Gymnocalycium: bright cactus for indoor use

In the piggy bank of the cactus grower

G. Ragonesii forms a dark stem with a diameter of up to 3 cm and a height of only 1 cm

Some hymnocalycium are very moody. These are:

• valuable varieties of the thermophilic G. Michanovichii with a brown-green flower
• Ragonesii is a spectacular, delicate plant with a velvety, chocolate-colored stem, rare, difficult to grow

Capricious species can only be obtained by sowing seeds, growing seedlings on your own, under constant supervision. Such planting and care contribute to a better adaptation of the gymnocalycium to the surrounding conditions.

Features of cactus care:

• In order for hymnocalycium to be guaranteed to bloom, they must be kept in dry cool in winter and grown in neutral soil.
• For watering the hymnocalycium, it is better to take rain water, and tap water must be boiled or acidified with citric acid (two drops per liter)

It is not surprising that the spectacular and unpretentious cactus hymnocalycium is very popular among amateurs

Various shapes and colors of stems, amazing thorns, long, beautiful, lush flowering attract the attention of not only beginners, but also experienced cactus growers.

Gymnocalycium

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The nuances of growing

It is not so difficult to care for a cactus mix at home. To do this, it is enough to remember a few basic rules and timely perform procedures that provide plants with comfort.

Pay attention to the soil. You can buy a ready-made composition for cacti, or you can make the necessary soil mixture yourself using components such as leaf earth, peat, river sand, as well as charcoal powder

Remember that all components must be decontaminated by steam or heat treatment.

When the active stage of the growing season begins, it is necessary to supply the soil composition with additional fertilizers, which are usually applied to the soil along with moisture during irrigation. They are sold ready-made and are designed specifically for succulents and members of the cactus family. Remember to stop applying nutrients in the fall, and also 30 days before the expected flowering.

So that the plants growing in the neighborhood do not experience discomfort, it is necessary to prune the shoots in a timely manner. This must be done carefully, so it is recommended to use only sharp blades or knives.

• As the plants grow, it is necessary to replant them in a timely manner. The signal to start this procedure will be the growth of the root system to such an extent that it fills the entire pot. The new pot should be slightly larger than the previous one. In the process of transplanting, do not forget to make a drainage layer 1 to 3 centimeters thick, depending on the height of the container. After completing the procedure, do not add moisture to the soil for several days, and fertilizer for 1-2 months.
• It is advisable to vary the temperature of the mix throughout the year. In the summertime, readings from +22 to +27 degrees Celsius are permissible. In autumn, the temperature level should be lowered to +16 degrees. In winter, it should be about 10-12 degrees Celsius. Remember that the minimum allowable temperature is 7 degrees above zero.
• Watering is a very important procedure for a mini greenhouse, which is also regulated by the current season. In summer, more moisture needs to be applied, so the recommended watering frequency is every other day.Better to do this in the morning. The water should be warm (about 30-40 degrees).

If cacti are kept warm in winter, then water should be applied to the ground 1-2 times a month. If the plant is located in a room with a lower temperature, then in the winter season it is possible not to water at all. Cacti tolerate this quite well. With the onset of spring, soil moisture should be gradually renewed.

• During the growth of cacti, high humidity will be useful. You can create it by covering the plants after watering for an hour and a half. As these representatives of the flora grow, increase the frequency of airing the mini-greenhouse.
• Despite the fact that most cacti need a lot of light, it is desirable that it be diffused. Therefore, during the midday sun, lightly shade the mini-greenhouse so that the rays shine softly.

Growing problems, pests and diseases

Gymnocalycium is inherently not picky plants, they adapt to different conditions and are resistant to pests. However, there are problems when growing this type of cactus due to the following reasons:

1. Improper care.
2. Using too hard water when watering.
3. Alkaline soil in a potted plant.
4. Damage to the stem during propagation by lateral layers.

Red flat mites and scale insects are the main pests of the plant.

Small rusty spots indicate that a red flat mite has settled on the cactus. This insect is very small and difficult to spot. Such a pest is found mainly on young plants, since the skin of a mature cactus is too dense for it. Fighting a tick does not require much effort - you need to rinse the stems under hot water or grease them with ethyl alcohol. It is possible to use pesticides as a last resort if the pest threatens the entire collection of cacti. Another pest, a mealybug, has a pinkish body and an airy layer that resembles cotton wool. Such an insect is located at the roots and on the stems of the plant, sucking out all the juices from it. You can get rid of the worm by washing the plant with hot water (but not boiling water) or by using insecticidal and universal preparations to destroy the pest.

With proper care of the hymnocalycium, this plant can become not only a decoration for your interior, but also a guarantee of good health and mood. Growing this cactus does not require special skills, even a beginner can cope with this, the main thing is to adhere to all the rules of lighting, watering and temperature conditions. As a result, you will admire the beautiful flowering of the hymnocalycium, which amazes everyone with its incredible range of shades and unusual shapes.

Growing features

Caring for cacti doesn't take long. But they grow and bloom only when the conditions are suitable for this.

• Choosing a place. The best place is the south window. He treats the sun calmly, but on especially hot days it is shaded. Stuffiness and drafts negatively affect growth. The room is regularly ventilated, in the summer the hymnocalycium is taken out into the street.
• Pot selection. Use small pots. In large containers, the plant does not bloom, acidification of the soil leads to impaired growth.
• The soil. Use special soil mixtures for cacti. Independently, the substrate is prepared from sand, humus, deciduous and soddy land.
• Transfer. Young plants are replanted annually. Adults - as the root system fills the container. The optimal period for transplanting is spring. The pot is filled with drainage by a third. Stagnation of water in the roots leads to the death of the plant.
• Watering. Gymnocalycium loves moderate watering. From spring to autumn - watering as needed. The soil in the pot is allowed to dry completely. In winter, watering is stopped. When the plant is kept in a dormant period in a warm room, cacti are watered, but very rarely.
• Humidity. There is no need to maintain a certain level of humidity.Plants are periodically sprayed to remove dust.
• Pruning. Most hymnocalycium does not need to be vaccinated. The exception is chlorophyll-free species. They are grafted onto the columnar stem of other cacti. Grafting is sometimes used to rescue a decaying plant.

Important! The grafting is carried out in the same way for all types of cacti. Make the same cuts for the scion and rootstock

Without allowing them to dry out, they are tightly combined and fixed with a bandage. After a week, the bandage is removed.

How the hymnocalycium cactus reproduces

You can propagate a cactus at home using side bends or seeds. Each option differs in the principle of care and the procedure itself. The simplest breeding option is considered to be a lateral or basal process transplant. Germinating seeds is a more laborious process that requires compliance with certain conditions.

Germinating seeds

Reproduction by seed germination is considered the most difficult, but cacti grown in this way are resistant to any negative factors. It is necessary to prepare a box with a depth of 2-5 cm, pour a substrate of coarse sand and peat into the container.

Attention! The substrate is pre-calcined in the oven for 1-2 hours. When the ground cools down, you need to lay the seeds at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other and sprinkle a little with soil mixture

The soil in the box must be constantly moist. You need to maintain the required level of moisture using a spray bottle. The air temperature should not fall below +20 ° С

When the ground cools down, you need to lay the seeds at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other and sprinkle a little with soil mixture. The soil in the box must be constantly moist. You need to maintain the required level of moisture using a spray bottle. The air temperature should not fall below +20 ° С.

Shoots appear after about 10 days. Such seedlings can be transplanted only after 1-2 years.

Side layering

To propagate the hymnocalycium using side bends, you need to perform the following steps:

1. Separate the process from the adult.
2. Lay it on a paper towel and dry it in a dark place for 1 day.
3. Prepare a pot of sandy soil.
4. Press the cutting into the soil so that it does not fall.

Lateral shoots of a cactus

Within 14 days, roots appear at the appendix. It is better to carry out the procedure in the spring, when the plant enters the vegetation stage.

Transfer

Root processes sometimes appear. They have an almost intact root system with the parent plant. The division is carried out at the time of transplantation.

Plant transplant

You need to carefully divide the root systems and plant the shoot in a pot of soil. The substrate is used the same as for an adult plant.

Common varieties

In floriculture, this type of cactus is widespread. Therefore, many varieties have been selected for decorative cultivation, among which there are the most popular:

• Gymnocalycium Reduktum (humpbacked) is the largest representative of the species. With growth, the shape and color of the stem changes. The plant grows from a ball into an oval, which is divided by furrows. Reductum can grow up to half a meter. The spines are arranged radially. A tuft with sharp long spines is located at the apex of each segment.
• Gymnocalycium of Friedrich (Albiflorum). Succulent was obtained thanks to the efforts of Japanese breeders and therefore has a second name: Japanese hymnocalycium. After chlorophyll was removed, the stem of the plant began to change color - purple, burgundy, red, yellow. The appearance attracts with its originality. But the hybrid cannot grow on its own; it must be grafted onto another cactus.
• Gymnocalycium baldianum - in Russia it is most often called Bald's hymnocalycium. It has the shape of a flattened blue-green ball. The height of the trunk reaches 10 cm, and the width is 9 cm. Gymnocalycium Baldianum is covered with grooves, which turn into "tubercles" as they grow.There are needles at the top of each segment. Depending on the prefix, the color of the buds is determined - Kla, Yellow.
• Horst's gymnocalycium reaches a height of 20 cm. The stem has the shape of a flattened ball of dark green color. At the time of flowering, you can see a pink, lilac or cream-colored bud.
• Gymnocalycium mihanovichii has a stem 5 cm high with ridged ridges. Waves are located along the crests, which visually change the shape of the aboveground part. At the top of the ridges there are light spines located only radially. The flower is pink-green in color, sometimes white-green buds are found.

Frederick's appearance

• Aqua Dulce is a miniature version of the hymnocalycium, which has a low, powerful stem. Rare thorns are found on the surface of the aboveground part.
• Gymnocalycium denudatum is a miniature species. The stem height does not exceed 30 mm in height, and the diameter is 80 mm. The shape of the aerial part is a ball, which is slightly flattened on top. At the time of flowering, it releases several small white buds.
• Damsi belongs to succulents due to its small size (height 20 mm, diameter - 50 mm). It has a round trunk of light green color with radially located needles along.
• Gymnocalycium ragonesii is a small cactus with a brown-green stem. On the surface of the aboveground part, Ragonese has not too clear grooves, which are radially covered with thorns.
• Gymnocalycium quehlianum (Quela) is a succulent no more than 10 cm high. The color of the aboveground part is bluish-green. The bud is colored red during flowering with a more expressive edging of the same color.
• Gymnocalycium spegazzinii has a barrel-shaped aerial part, which is colored gray-green. The trunk is divided into ribs with areoles. They have curved spines 5-7 mm long.

Note! The montain mark identifies the cactus as a hardy plant. The maximum temperature drop can be +5 ° С

The appearance of Ruduktum

Gymnocalycium mix cactus is a group of several small varieties. The diameter of the barrels does not exceed 50 mm. "Mix" is usually planted in one container, creating a combination of plants of different colors and different shapes.

Gymnocalycium: home care

Gymnocalycium is the most unpretentious plant. Home care for the Gymnocalycium Mix is ​​more than simple. He will not suffer much even if you forget about him for a long time. It tolerates dry and humid air equally well. As a houseplant, the cactus is ideal for beginner growers.

However, there are some rules to follow for your pet to feel good. First of all, you need to remember that culture does not tolerate overflow. Abundant watering is required only after the top layer has dried, but the water from the pallet must certainly be drained. In the heat, you need to water the plant every other day. The water should be warm and settled, at least, for a couple of days.

Need to know! It is not recommended to spray the stems with water. Drying drops leave unsightly spots on the stems.

After flowering, a dormant period begins for the culture. At this time, watering practically stops. For the whole season, it is enough to moisten the soil 3-4 times.

Another condition for preserving the decorative effect of the bush is the observance of the temperature regime at home. The optimum temperature for the culture will be in the range of + 15-18 degrees. At the same time, the cactus can withstand a short-term cold snap up to -5 degrees.

There is one subtlety in breeding cacti. For optimal development, the flower must be planted in a cramped pot. The roots may even touch its walls. For the same reason, frequent transplants are not indicated for the culture. For an adult plant, one transplant is enough in 3-4 years.

Dormant period

It is important to follow the sequence of actions when transplanting:

1. The flower is pulled out of the pot.
2. Released from old soil.
3. The revision of the root system is being carried out.
4. The whole plant is washed with hot running water.
5. Stays in place for a couple of days to dry.
6. It is planted in new soil.

Root worms

Diseases and pests

Cacti have pretty good immunity, but sometimes they are also attacked by pests and diseases. Red ticks are dangerous for hymnocalycium. In the absence of other food, they happily eat juicy cactus stalks. Young plants are especially fond of. Due to the small size of the pests, it is impossible to see, but their presence is betrayed by reddish stains. If such traces are found, the plant is urgently washed under running water and wiped with alcohol.

Occasionally a mealybug attacks a cactus. This pest is able to suck out all the juice from the stems in a short time. The cactus may die. The presence of the worm can be understood by the light web. The plant can only be saved by treatment with insecticides.

Of the diseases, root rot is the most dangerous. It appears when the plant is overflowing. To save a flower, it will have to be taken out of the pot, rinsed, cleaned of affected parts, dried, transplanted into new soil.

Soil and top dressing

Gymnocalycium requires loose soil. This can be achieved if you independently prepare a soil mixture from:

• peat;
• sand;
• charcoal.

The bottom of the pot must be covered with expanded clay.

Interesting! For good aeration of the roots, experienced flower growers add expanded clay to the planting soil.

The level of soil acidity is very important for the culture. For good development, the flower requires a neutral or slightly acidic. For beginner growers, it will be easier to use a ready-made soil mixture. Balanced formulations are always on sale.

Of the fertilizers, only mineral compositions are suitable for cacti. Organics are strictly contraindicated. There are several types of special fertilizers for succulents on sale. During the active growing season, the flower should be fertilized every two weeks. During the rest period, feeding should be stopped altogether.

Lighting and temperature

In their natural environment, cacti survive well in dry heat and bright sun. They perfectly withstand +30 degrees, feel great at +15. Can survive at -5 degrees. However, it will be correct to shade the plant from the midday sun, since sometimes sunburn occurs.

At home, cacti need to create conditions that are as close to natural as possible. That is, put the pots in the sunniest places. If the sun is not enough, then lengthen daylight hours by highlighting

This is especially important during the flowering period. Then it will be longer

Interesting! The more thorns on the stems of a cactus, the more light they need.

As soon as the flower drops the last buds, the pot needs to be rearranged to a cooler place and forget about it a little. Before the onset of the next season, the plant gradually becomes accustomed to an increase in temperature and light.

Types (description with photo)

1. Gymnocalycium mihanovichii (Gymnocalycium mihanovichii). Stem color is dull or intense green, often with a brownish transition. Ribs with a sharp and wavy edge, decorated with large areolas.
    

   Light gray long spines are arranged in a ray-like manner, bending towards the stem. Average number of edges: 8-10. Flowers with a prominent tube: white, yellowish or pale pink.

   Photo of Mikhanovich's hymnocalycium.

2. Taking this species as a basis, breeders bred such well-known cultivars as a number of Japanese colored cacti Gymnocalycium or the famous Black Cap (Gymnocalycium mihanovichii ‘Black Cap’).
    

   Its dark brown, almost black stem is decorated with white areoles and pink flowers.

   Colored cultivars of Gymnocalycium have an evenly colored stem of bright yellow, red, purple, orange colors. These chlorophyll-free forms are grafted onto green cacti, which provide them with full growth and development.

3. Gymnocalycium baldianum, aka Bald's Gymnocalycium (G. baldianum). It is easy to remember for its special shade of the stem - the middle between blue and green.
    

   Flowers of deep purple-red color are very beautiful. The plant begins to bloom at an early age. The ribs are separated by transverse grooves. The spines are relatively thin, long, and curved.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

4. Gymnocalycium of Friedrich (G. friedrichii). The stem color is brown with a pink or red tint. Ribs with horizontal stripes, often noticeably lighter or darker than the background.
    

   In cross-section, the ribs are very close to triangular. Pink-lilac flowers can be up to 3 cm in diameter.

5. Gymnocalycium rodanterum (G. rhodantherum). Another name: G. guanchinense. Comes from Argentina. It is known for its long, strong, dense spines.
    

   Light in color, white or beige, these spikes, along with white areolas, look very beautiful, albeit a little intimidating. Usually each areola bears 5-7 spines diverging in rays, noticeably curved.

   The stem is green, often brownish or tinged with purple. The ribs are wavy. The flowers are large, white, with red or pink petals at the base. The flowering period of this cactus is from June to mid-autumn.

6. G. Saglione. He gained fame as one of the largest. The diameter of the spherical stem can reach 30 cm. The ribs are divided into separate tubercles, which makes the cactus look like a ball assembled from a children's mosaic or a construction set.
    

   The spines are long - up to 4 cm, light against a bluish-green stem, often curved. There are from 10 to 15 thorns in the nest. Gymnocalycium of Saliona blooms with white, sometimes pink flowers, the tube of flowers looks shortened. The fruits are red.

7. G. Schroeder (G. schroederianum). Numerous ribs, spherical stem. Flowers are white or light cream shades. The flower tube is relatively short.
    

8. G. multiflorum (G. multiflorum). The stem is spherical, flattened on top, green in color. There are usually 10-15 edges. The pink flowers are characterized by a relatively short flower tube.
    

9. G. humpback (G. gibbosum). Its spherical stem turns into a cylinder as it grows, but very rarely exceeds 20 cm in length. The number of ribs reaches 19. It blooms with white or light pink flowers.
    

10. G. naked (G. denudatum). Beautiful glossy dark green stem, 5 to 8 ribs. Its tubercles can be pear-shaped. Light spines are arranged in bunches, close to the stem. Large flowers are white or light pink.
     

11. G. Quehlianum. Spherical bluish-green stem, spines can be white, yellow and brownish. The flowers are white with a red base of the petals, large.
     

12. G. tiny (G. parvulum). A spherical stem, usually with 13 ribs, is decorated with large symmetrical areoles with spines of a contrasting light color.
     

    5-7 spines arranged in the form of rays seem to be pressed against the stem. During flowering, these cacti look especially harmonious and graceful. The flowers are usually white.

13. G. small-flowered (G. leptanthum). The stem is divided into 8 ribs; areoles with medium-sized radial spines are clearly visible. Long, well-defined flower tube with visible scales.
     

    The flowers are large, white. At the base, the petals are often more intensely colored: they can be pink or pale orange.

And here is a video in which you will see another type of Gymnocalycium.

Often in stores they sell mixes of hymnocalycium cacti (an example of one of the mixes in the photo below).

General information

Gymnocalycium affine species in the wild, Argentina

The genus includes up to 150 species. In most of them, the stem is divided into well-defined segments covered with tubercles. The spines can be of different shapes and sizes - from straight to curved.

The flowers are always large. The petals open on a well-developed, thick, long, scaly tube.

The flowers of the hymnocalycium seem to be made of wax and can stay on the stem for weeks. Most species have bisexual flowers and are capable of self-pollination. The exception is a small group of Uruguayan hymnocalycium.

Ripe fruits look like green, pink, orange or yellow berries that hang on the stem for a long time. Each berry of the hymnocalycium contains seeds with a diameter of less than 1 mm.

How to care for a cactus at home: features of care after purchase, in winter, flowering, reproduction and watering | (Photo & Video)

Reproduction methods

The easiest way to propagate a cactus is with the help of lateral layers. They are separated from the mother stem. However, you should not remove all the layers from the mother plant - this will make the flower ugly. On the other hand, an excessive number of shoots hinders the development of the cactus, slows down its growth and impairs flowering. Therefore, the lateral processes must be thinned out in order to give the flower a beautiful shape.

Caring for room chrysanthemum at home

Layers are removed from the main stem by easily twisting with tweezers or fingers. The shoot is left for 1-2 days in a dry place, then placed on a damp substrate. You can use sand alone or mixed with peat. Then the plant is looked after in the usual way. Soon, the shoot will sprout roots and begin to fix in the soil. Breeding is best done in spring or summer.

If the lateral shoot has formed its own roots that are intertwined with the mother's roots, they can be carefully dug out. This procedure is best combined with a whole plant transplant.

A young shoot is planted in a pot as an independent plant.

Many varieties are propagated by seeds, in particular, Mikhanovich's Gymnokalycium. Reproduction of this variety is not difficult. Seed-derived offspring are healthier and more viable than lateral shoots. Some holocerents reproduce exclusively by seeds. You can sow hymnocalycium at any time of the year. A prerequisite is a sufficient amount of heat and light.

For sowing, you can take the same soil as for adult plants. It is better to choose fine-grained sand. The substrate is calcined in the oven to kill pathogens.

Seeds are sown in small pots or shallow bowls, scattered over the surface of the soil. The substrate must be moist, it must not be allowed to dry out. For the first time, the dishes with seeds are covered with a glass jar or a cut bottle. The optimum temperature for seed germination is +20 degrees. When the soil dries up, it is moistened with a spray bottle or from a pallet.

Young cacti grow very quickly. After a year, they can be planted in separate pots.

Botanical description

Gymnocalycium cactus is a perennial with dense roots that go deep into the soil. Small flattened balls are located on the surface. Even in an adult plant, the stem diameter does not exceed 4-15 cm, and its height is almost half this indicator. In natural conditions, species with a smooth dark green skin predominate. Sometimes brown stains are visible on the surface.

Breeders have 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 cactus cells, but 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 spines at the base are immersed in short silvery villi. The length of the spines is 1.3-3.8 cm. In the center there are 3-5 straight, long spines, and on the sides there are shorter, radial spines.

The flowering period for the hymnocalycium occurs from May to November. Flowers are located at the top of the stem. The closed calyx is 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 crimson. The flower diameter is 2-7 cm.

The egg-shaped fruit is covered with small scales, like the peduncle. Its length does not exceed 4 cm. The color can be red, purple or green.

Grafting a cactus at home

Sometimes chlorophyll-free cacti grow by themselves, for example, when sowing seeds. By the shoots, you immediately recognize them - yellow or red, sometimes partially spotted. Usually, such cacti die a month or two after germination. There is only one way to save them - by vaccination. If the hymnocalycium has grown large shoots, then they can also be tried to graft, having received a new plant.

• Prepare the tools: a knife and alcohol to disinfect it, you may also need twine or narrow strips of cloth to fix the scion.
• Cut the top off the green cactus. If the plant to be grafted is small, then the stock should be slightly sharpened, like a pencil, leaving a small flat area at the top.
• In the grafted cactus, you need to cut off the lower part.
• Align the two plants with cuts and secure them tightly with twine. You can tie the graft crosswise across the bottom of the pot.
• Place the pot in a sunny location, but not in direct sunlight. It is better to maintain the temperature at 18-20˚. Observe the usual watering regime for the rootstock cactus.
• The vaccine should be taken in 2-3 weeks.

Diseases and pests

The flat red mite is dangerous for hymnocalycium, as it sometimes eats cacti when there is no more suitable food. The ticks are so small that they can only be seen with a powerful magnifying glass. But traces of their activity are clearly visible - long rusty stains remain. Gymnocalycium can only get sick at a young age, when the resistant qualities have not fully manifested themselves. The stems are washed with warm water, then treated with alcohol.

Sometimes a mealybug annoys cacti - this is a microscopic worm. It mainly affects the stems, in a short period of time it can suck out all the juices, and the cactus can die. You can see these creatures at the edges of the leaves, they are pinkish in color, and around them there is a white layer of cobweb. When a mealybug appears, plant growth stops, flowering also disappears. The mealybug "loves" all types of cacti indiscriminately, the roots and stems are affected. To disinfect the plant, you should rinse it, then spray it, wipe it with insecticidal compounds.

The most common ailment is root rot. The disease is dangerous because it spreads quickly in soil with a high moisture content. The treatment of the plant is as follows: the affected areas of the root system are cut off, washed with warm water, and dried. Disinfection is done using crushed activated carbon. Then the cactus should be transplanted into another container.

Growing at home

Gymnocalycium

Growing hymnocalycium at home is extremely easy. This is one of those "unkillable" cacti that will survive even in bad conditions. The plant will die only if you take care of it incorrectly for a year or more. In good home conditions, with proper care, the flower will live for more than 10 years, it will develop and bloom excellently.

Light

Gymnocalycium berchtii grows where it can be shaded for part of the day

Gymnocalycium is shade-loving, moderate lighting is optimal. In the summer they need to be darkened or rearranged to the north window. On the west and southwest windows, the stems get burned.

In winter, additional light is desirable from 17 to 21 hours. Backlighting is optional, you can simply rearrange the cactus for the winter on the south window.

Temperature

Gymnocalycium

Gymnocalycium - cacti of the temperate zone. In terms of temperature requirements, they are close to options and rebutions. There are also thermophilic species - denudatum and fleisherianum.

The coldest species is gibbozum.It can freeze to stone and then slowly thaw and remain alive and well, and even bloom.

Water and irrigation

Wintering cactus turns yellow from lack of water

The rains in the homeland of the Gymnocalycium are warm, much warmer than our summer ones. Therefore, the water must be heated to 30 degrees before watering.

Warm baths are helpful:

1. Heat the water to 35 degrees
2. Dip the cactus together with the pot for 25-30 minutes in water

The bath removes dust from the cactus, washes away pests that are invisible to the eyes. You can bathe hymnocalycium only in summer. In winter, they will quickly rot.

Cacti are very fond of evening watering. Where they grow, there is abundant dew at night. These plants drink it in nature.

Dew keeps the skin clean. The ability to collect dew allows cacti to do without rain for a long time and even without roots, absorbing moisture through the stomata on the stem.

Air humidity is completely unimportant. The flower tolerates both dry and damp air well.

From November to March, the cactus pot is watered no more than once a month or not watered at all.

A cactus can dry out in winter to a completely inanimate look. But in the spring, as soon as you water it, the shriveled dry ball will wake up, fill up with juice and throw out its club-shaped buds.

Substrates

The soil for indoor cacti should be loose.

Gymnocalycium is picky about the soil. In the wrong substrate, the roots of a cactus will begin to rot, and he will refuse not only to bloom, but also to grow. The substrate will have to be compiled on your own, there is too much peat in the store.

The soil is suitable for planting:

• leaf land 2
• peat land 3
• grain clay 2
• sand 2
• coal 1

Top dressing

Powder and liquid fertilizers for cacti

Even an ideal earthen mixture is not able to give the plants everything they need. Therefore, one of the features of home care for this cactus is systematic feeding. Fertilizers are applied only during the period of active growth, once every 10 days. Fertilization begins in May, ends in October. From November to March, feeding is prohibited.

Cacti, which are replanted annually, do not need to be fertilized.

In fertilizer for cacti, nitrogen should be less than phosphorus and potassium. Phosphorus stimulates flowering and growth, potassium promotes flowering and fruiting.

You do not need to mix the chemicals yourself. There are many fertilizers in stores that are meant for cacti and succulents. The soil and fertilizer for these plants have a neutral ph.

Transfer

Gymnocalycium ilseae cactus ready for transplant

Gymnocalycium is transplanted in March and April. During transplantation, diseased, rotten and weak roots are cut off. Some of the roots of cacti die off naturally. At the same time, the rudiments of new roots are formed on the root collar and old roots.

Gymnocalycium transplant technique:

1. Put broken shards, expanded clay or pieces of brick on the bottom of the pot
2. Fill up the shallow fertile soil
3. Put the cactus roots on the ground
4. Cover the roots with fertile steamed soil
5. Cover on top with a layer of the same earth, but coarser, mixed with fine gravel
6. Spread clean gravel on the surface or scatter coarse steamed sand

The transplanted cactus is placed in a shady place for a week. You can water it 4-5 days after transplanting.

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