Gymnocalycium is a charming spiny plant of the Cactus family, which has spread throughout the world from the desert regions of South and Central America. The genus is distinguished by a huge variety of colors, shapes and sizes of the stems themselves, not to mention the delicate flowers. Many copies can be identified only after a few years, so flower growers prefer to buy several hymnocalyciums at once and create an unusual composition in one pot in the form of a desert island in their own house.
Botanical Description
Cactus Gimnocalicium is a perennial with dense roots that go deep into the soil. On the surface are small flattened balls. Even in an adult plant, the diameter of the stem does not exceed 4-15 cm, and its height is almost half that. Under natural conditions, species with smooth dark green skin predominate. Sometimes brown stains are visible on the surface.
Breeders bred several decorative varieties that are distinguished by a brighter color of the shoots. They are yellow, red or orange. This was achieved by removing chlorophyll from their cactus cells, however, such a plant can only develop on a scion of green succulent.
All stems have 12-32 pronounced vertical ribs covered with areoles. Bunches of thorns at the base are immersed in short silvery villi. The length of the spines is 1.3-3.8 cm. In the center are 3-5 straight, long needles, and on the sides there are shorter, radial spikes.
The flowering period at the hymnocalycium occurs from May to November. Flowers are located on the top of the stem. Closed cups are completely devoid of pubescence and spines. They consist of smooth sepals tightly pressed against each other. Lush bell-shaped flowers have several rows of lanceolate petals. In the center is an elongated tube, covered with stamens from the inside. The color of the petals can be yellow, cream, red or raspberry. The diameter of the flower is 2-7 cm.
The egg-shaped fruit is covered with small scales, as is the peduncle. Its length does not exceed 4 cm. Coloring can be red, purple or green.
Popular views
The genus of the hymnocalicium is very numerous, but only a few varieties are used in the culture.
The gymnocalycium is naked. The stem in the shape of a flattened ball has wide, as if swollen, ribs. On a smooth dark green surface there are rare areoles with bunches of curved spines 1-1.3 cm long. They are painted in gray-brown color. The top is decorated with a large white or cream flower.
Gimnokalitsium Mikhanovich. This variety is the most common. The flattened spherical stem does not exceed 5 cm in height. The embossed ribs are covered with brown horizontal stripes. Slightly curved silver spines set apart. Greenish-pink or raspberry flowers in the form of a wide-open bell are located in the upper part of the stem. It was Mikhanovich’s hymnocalicium that became the basis for breeders in the development of decorative non-chlorophilic hybrids of brown-purple, yellow and red tones.
Gymnocalycium Salio. A spherical stem with a diameter of up to 30 cm is covered with a gray-green rough skin. Between the wide grooves are wide ribs with tuberous areoles. Red-brown curved spines directed to the sides. Their length can reach 4 cm. The top is decorated with white or light pink flowers.
Hymnocalycium humpbacked. An opaque bluish-green stem of this species is covered with straight, rather long spines. There are specimens with a diameter of up to 20 cm and a height of 50 cm. During flowering, an elongated peduncle grows on the top, on which a white or beige flower blooms.
Gymnocalycium of Quel. A rounded cactus with a bluish tinge does not exceed 10 cm in height. On the ribs are tuberous areoles with radial spikes tightly pressed to the stem. A large flower with white petals has a red rim at the core.
Gimnokalitsium mix. This group is a mixture of several miniature species with a diameter of less than 5 cm. Such plants are conveniently grown in one container, combining in color and shape.
Breeding methods
The reproduction of the hymnocalicium is possible by vegetative and seminal methods. Vegetatively propagate it most simply and efficiently. Many plants in the process of growth, without any stimulation, acquire lateral shoots, which are easily rooted. It is only necessary to unscrew the shoot and dry it for 24 hours in the air. In a bowl with sandy peat soil or clean sand, the cuttings are gently pressed. So that he does not fall, you can support him with matches. The roots appear quickly enough, especially if you carry out the procedure in the spring. In the autumn-winter period, it is recommended to use the backlight.
Some plants let out root shoots. They already have roots that are strongly intertwined with the mother plant. It is better to plant a baby during a transplant, carefully separating the roots from the ground. The transplant is immediately performed in the soil for adult plants.
Reproduction of seeds of the hymnocalicium requires more effort, but it is proved that seedlings grow more tenacious and strong. A flat box with fine-grained sand and peat substrate is prepared for crops. Before use, the soil mixture should be baked in the oven for several hours. Seeds are gently laid out on the surface of the soil and slightly crush them. Care must be taken that the earth never dries completely. At a temperature of about + 20 ° C, seedlings appear within 10 days. A transplant into a separate container is carried out only after a year.
Vaccination Rules
Gimnokalitsium Mikhanovich with colored stems cannot independently grow on the ground, so it is grafted onto any other green cactus. Also, with the help of vaccination, you can save your favorite plant that has suffered from root rot.
On a healthy cactus with a developed root system (rootstock), a horizontal incision is made with a disinfected blade. The same cut is done on the scion. Plants are pressed tightly against each other and fixed with a bandage with a load. After about a week, the tissue fuses and the latch can be carefully removed.
Gymnocalicium transplant
Gymnocalycium transplantation is carried out every 1-3 years in early spring. This procedure allows you to pick up a looser pot and renew the soil. An old earthen lump must be removed by at least half. The pot is chosen a little wider and deeper than the previous one.
The soil for the hymnocalycium is made from a mixture of components:
- sheet land (3 parts);
- sand (3 parts);
- peat (2 parts);
- turf land (2 parts);
- pieces of charcoal (1 part).
The presence of lime in the soil is unacceptable. After transplanting, the plant is limited in watering for a week.
Care Features
The gymnocalycium does not require careful care at home, but needs a properly selected location. Then its small shoots quickly form a thick curtain, and in the summer they will delight with beautiful flowers.
Lighting. The plant needs intense lighting. It normally tolerates direct sunlight, even in extreme heat. The duration of daylight hours throughout the year should not be less than 12 hours, so in winter it is useful to use a fluorescent lamp.
Temperature. Summer temperature should be in the range + 20 ... + 24 ° C, but even at + 30 ° C the hymnocalycium will feel great. In winter, it is necessary to transfer the plant to a cooler place (+ 12 ... + 15 ° C), but cooling below + 8 ° C will be detrimental to it.
Humidity. Dry air for a cactus is not a problem. Sometimes it needs to be washed from dust under a warm shower. Bathing should be carried out in the spring and summer.
Watering. Gymnocalycium needs to be grown on well-drained soil. It is rarely watered, but abundantly. Excess moisture should be immediately drained from the pan. Between watering the earth should dry completely. In winter, an adult plant is quite enough 1-3 waterings per season. Water should be warm and slightly acidified.
Fertilizer. Cactus is fed exclusively with mineral complexes. Fertilizers are applied to the soil monthly. It is necessary to choose special compositions for succulents with a low nitrogen content in the form of solutions or granules.
Diseases and Pests
Gymnocalyciums suffer from root rot with frequent flooding of the soil. The most annoying plant pests are mealybugs and flat red ticks. It is rarely possible to see the parasite, but bright rusty spots or whitish spraying on the stem will not elude the eyes of the attentive grower. Swimming with a hot shower and treatment with insecticides (Aktara, Aktellik, Karbofos) helps to cope with insects.
