Features of the cultivation of red echinocactus Gruzoni

Breeding exotic plants is a hobby for millions of people around the world.

Cacti on this background stand out particularly - it hurts them to have an unusual appearance.

One of the most popular types of cacti for breeding at home is Echinocactus Gruzoni (Echinocactus grusonii).

Botanical description

Under natural conditions, this type of cactus grows in the central part of Mexico. The young plant is distinguished by a dark green spherical stem with sharp edges. Over time, the stem is transformed from a ball into a barrel, while its height can reach one meter. The ribs of the stem (in adult plants there are up to 40 of them) are decorated with densely sitting fluffy buds (areoles), merging at the top of the cactus into a golden cap.

In each areola, needles develop: radial (there can be up to 10 of them) and central (4 of them). The length of the radial spines can reach 3 cm, and the central - 5 cm.

Blossom Gruzoni echinocactus begins in late May or early June. At the same time, plants that have overstepped twenty years of age are capable of flowering. Flowers bloom alternately at the top of the stem. They are pale yellow, looks like bells. The diameter of the flower reaches 6 cm.

Growing conditions

Creating optimal conditions for growing cactus will allow you to have a beautiful healthy plant, pleasing others with its appearance.

Temperature and humidity

It is important to remember that at temperatures above +30 ° C, the growth of this type of cactus slows down or may even stop. For the period from October to February, Echinocactus is desirable to keep the room cooler. The optimum temperature for it during this period is +12 ° C.

The plant is not demanding on the humidity of the air, the conditions of a typical city apartment are quite acceptable for him. This type of cactus does not need additional hydration.

Lighting

For the normal development of Georgian echinocactus, direct sunlight is necessary. In the summer it can be carried out in the open sun. When there is insufficient light, the plant loses the spines.

If the echinocactus is always turned to the light by one side, the shaded side gradually shrinks, the appearance of the cactus deteriorates. In order to avoid this, a pot with cactus should be periodically turned in the same direction, for example, in a clockwise direction.

The soil

It is reasonable to use ready-made soil for cacti, which is sold in flower shops, as the soil for Gruzony echinocactus. In this case, it is desirable to add fine gravel or brick chips to this soil.

Planting cactus

This procedure is not difficult. Bruise echinocactus can multiply in a vegetative way (children), and seeds.

Children

Shoots, shoots, or "kids" in this type of cactus appear very rarely. The stem begins to branch (release children) in case of mechanical damage to the apex, or when the plant is on the verge of death.

When breeding children, it is important to carefully separate the process from the parent stem. Rooting of the separated process in the prepared substrate, as a rule, occurs quickly.

Seeds

Seeds are used much more often for reproduction of echinocactus. The best time for this is the middle of spring.Seeds are soaked for several hours in warm water.

Immediately before planting, they are placed for ten minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate to avoid putrid mold, then sown in the prepared soil without deepening, sprinkled on top with a thin (1-2 mm) layer of soil.

Shoots appear in 10-30 days.

Care rules

Echinocactus Gruzoni unpretentious, but improper care for him can cause a deterioration in the appearance of the plant, and even lead to his death.

Watering

For watering cactus water is used, settled for 3-4 days at room temperature. During the period of active vegetation (spring-summer), the plant is watered infrequently, waiting for the soil to dry out completely in the pot. From mid-autumn, watering is reduced, and in winter, as a rule, they do without watering.

Top dressing

As fertilizer of Echinocactus Gruzoni use special fertilizers for cacti, any other fertilizers can do more harm than good. For example, cactus is absolutely contraindicated in any organic matter. Top dressing is made once a month and only in the spring and summer period, starting from the middle of spring and ending at the beginning of autumn.

Transfer

As they grow, the plant is transplanted into larger pots. The size of a pot is defined as the diameter of a cactus plus one to two centimeters. Transplantation of a cactus is associated with certain difficulties due to the numerous needles.

To gently remove echinocactus from the ground, use thick gloves or a special wire grip. When transplanting it is necessary to take into account that the roots of this plant are very fragile.

The plant extracted from the pot should be inspected and, if necessary, removed rotten or dried roots. Cactus can be watered no earlier than 2-3 days after transplantation.

Diseases and pests of the plant

Echinocactus Gruzoni can root root rot, which is most often caused by excessive watering. For the prevention of this disease, a small amount of crushed activated carbon is mixed into the soil.

Plant blight can be cured only in the early stages of the disease. At the same time, the areas damaged by the disease are cut off, the cut points are processed with chalk or activated charcoal, the echinocactus is transplanted into a new pot with a complete replacement of the soil.

When a cactus shield appears, it is necessary to treat the shells of insects with alcohol or vinegar. After 2-3 hours, the pests are removed and the plant is washed in the shower. At the time of these procedures, the ground should be covered with a film. Mealybugs are struggling with spraying with soap suds (soap is used), not forgetting to cover the soil with foil. After about an hour, the plant needs a warm shower.

To combat the red spider mite, spraying is used with any alcoholic tincture or just ethyl alcohol. 15 minutes after spraying, echinocactus is washed in the shower. As in the previous cases, the soil in the pot must be protected with a film.

In addition to all of the above, in the fight against pests, you can use insecticide preparations.

Due to its spectacular appearance and unpretentiousness to care at home, Echinocactus Gruzoni gained great popularity among fans of exotic plants. In addition, life expectancy, measured in hundreds of years, over time makes it a kind of living monument to past eras.