. During this period, when the plant takes root, it must be protected from drafts.

A place for a new pet is chosen so as not to rearrange it too often, cacti do not like a change of scenery.

Cultivation of cacti by sowing seeds

This business is very troublesome, but exciting, so many flower growers are trying to breed succulents with seeds.

It is important! If you decide to sow cactus seeds, you will need to follow disinfection measures: all tools and boxes must be treated with steam, and the soil must be calcined in the oven.

A layer of drainage is poured at the bottom of the container for sowing, then prepared moistened soil, which is carefully leveled. Seeds are laid out directly from above with a distance of 2 - 3 centimeters.

Large seeds are only lightly sprinkled with sand, small ones are simply left on the surface. The containers are covered with glass or film and placed in a warm, dark place with good air circulation for two weeks.

When the seeds hatch and sprouts appear, the film is shifted, and the containers are transferred to a bright room, but protected from direct sunlight. The earth is only moistened, it cannot be flooded in any way.

Only after the thorns appear, the film can be removed completely. Plants that have reached a size of 5 mm need picking. For the first year of growth, small cacti will have to dive up to 10 times, this required condition growing them this way. This helps the plant to form lateral roots that promote faster growth.

Cactus requirements for air humidity

If succulents do not receive moisture, they will not be able to replenish their reserves, which they so need. Air humidity allows plants to receive the necessary nutrients from the atmosphere, getting into the plant through the skin, moisture accelerates metabolic metabolic processes.

Most affordable way increase the humidity around the plant - spray it with warm settled water. It is better to do this in the morning, making sure that the sun does not shine directly on the cacti.

How to properly water cacti

Watering issues must be studied even before acquiring new specimens, because improper watering can simply ruin a flower. Each species requires its own mode of soil moisture.

cleistocactus_saimapatanus

Frequent watering should be provided to specimens located in hot, dry rooms, and the planting containers of the flowers are small.

Forest species growing at home require more water, because the climate of their natural growth is much more humid than the desert. When it is rainy or cloudy outside, it is better to refrain from watering.

Water should be taken settled, without any impurities. Cacti are watered in two ways: some flower growers moisten the soil from above, others pour water into the pan.

It is important! In winter, young plants are watered once a month, perennial flowers need only one watering during the winter period.

In the mornings, while the sun is not shining brightly, cacti are very fond of spraying, because in natural conditions they are moistened with dew every morning.

Diseases of cacti and their treatment

Cacti are most often susceptible to fungal diseases, the most dangerous for them is late blight, which is capable of a short time destroy the flower. Cacti also suffer from helminthosporosis, fusarium, brown spot, anthracnose and other diseases caused mainly by improper care or poorly performed decontamination procedures.

To fight diseases, plants are treated with specially designed preparations. To protect your favorite cacti from infection, you should follow preventive measures: plant and replant only in disinfected soil, feed only with fertilizers for cacti, avoid watering with cold water, make sure that the topsoil is dry before watering.

spurge cactus

These beautiful, not devoid of originality plants are only considered to be a cactus, they have rather fleshy stems, thorns, they belong to succulents. There are a great many of its species, it grows rapidly, with appropriate care it easily reaches a height of up to three meters (if space permits). Having reached a large size, they acquire a shape resembling a chandelier.

adapt to different conditions content, durable, throughout the entire time able to maintain decorative look. The most unpretentious are triangular euphorbias, having a triangular stem shape.

As for a succulent, for milkweed, excess moisture is worse than its lack. In winter, when the flower is in a cool room (veranda, conservatory, etc.), Euphorbia should not be watered at all, so as not to provoke root rot.

They belong to milkweeds because of the milky juice that appears on the fractures, it is necessary to handle these plants carefully: their juice is poisonous, causes burns to the skin. In connection with this circumstance, it is better not to place euphorbia in children's rooms.

Desert cacti without thorns

They refute the generally accepted opinion that a cactus must have thorns, astrophytums. Astrophytum stellate areoles are covered with gray-white pubescence, there are white spots on the stem, characteristic of this species. This attribute is absent in Astrophytum multistigma. Ariocarpus has very weak spines, which are lost with age, new ones do not appear in their place.

astrophytum-asterias-nudum-oibo

ariocarpus furfuraceus

That's how amazing these thorny and non-thorny cacti are, many species and names of which are shown in the photo, how many positive emotions they give to their owners, who grow them with such love. Cacti have occupied and continue to occupy a strong place on the windowsills of many flower growers.

The Cactaceae family are perennial dicotyledonous flowering plants adapted to grow in arid climates. The family includes 150 genera, which include over 3000 species.

In nature, the plant is distributed mainly in its homeland - in South and North America, it is also found on about. Madagascar, in Africa, Australia, India and the Mediterranean countries.

Cacti are divided into 4 subfamilies:

• cactus;
• pereskovye;
• prickly pear;
• mauhinive.

The article contains brief descriptions of the appearance of almost all varieties of the family - leafy, round, with long needles and the rarest and most unusual varieties of Cactus representatives that can be kept in the house, their photos, the names of indoor and outdoor plants in Russian and Latin, as well as tips for caring for decorative flowers at home.

What are the varieties?

Pereskia (Pereskia) - with long leaves

Pereskia is one of the oldest cacti native to South America.. In nature, there are about 20 species. Outwardly, they are not similar to other Cacti, represented mainly by shrubs or stunted trees.

The stem is covered with spines, with which they cling to tree trunks. The leaves are long (3-25 cm), having an ordinary oval or ovoid shape, rich green color.

leathery sheet plate cactus is able to store moisture, and is covered with a shiny protective skin.

Pereskia is characterized by rapid annual growth - up to 20 cm per year. The plant can reach a length of up to 10 meters. In summer, the plant is covered with flowers of various colors: white with yellow stamens, pink, orange, red - in the place of which fruits are formed.

The most popular species is Pereskia prickly.

The genus is named after the botanist H.K. Fabri de Peiresc. The plant has informal names: "leaf cactus" and "rose cactus".

We offer you to watch a video about the Pereskia cactus:

Hylocereus (Hylocereus) - hanging

Hylocereus - liana-like climbing or creeping cactus, the stems of which hang down to the ground. There are 25 varieties in the genus. The homeland of the plant is Central America, currently the species is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical zones.

The stems of the plant are wide and sprawling, the bush reaches a height of up to 3 meters. On the ribs of the stems bunches of soft spines are formed.

At the age of 2-3 years, the plant produces fragrant flowers: white, milky, yellowish or purple.

In agriculture, several types of plants are grown, under common name- pitahaya, a fruit known as the "dragon heart". The pulp of the fruit is red or white in color, the taste of which resembles kiwi and strawberries.

We offer you to watch a video about the cactus Hylocereus:

Mammillaria (Mammillaria)

One of the most evolutionarily advanced largest genera of the family, which includes about 185 species (including about 1000 hybrids). Homeland Mammillaria Mexico and southern North America. hallmark plants are papillae (lat. mammilla - "nipple") on the stem, from which grow small hairy spines.

Sometimes the papillae or tubercles of the cactus are arranged in a spiral or in the form of horizontal rings.

The plant has a small size, spherical or short-cylindrical shape. The flowering of the plant is plentiful and beautiful. On cylindrical stems, a corolla of small flowers is formed, and spherical ones can be completely covered with buds. The flowers are tubular or bell-shaped in a variety of shades in the spectrum from white to scarlet. In parallel with flowering, fruits are found on some species. fit for consumption.

Popular varieties are Wild, Seileman, Blossfeld, Baum.

We offer you to watch a video about the Mammillaria cactus:

Epiphyllum (Epiphyllum)

Epiphyllum - epiphytic cactus, including 20 species. Habitat - from Central America to Mexico. Epiphyllum is one of the most popular cacti in the world. home floriculture.

This genus is distinguished by the presence of long branched stems, which can be mistaken for leaflets. Funnel-shaped flowers can reach large sizes (up to 40 cm) - mostly white, but there are also cream, yellow, pink and red. When the buds fade, large edible fruits with a banana-strawberry flavor are tied in their place.

The plant was discovered in 1812 by Adrian Haworth and got its name from the combination of the Greek words epis - "on" and fillum - "leaf".

Hatiora (Hatiora)

Perennial epiphytic cactus growing on tree trunks in the Brazilian rainforests or in rock crevices. According to different classifications, it has from 5 to 10 types of hatiora.

It has thin stems, consisting of segments (segments), no more than 3 cm long. Some types of hatiora grow up to 1 m. The flowers are large, of various colors, appear at the tops of the stems. In place of flowers at the end of summer, yellow or white berries are formed.

We offer you to watch a video about the Hathiora cactus:

Opuntia (Opuntia)

Covered-seed or flowering succulent native to Mexico. It is characterized by a large variety of species (about 200). It is frost-resistant, therefore it has spread to almost all corners of the world.. Most species have flat, oblong stem-segments, on the surface of which there are buds with spines and glochidia (small sharp spines that gather in bunches around the areoles).

A large number of needles grow on prickly pear, which are dangerous for both people and animals.

From the buds, flowers are formed - yellow or red, which are later converted into edible berry-like fruits. Prickly pear fruits are actively eaten, and the stems are fed to livestock.

Cereus (Céreus - "wax candle")

A giant cactus common in Central and South America. Its growth can reach 20 m. Cereus is not only a giant, but also a long-liver - its growing season can be 300 years. The genus includes about 50 species. The plant is adapted to a dry climate, and is able to do without water for a long time.

The plant has a branched cylindrical stem covered with many spines. Flowers (white or pinkish) appear on the sides of the stems in May-June, blooming only at night.

We offer you to watch a video about the Cereus cactus:

Ariocarpus (Ariocarpus)

Succulent plant with low, slightly flattened shoots of brown or gray-green hue. Ariocarpus is native to Mexico and the bordering state of Texas., prefers rocky and calcareous soil. The genus is not numerous - 10 species.

A low view, covered with papillae with pointed edges, at the ends of which there is a rudimentary spine. White, pink, red or yellow bell-shaped flowers appear near the growing point, followed by fleshy, round or oblong fruits containing seeds.

Aylostera (Aylostera)

A beautifully flowering cactus, numbering from 10 to 30 plant species. Some scientists refer to the genus Rebutius. Ailostera is native to the highlands of Bolivia and Argentina.. The plant grows at an altitude of over 3000 meters above sea level. It has an ovoid or cylindrical shape and small size (up to 6 cm in diameter). The stem is ribbed and usually produces many children. Whitish spines protrude from the areoles.

The name of the cactus is formed by the merger of two Greek words: aylos - "tube" and stereos - "hard".

With long needles

Echinocactus (Echinocactus - "hedgehog")

Ball-shaped cactus - in young plants, the diameter equal to the height, with age the plant acquires elongated shape. Echinocactus is widespread in the desert areas of Mexico and the USA.

The average height of the plant is 1.5 m, the maximum is 3 m. It has numerous ribs densely covered with thorns. The tubular flowers appear at the top and are often collected in a wreath. Echinocactus is a real long-liver, specimens about 500 years old have been recorded, with a mass of 1 ton.

The most popular species is Gruzoni.

We offer you to watch a video about Echinocactus Gruzoni:

Lobivia ferox (Lobivia ferox)

The closest relative of Echinopsis (some scientists do not distinguish Lobivia as a separate genus). Includes 70-100 species of Lobivia, grows in Peru, Argentina and Bolivia. The stem is similar in shape to Echinocactus, but the lobiva is smaller and has larger needles.

Over time, Lobivia has a lot of basal children. The main stem produces several lateral columnar stems that bear showy white to bright crimson flowers in summer.

Mammillaria melanocentra (Mammillaria melanocentra)

The species grows only in Mexico and settles in crevices. It has a spherical shape with an average diameter of 20 cm. The stem is abundantly covered with spines: the lower ones are denser and longer (2 cm), the upper ones are short (0.5 cm). The central spine is awl-shaped and rises 5-6 cm above the top. During the flowering period pink flowers garland around the top of the cactus.

Round

Ferocactus (Ferocactus)

A genus that grows in North America and unites about 30 species. Most often there are spherical large specimens - up to 1 m in diameter, with straight thick ribs on the stem. Flowers appear at the top only in adult plants.

Species with long and multi-colored spines (red or yellow) are highly valued by collectors, for example: ferocactus cylindrical (or "devil's pincushion") and wide-spiked (or "devil's tongue").

Parody (Cactaceae Parodia)

It has the second name eriocactus, it includes about 50 species. Naturally found in mountainous regions Latin America. All species are characterized by the shape of a ball or cylinder. The stem is low with distinct ribs, on which tubercles with areoles are located. Up to 5 long spines (4 cm) and from 10 to 40 short spines (up to 1.5 cm) grow from each areola.

Received the name Parody in honor of the Paraguayan botanist L.R. Parody.

Gymnocalycium (Gymnocalycium - gymnos - "calyx" and calycium - "naked")

Gymnocalycium - spherical flattened cactus of South American origin. Unites 50-80 species. Diameter 4-15 cm, height 2 times less. It has a long flowering period from May to September. Widely distributed in home floriculture.

Notocactus (Notocactus)

The slow-growing spherical succulent, numbering up to 20 species, is currently assigned to the genus Parody. In its natural environment, it grows in mountainous areas.

The most popular species is the winter-hardy Notocactus Otto, which has yellow or red large flower resembling a gerbera.

Rare

Lepismium (Lepismium - "scale")

Lepismium - epiphytic forest cactus, including 10 species. It grows in tropical forests and has long drooping stems. Deep-set areoles have scales that were rudimentary leaves. The flowers are located at the ends of the stems and appear in late spring. Often used for interior decoration.

Echinofossulocactus (Echinofossulocactus)

Genus of spherical cactus, including only 2 species found in Mexico. The stem is 10 cm in diameter. The areoles are arranged radially and curved yellow or brown spines of various sizes grow from them. The bell-shaped flowers are purple with a white corolla.

Eulychnia (Eulychnia - "beautiful lamp")

Columnar cactus, numbering 5 species, grows on the coasts of Peru and Chile. It is distinguished from other species by abundant felt or hairy pubescence on the ribs, around the areoles. The cactus produces sour "copao" fruits that are eaten in places where the plant grows.

Haageocereus (Haageocereus)

A columnar cactus native to the hilly and rocky regions of Peru and Chile. The genus includes 20 species. It has a fairly tall erect stem with distinct ribs. Some species take a cane-like shape. It produces funnel-shaped flowers of white or pink color, in place of which fruits covered with hairs and scales appear.

Hildewintera (Hildewintera)

Includes about 50 species, mainly grows in Uruguay. It has creeping long stems covered with scutellate spines. It blooms with large red or orange flowers. The most popular type of Winter is popularly nicknamed the “monkey tail”, for its resemblance to the fluffy tail of an animal.

Neoporteria (Neoporteria)

The genus Neoporteria unites about 25 species. Small spherical cacti with a single stem, eventually acquiring a cylindrical shape. Covered with red or brown long needles. Blooms every year large quantity funnel-shaped cream, pink or red flowers.

Oreocereus (Oreocereus)

A columnar or branched cactus native to the Andes. Can grow up to 8-10 meters. It is distinguished by the presence of not only thorns, but also thin hairs that braid the stem with a cobweb.

Pilosocereus (Pilosocereus)

It grows in America and has about 60 species. The stem is green with a bluish tinge, grows up to 10 m. The plant is also called "hairy cactus", because a number of species are covered with thick fluff. It is characterized by spectacular flowering with large white or pink flowers that appear anywhere on the stem.

Setiechinopsis (Setiechinopsis)

The cactus has a single species - Mirabilis, common in eastern Argentina.. Stems are cylindrical brown-green, not more than 15 cm in height. During flowering, it releases a long tube, on which a beautiful White flower.

Stetson (Stetsonia)

Monovid Stetsonia club-shaped - a giant columnar cactus (up to 8 m), growing in Bolivia and Argentina. The stem is bluish-green with 9 blunt ribs, sharp spines protrude from white felt areoles. Rarely blooms with huge white flowers.

Lemaireocereus (Lemaireocereus)

Includes 6 species native to South America. In nature, it can reach gigantic sizes (up to 15 m). Tree-like or shrubby cacti with clear sparse ribs on the stem. Thin, brittle spines border the protrusions of the ribs.

General rules of care

When leaving, you need to create conditions close to the natural habitat:

1. Create obligatory differences in day and night temperatures and change of seasons.
2. Limit watering for desert cacti, and for forest cacti, on the contrary, provide abundant watering.
3. Provide good lighting.
4. Provide access fresh air to the roots.
5. Choose the right soil and drainage.

We offer you to watch a video about the general rules for caring for cacti at home:

Conclusion

The cactus is a rather unpretentious plant, however, when grown at home, it is quite difficult to achieve flowering and fruiting in most species. The cactus is used not only as ornamental plant, but is also actively eaten throughout the American continent and in tropical countries and is fed to livestock.

Fig, fig, fig tree - these are all names of the same plant, which we strongly associate with Mediterranean life. Anyone who has ever tasted fig fruits knows how delicious it is. But, in addition to a delicate sweet taste, they are also very healthy. And here is an interesting detail: it turns out that figs are a completely unpretentious plant. In addition, it can be successfully grown on a plot in middle lane or at home - in a container.

Quite often, even experienced summer residents face difficulties in growing tomato seedlings. For some, all seedlings turn out to be elongated and weak, for others, they suddenly begin to fall and die. The thing is that it is difficult to maintain in an apartment ideal conditions for growing seedlings. Seedlings of any plants need to provide a lot of light, sufficient moisture and optimum temperature. What else do you need to know and observe when growing tomato seedlings in an apartment?

Delicious vinaigrette with apple and sauerkraut - a vegetarian salad of boiled and chilled, raw, pickled, salted, pickled vegetables and fruits. The name comes from a French sauce made from vinegar, olive oil and mustard (vinaigrette). Vinaigrette appeared in Russian cuisine not so long ago, around the beginning of the 19th century, perhaps the recipe was borrowed from Austrian or German cuisine, since the ingredients for the Austrian herring salad are very similar.

When we dreamily touch bright seed bags in our hands, we are sometimes subconsciously sure that we have a prototype of the future plant. We mentally allocate a place for him in the flower garden and look forward to the cherished day of the appearance of the first bud. However, buying seeds does not always guarantee that you will eventually get the desired flower. I would like to draw attention to the reasons why the seeds may not sprout or die at the very beginning of germination.

Spring is coming, and gardeners have more work to do, and with the onset of heat, changes in the garden are happening rapidly. Buds are already beginning to swell on plants that were still sleeping yesterday, everything literally comes to life before our eyes. After a long winter, this can not but rejoice. But along with the garden, its problems come to life - pests and pathogens. Weevils, flower beetles, aphids, clasterosporiasis, maniliasis, scab, powdery mildew - you can list for a very long time.

Breakfast toast with avocado and egg salad is a great start to the day. The egg salad in this recipe acts as a thick sauce seasoned with fresh vegetables and shrimp. My egg salad quite unusual, this is a dietary version of everyone's favorite snack - with Feta cheese, Greek yogurt and red caviar. If you have time in the morning, never deny yourself the pleasure of cooking something tasty and healthy. The day should start with positive emotions!

Perhaps every woman at least once received a blooming orchid as a gift. It is not surprising, because such a lively bouquet looks amazing and blooms for a long time. Orchids are not very difficult to grow. indoor crops, but not fulfilling the main conditions for their maintenance often leads to the loss of a flower. If you are just getting started with indoor orchids, you should find out the right answers to the main questions on growing these beautiful plants in home.

Lush cheesecakes with poppy seeds and raisins, prepared according to this recipe, are eaten in my family in the blink of an eye. Moderately sweet, plump, tender, with an appetizing crust, without excess oil, in a word, just like mother or grandmother fried in childhood. If the raisins are very sweet, then granulated sugar can not be added at all, without sugar, cheesecakes will be better fried and will never burn. Cook them in a well-heated frying pan, greased with oil, over low heat and without a lid!

Cherry tomatoes differ from their large counterparts not only in the small size of the berries. Many varieties of cherry are characterized by a unique sweet taste, which is very different from the classic tomato. Anyone who has never tasted such cherry tomatoes with their eyes closed may well decide that they are tasting some unusual Exotic fruits. In this article, I will talk about five different cherry tomatoes that have the sweetest fruits of unusual colors.

I started growing annual flowers in the garden and on the balcony more than 20 years ago, but I will never forget my first petunia, which I planted in the country along the path. Only a couple of decades have passed, but one wonders how different petunias of the past are from today's many-sided hybrids! In this article, I propose to trace the history of the transformation of this flower from a simpleton into a real queen of annuals, as well as consider modern varieties of unusual colors.

Salad with spicy chicken, mushrooms, cheese and grapes - fragrant and satisfying. This dish can be served as a main dish if you are preparing a cold dinner. Cheese, nuts, mayonnaise are high-calorie foods, combined with spicy fried chicken and mushrooms, a very nutritious snack is obtained, which is refreshed by sweet and sour grapes. The chicken fillet in this recipe is marinated in a spicy mixture of ground cinnamon, turmeric and chili powder. If you like food with a spark, use hot chili.

The question is how to grow healthy seedlings, all summer residents are concerned in early spring. It seems that there are no secrets here - the main thing for fast and strong seedlings is to provide them with warmth, moisture and light. But in practice, in a city apartment or a private house, this is not so easy to do. Certainly, everyone experienced gardener there is a proven way to grow seedlings. But today we will talk about a relatively new assistant in this matter - the propagator.

The variety of tomato "Sanka" is one of the most popular in Russia. Why? The answer is simple. He is the very first to bear fruit in the garden. Tomatoes ripen when other varieties have not even faded yet. Of course, if you follow the recommendations for growing and make an effort, even a novice grower will get a rich harvest and joy from the process. And so that efforts are not in vain, we advise you to plant high-quality seeds. For example, such as seeds from TM "Agrosuccess".

The task of indoor plants in the house is to decorate housing with their appearance, to create a special atmosphere of comfort. For this we are ready to take care of them regularly. Care is not only watering on time, although this is also important. It is necessary to create other conditions: suitable lighting, humidity and air temperature, make the correct and timely transplant. For experienced flower growers there is nothing supernatural in this. But beginners often face certain difficulties.

Delicate chicken breast cutlets with champignons are easy to cook according to this recipe with step by step photos. There is an opinion that it is difficult to cook juicy and tender cutlets from chicken breast, this is not so! Chicken meat contains practically no fat, which is why it is dry. But, if you add cream to the chicken fillet, White bread and mushrooms with onions, you get awesome tasty cutlets that both children and adults will like. In the mushroom season, try adding forest mushrooms to the minced meat.