Succulents are some of the plants that are well suited for the novice gardener. These plants are easy to care for if you forget about them. long time and provided them improper care, then nothing will happen to them. Succulents are also easy to propagate. For excellent growth and development of succulents you need:
- Sunlight or very good lighting;
- Good drainage is also required;
- Influx of fresh air;
- During the dormant period (winter), cool and dry soil is necessary.
Caring for succulents:
- Temperature should be kept moderate from spring to autumn. Succulents prefer different day and night temperatures. In winter, keep in cool conditions at 11-13 degrees;
- Lighting- Placing plants on windowsills is optimal, as they require a certain amount of sunlight. Haworthia and Gasteria require diffused light;
- Watering produced as the soil dries. During the growth period (from spring to autumn) once a week and once every 3-4 weeks during the dormant period (winter), or when kept in a cool place, water when they begin to wrinkle.
- Spray leaves optional. Succulents grow optimally and efficiently in flat pots.
- Reproduction: Succulent cuttings root easily. Rooting must be done in spring or summer. Before planting, the cuttings need to be dried for 1-3 days, if the cuttings are large, then 10-15 days.
Succulents are plants that have the ability to retain a large supply of moisture in their tissues. They are distinguished by their decorative qualities and can decorate any apartment or office, even with weak level lighting, since succulents are completely unpretentious.
The flower is able to actively grow and develop at low temperatures, but the best option is a room atmosphere with high air humidity. Therefore, such plants can be placed next to fountains and aquariums.
These are great plants for children and very busy people because they are unpretentious, easy to care for, and succulents, like cacti, can withstand improper care and neglect for a long time. In addition, unlike other groups of plants, they are very easy to propagate.
Homemade succulents: photos and names
In nature, there are many succulents of different sizes and shapes, including colored ones, most of which have rosettes, since this dense arrangement of leaves helps retain moisture and survive in the desert; among them there are also flowering species.
Despite the wide variety of species, succulents are very similar in their needs. They need fresh air, sun, drained substrate, watering throughout the growing season.
Household succulents: types, names, catalog
Agave americana
Wikipedia gives full description plants. It is a perennial leafy plant consisting of basal, hard, tapering, thick, linear-lanceolate leaves of green or green-variegated color. The leaves grow from one central leaf in a circle. Their edges are covered with small spines. American agave blooms rarely; the flowers are inconspicuous greenish-yellow, located on a long stalk. The temperature in the room where this flower is grown should be at least +8 degrees. Feeding and watering should be done once a month. American agave requires frequent replanting into a special deciduous-sandy-turf soil.
Queen Victoria Agave
Perennial leafy plant. The leaves are basal, concave, rigid, triangular in shape, matte, dark green in color, with a white edge along the edges, and at the end of each leaf there is a single long spine. Grow in a circle of the central leaf. Queen Victoria Agave does not bloom. The flower should not be placed on sunny windowsills; it should be protected from direct sunlight. The temperature in the room should not be higher than 21 degrees.
Adenium
Perennial tree plant. The stem of this succulent variety has compaction in the root zone, followed by branching upward. The leaves are dissected, serrate, lanceolate, light green in color. Flowering is abundant, but very rare. The flowers are double and simple, crimson in color with a light center. Homemade succulent needs watering (every 3 days) and daily spraying. The temperature during cultivation should not fall below +12 degrees.
Adromiscus spotted
Perennial plant with thick leaves. The succulent consists of basal, fleecy, thick, green-spotted leaves, the edges of which have a purple border. The leaves grow from a small, dense root stalk. In appearance, adrmiscus looks very saturated with moisture. At indoor growing The plant must be watered moderately every evening. The flower must be protected from direct sunlight and not placed in the sun. The room temperature should not exceed +21 degrees.
Aloe variegated
A perennial leafy herbaceous succulent, the height of which does not exceed 30 cm. It consists of basal, hard, thick, linear-lanceolate, narrowed upward, green-variegated leaves with lightened waves. The leaves grow in a circle, forming a rose. Rarely blooms. Flowers orange color, located in the cluster inflorescence. This house plant does not require special growing conditions, it just needs constant watering.
Aloe squat
This is a cactus from the Asphodelaceae family, 10-50 cm high. The leaves are basal, hard, thin, pointed, light green in color. There are small rough thorns on the surface of the petals. Aloe squamosum is widely used in folk medicine and is famous for its medicinal properties. The plant is unpretentious and does not require special care.
Anacampseros
A perennial climbing shrub consisting of dense shoots of dark purple color. The leaves are small, watery, dense. Arranged symmetrically along the branches. Pink flowers, correct form, enough large sizes, located on tall succulent stalks. Up to five can bloom on one branch at the same time. The plant is light-loving and needs a lot of sunlight. Requires unlimited space (for weaving) and needs constant watering.
Argyroderma
Perennial. Another name is Living Stones. The trunk of the succulent looks like a stone, painted in a grayish-green matte color. The plant has a massive rosette consisting of two rather fleshy thick leaves. The flowers are regular in shape, bright pink in color, with thin small petals. Appear at the point of contact of the leaves. The plant needs timely, abundant watering and plenty of sunlight. Argyroderma grows in drainage, fine-stony soil.
Apthenia
Perennial evergreen succulent. It has spreading, fleshy, creeping stems. The leaves are light green, watery, lanceolate, located symmetrically along the stem. Aptenia may become climbing plant. The flowers are small, sparse, white or pink shade. The flower petals are thin, small, located in the axils, which are located at the ends of the branches. Needs abundant watering and good lighting. The air temperature in the room should be average.
Brighamy
A perennial tree-like leaf plant with a dense (in the root zone) stem, the height of which is 20−50 cm. The leaves are oval, elongated, lanceolate, covered with a waxy coating, shiny. Flowers yellow, small, located on separate tall pedicels. The plant is light-loving and needs regular moderate watering and good lighting.
Gasteria
A leafy perennial consisting of basal, slightly flattened, thick, green-spotted leaves with smooth edges and a sharp tip. The leaves form many dense rosettes. The flowers are tubular-swollen, small, located in the apical inflorescence on a long peduncle. The succulent is unpretentious to heat and light. Needs replanting (1 time/2 years) and regular watering.
Graptopetalum
An herbaceous, stemless perennial consisting of small, dense, watery, heart-shaped leaves. The leaves are matte, dark green, with a sharp end, collected in a pink rosette. The flowers are pink, large, lily-shaped, located on separate long peduncles. The plant is light-loving and needs a lot of light and regular watering. Prefers drainage, fine-stony soil.
Dorstenia
A leafy tree-like perennial with a dense stem, from the top of which single leaves are formed. The height of the stem is approximately 20−25 cm. The leaves are lanceolate, elongated, oval in shape. The flowers are green, in the form of a capsule with seeds, located on a separate peduncle. The succulent is unpretentious to heat and light. Needs regular spraying and watering. The plant needs to be fed once a month.
Zamioculcas
A perennial leafy plant consisting of numerous stems on which shiny, dark green, lanceolate, oval-shaped leaves are symmetrically arranged. In the root zone the stem is watery and thick, upward it becomes thinner. Rarely blooms. The succulent needs frequent watering (1 time/2 days) and good lighting. Does not tolerate cold, the room temperature should not be less than +8 degrees.
Conophytum
Perennial houseplant, 5−10 cm high. The flowers are small, yellow. Needs abundant watering and plenty of sunlight. It grows only in fine rocky soil.
Cotyledon
A semi-shrub type of perennial with a woody single stem, which begins to bush over the years. This rather large succulent can reach a height of 50−180 cm. The leaves are dark green, thick, watery, and shiny. A reddish edging is noticeable along their edges. Rarely blooms. The flowers are star-shaped, white or light pink. The succulent tolerates well low temperatures, while excess moisture in the air and soil has a detrimental effect on the plant.
Other types of house succulents
In addition to the above, it is worth paying attention to the following types of these beautiful plants that can decorate any apartment or office:
Are cacti succulents or not?
Everyone knows what a cactus is and even a child can say what this plant looks like and give it to him. detailed description. The names succulent and cactus can often be found side by side, however, does this mean that both plants are relatives? What unites them?
The thing is that cacti, like succulents, are good adapted to survive in dry climates, they are able to store large amounts of moisture and are naturally resistant to low air humidity. However, cacti, although they belong to the group of succulents, are classified as a separate large cactus family.
Cacti come in the following types:
- Cylindrical;
- oval;
- disc-shaped;
- articulated;
- spherical.
Cacti can be either with or without leaves, and the same applies to spines. Very often, many amateur gardeners, due to their busyness, from the entire group of succulent plants choose cacti, since they can easily tolerate the lack of moisture and minimal care for a long time (for example, a person often goes on long business trips).
Diseases and pests, prevention
There are practically no plants in nature, including succulent plants (aloe, cacti, etc.), that would not be subjected to various diseases and pest attack.
Succulents can be damaged by mites, thrips, and scale insects. Among the diseases, it is worth highlighting fungal rot, which develops rapidly and can lead to the death of the plant.
Therefore, so that the flower pleases you with its beauty for many years, it is necessary to carry out the following preventive measures:
What type of succulent or cactus to choose is up to everyone to decide for themselves. However, it must be remembered that any of these plants can decorate your interior and do not require special care.
Varieties of home succulents pictures
Which plant should you choose if, due to the frantic pace of life, you don’t have time to water the flowers on time? What to choose so that the plant does not suffer from the owner’s lack of time? Without a doubt, these are succulents! They will tolerate a long absence of watering if you are away on a business trip, and do not require any additional care, such as spraying or anything else.
My experience shows that there is no more unpampered and grateful plant in the world. In care of these amazing plants so simple that any schoolchild can plant an army of these not always prickly cuties on his windowsill!
Almost all types of flowers can envy succulents for their ease of care. Water and forget - probably the main motto of any succulent lover. Thanks to their fleshy leaves, they accumulate and retain water for many days.
And how beautiful they look both at home and in office spaces. Designers often use them to decorate houses, apartments, restaurants and other establishments. They don’t take up much space, and their beauty surprises you every day.
Succulents are a special type of plant that can accumulate and store water in their fleshy leaves, so they do not need frequent and abundant watering. Translated from Latin, “sucus” means “juice,” which explains such an unusual name for a house plant.
In this group of plants you can see a lot different types succulents, sometimes very different from each other. They are similar only in that they are in the same climatic conditions, dry air and rocky soil.
Succulents are divided into two types of plants. These types differ in the way they absorb water. Some accumulate it in the stems, others in the leaves.
Those that accumulate water in their leaves have voluminous leaves that are characterized by fleshiness, for example, aloe, Kalanchoe or money tree.
Succulents of the stem type that accumulate water have a thick trunk, and the leaves, on the contrary, are small or absent a priori. Instead of leaves, such succulents have spines or villi (lithops, carnegia), which are needed to prevent animals from eating them.
People are often mistaken into thinking that succulents are cacti. In fact, this is not entirely true. Rather, cacti are a type of succulent, so every cactus can be called a succulent, but not every succulent is a cactus.
These plants live mainly in hot countries with a dry climate, so with frequent and abundant watering they suffer from diseases. For some, 2-3 moisture per year is enough and they will grow, develop and even bloom in such conditions.
The leaves of some types of succulents seem to have a protective grayish layer on them. This coating serves as protection from the hot sun and armor against rapid water consumption. Those who do not have such a coating are often covered with fine hair on the stem, which performs the same functions.
If moisture is not supplied for a long time, the succulent dies, but only from above, preserving living roots. When rain or watering occurs, they tend to be reborn from the root. Such protection is subtly provided by nature.
We take care at home
Succulents do not require total care and blowing away dust particles, but sometimes you still need to take care of such tiny inhabitants of your home.
Climate
People from hot countries love, of course, sunny places, be it a windowsill on the sunny side, a veranda or a balcony. Being in the shade, they begin to stretch out, taking on an ugly shape, and in some cases even get sick.
But when choosing a succulent, you need to ask how much light it needs. Either two hours a day will be enough, or he should be exposed to the sun the entire daylight hours.
High humidity is destructive for such households. They like it dry and warm air, and with humidity they begin to rot.
Best to stick temperature regime within the following framework:
- in summer - 19-25⁰;
- in winter - 6-15⁰ (they have a sleep period);
- the difference between day and night temperatures should also be within 5-10⁰.
Watering
As mentioned earlier, thorny plants do not like frequent and abundant watering. By observing proper watering, you can provide the plant with good development and protect from diseases. Soil moisture depends on the size of the container in which the houseplant is planted, as well as on the season.
In the spring, during the period of active growth, cacti and other succulents are watered once every week. In summer, watering is done a couple of times a month.
When succulents hibernate (this is winter), they should be watered only once a month, and the Cactus family should be left without water at all.
Fertilizer
Pests and diseases
No matter how persistent the prickly household members may seem, it is not so difficult to destroy a plant. If you over-water the soil so that it remains wet for several days, the root of the succulent begins to rot, and then the above-ground part of the flower also rots.
It is no longer possible to save such a plant, so it is easier to adhere to the rules of watering, drainage, lighting and monitor normal development flower.
Also, spines can die from cold or excessive heat above 35⁰C. The plant disappears very quickly, so you need to make sure that mold does not appear on the leaves. If this happens, urgently cut off the diseased leaves or stem to the place where the healthy trunk begins.
Pests can also cause the death of succulents. There are mites, thrips and scale insects. The last two must be gotten rid of with insecticides by treating the succulent and saturating the soil with it. To get rid of ticks you will need an acaricide.
Planting a succulent
Planting this plant requires some rules:
- Any soil, whether purchased or homemade, is heated in the oven to neutralize the soil.
- Drainage is placed at the bottom of the pot, which occupies a quarter of the container.
- Pour soil on top of the drainage.
- Transfer the succulent into a container and add soil. We destroy the flowerpot and add more substrate if necessary.
- Fill the container with expanded clay on the surface, which will prevent the plant from rotting.
- Watering should be done after the plant has adapted (from 3 to 6 days).
Soil
Succulents love loose soil; it is better if it is a sandy or rocky mixture (for example, gravel mixed with soil). In any gardening store you can purchase a ready-made substrate for succulents with the correct composition proportions.
This soil is suitable for all succulents except epiphytic ones. For them, it is better to choose soil mixed with bark, coal and moss, as for phalaenopsis.
If you want to make the soil yourself, then you will need a ratio of 1:1:0.5 sheet soil, sand and pebbles (or fragments of broken brick).
Pot
With pots the situation is much easier. As pots they use either ordinary ceramic or plastic containers, and a glass aquarium (florarium), which can be of various shapes - round, triangular, trapezoidal and others.
Succulents are unpretentious to their containers, so they use different shapes And different materials pots.
Transfer
Before replanting, the plant is not watered for about a week, as well as after. And if the succulent blooms, then it is better to postpone replanting, as there is a possibility that the plant will drop its flowers.
Before replanting, the succulent is taken out of the pot, cleaned of soil and the roots are allowed to dry for two days.
If rot has formed on the roots, then root system treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Next, the plant is replanted in the usual way as when landing.
Reproduction
Succulents reproduce by leaves and seeds. Propagation by seeds is a rather labor-intensive and time-consuming process; it is much easier to propagate by leaves or shoots. Depending on the type of plant, the method of propagation is chosen.
The shoots or leaves are dried for two days and planted in a prepared flowerpot or next to an adult plant. You should not put them in water, they will rot. Also, there is no need to be afraid that there are no roots on the shoot; they will grow back in the pot after 2-3 weeks. For rapid growth of the root system, any root growth stimulants are suitable.
Having learned a lot about succulents, we draw conclusions:
- Succulents are not only cacti, but also many types of plants that are similar in their care and habitat.
- They do not need frequent and abundant watering.
- They grow well from the sunny side and do not like excessive humidity.
- Loose soil with the addition of fine gravel and sand is suitable for succulents.
- Before planting, the plant is dried for two days.
- They reproduce by leaves, seeds and shoots.
Cacti and succulents are popular indoor plants for beginners. We especially recommend choosing them for children to learn how to care for plants. They are easy to grow and maintain for those who are lazy but want a green living area in their home or office.
Very few cacti and succulents can get by with a small amount of human care, but all can die from its overabundance. We are used to thinking that their native places are deserts. But nature simply at one point modified the organisms of these plants so that they could survive in difficult dry conditions. This is evolution! And they lived for many centuries and will probably outlive you and me.
In order for cacti and succulents to grow and thrive, you must adhere to everything 5 most important conditions.
- Cacti and succulents need well-drained compost. For 1 part of drainage you need to take 2 parts of compost.
- Cacti and succulents need a lot of light. Keep them only on well-lit windowsills.
- Please note the active growing season is from mid-March to the end of September. During this period, water and feed as needed. They cannot “sit” in a plate of water. Such watering will only lead to damp death of the plants - rotting from the roots. Succulents and cacti rarely need to be fed. Ready-made mixtures for them are sold, or, for example, you can use the same fertilizers as for tomatoes. Use liquid solutions.
- The rest of the time, observe a “cool winter rest” - minimal watering and no fertilizing at a temperature of + 5⁰C.
- Keep an eye out for pests such as flour beetles and red spider mite. If you find them, destroy them immediately using insecticides.
Rebutia cactus
Rebutia cactus comes from South America from the Andes and this plant is ideal for beginners. Rebutia cactus blooms beautifully. From mid-December the plant begins to form flower buds. If you do not overdo it with watering during this period, then by mid-March the first flowers will begin to open on your Rebutia cactus. He loves sunny windowsills and timely transplants. This cactus is replanted when it outgrows its pot.
Mammillaria cactus
MAMMILLARIA FRAILEANA
MAMMILLARIA MAGNIFICA
MAMMILLARIA LUETHYI
Mammillaria Backebergiana
This cactus genus Mammillaria is the most diverse and largest genus of cacti. These plants are mainly native to the USA and Mexico. Most species in this genus are suitable for growing on windowsills full of indirect sunlight. Mammillaria cacti will delight you with a ring of flowers for a long time throughout the summer. For species with long spines and white hairs, lime must be added to the substrate. All Mammillaria love generous watering and spraying during growth, and in winter they are given maintenance watering and kept in cool rooms with temperatures up to +10⁰С.
Echinopsis cactus
Echinopsis oxygona
Echinopsis rhodotricha
Echinopsis schickendantzii
Echinopsis candicans
Cacti from the genus Echinopsis attract plant growers with their large bright colors. Breeders are constantly trying to develop varieties of this plant whose flowers would last longer than 1-3 days. The homeland of these cacti is South America. During the period of active growth, they prefer fresh air, a lot of sun, but not direct rays, and moderate watering. Cacti from the genus Echinopsis reproduce by seeds and lateral shoots.
Echeveria succulent
Echeveria "Lace"
Echeveria ‘Lady-Aquarius’
These plants are now very fashionable, and caring for them is identical to caring for cacti. The main thing that attracts people in succulents, and more precisely in Echeveria, is the patterns and shapes of the rosette of leaves. They vary in color and leaf pattern. Some have a powdery coating that should not be touched. The soil for the Echeveria succulent needs nutritious, clay-sandy soil. They love the sun and abundant watering in the summer, but without stagnant water. In winter they are watered sparingly. If Echeveria doesn't have enough light, it stretches out. Echeveria succulent is propagated by seeds, leaf and stem cuttings and lateral daughter rosettes.
Euphorbia succulent
The Euphorbia succulent family has many members and can vary greatly from one another. Euphorbia obesa is a favorite among plant growers. The homeland of this plant is South Africa, but the coloring is European - like Scottish skirts. The plant is easily propagated by seeds, but for this you will need both a father and a mother. You can pollinate manually using a brush. A new plant should be accustomed to new conditions gradually, and not immediately exposed to the sun, so that the Euphorbia obesa succulent does not get burned. It will bloom for the first time at 5-8 years of age.
Succulent Lithops
“Living stones” is another name for Lithops succulents. These are real miniature plants that will never outgrow your home. There are more than 30 species in the genus. Its homeland is Africa, namely the deserts of Namibia, South Africa and Botswana. When it is dry and the daylight hours are short, Lithops succulents are in a dormant period; when it is rainy, they are actively growing. This is very important to them. Over the course of a year, a pair of leaves is replaced by a new one, flowering occurs, and the fruit sets and ripens. The leaves form this strange shape by storing water. Sometimes, in place of one pair of leaves, two may appear with a common root system. In a few years, an entire colony can be formed in this way.
CACTI And SUCCULENTS Thanks to their whimsical shapes, they perfectly complement a modern interior.
Not every succulent is a cactus, although every cactus is necessarily a succulent. The name succulents (succulentus, “succulent”) combines plants from different families with succulent leaves and stems, including cacti.
We have these interesting plants in the form of green prickly sticks or balls. Many of them are desert dwellers. They are often called “green freaks.” And those who love these freaks and collect large collections are called cacti growers. Spiny hedgehogs are interesting for their original form, endurance and wonderful flowers, and cactus lovers collect entire collections from them.
The inaccessible thorns sooner or later throw out unusually delicate beautiful flowers, sometimes twice the size of the plant itself. Popular wisdom says: “If a cactus blooms in your house, expect an addition to the family.”
Flowering cacti is one of the most amazing sights in nature. If the windows in the apartment face south and the room is cool in winter, then you can hope that one fine day, most likely in spring, your cactus will bloom. You can choose a collection that will delight you all year round. It is important to remember that keeping it in a cramped pot stimulates flowering. Typically, cacti bloom at the age of three to four years, and flowers appear only on young shoots.
It’s worth talking separately about the diversity of succulents:
"Types of succulents and their classification"
Homeland of cactus and their distribution
Distribution of cacti in their homeland and beyond... In the process of long evolution, cacti and succulents have adapted well to various climatic conditions, they can be found in arid deserts, on bare inaccessible rocks, endless expanses of prairies, near the seashore, in floodplain meadows, in the forks of branches, hollows and on the stumps of tropical forests.
The main places where succulents are distributed in nature are tropical warm areas without a frosty season: Central and South America, the Mediterranean, Madagascar and Africa.
The homeland of cacti is continental and island America, as well as the islands of the West Indies. The center of formation of the entire family is still considered to be South America, from where they spread to the North American continent.
The richest species and life forms of cacti are Mexico, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia, where they grow mainly in arid zones with extremely poor and uneven precipitation.
There are many of them in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico, although the natural range of the catus family covers almost all states, with the exception of Hawaii, where they naturalized after introduction.
Many beautiful and bizarre species grow in their homeland - South America, and probably the most interesting forms are found in the highlands of the Andes.
The thin-branched epiphytic cactus Rhipsalis baccifera is also found in the wild in Africa, Madagascar, and Sri Lanka, where it is believed to have been brought from America by migratory birds.
In addition, humans have spread certain species - mainly prickly pear - to all continents except Antarctica. In Australia, some species of prickly pear have become malicious weeds, to combat which it was necessary to import Argentine moths from South America.
Opuntias are distributed throughout the Mediterranean, found on the Black Sea coast of Crimea and Russia, in the area of the cities of Gelendzhik and Novorossiysk, as well as in the south of the Volga region. These thorny plants take root well in new places, reproduce easily without human help and bloom beautifully. In the dry tropics and subtropics, representatives of this American genus are grown for decorative purposes.
Succulents (cacti) of deserts, mountains and forests
Typical succulents (cacti, crassula, sedum, aloe, etc.) are familiar to many, even those who are not aware of it. The largest group of succulents are cacti. Another large group is succulent plants from the euphorbia, crassula and lily families. The third group includes stem and leaf succulents from other families.
Desert cacti are considered the most unpretentious: echinocactus (Echinocactus), echinopsis (Echinopsis) with rows of spines along the ribs and prickly pear with flat stems similar to cakes. Despite the common, characteristic external features inherent in desert plants - a thick layer of waxy coating, ribbed stems, long spines - each of them has its own unique flavor.
In deserts, seasonal and daily fluctuations in air temperature are sharply expressed, the soils are rich minerals, but are poor in humus, plants have to save water, this affects the shape of the stem. A sign of a lack of light is the loss of bright green color at the top of the stem and the formation of weak spines. In winter, when there is little light, you can place the plant in a cool place; the soil does not need to be watered abundantly and should not be fed. If you don't give them a rest in the winter, they won't want to please us with flowers in the summer.
It is very easy to distinguish mountain cacti: they have abundant hairs and powerful and numerous spines growing on their stems. These hairs cover the flower stems like a cap. High in the mountains, cacti experience strong sunlight. Mountain species include rebutia (Rebutia) with spines and lobivia (Lobivia) with a spherical stem. In summer, such plants must be taken out onto the balcony under direct sun rays. And if there is not enough sun, the cactus plant will begin to go bald and lose its hairs and bristles. Mountain cacti love not only good top care, but also bottom care in a pot.
Rebutias bloom luxuriously, and the hardy Echinocereus loves light. Haworthia, Gymnocalycium, Parodia, and Phipsalis grow well on bright windows on the north side. For classic cacti such as mammillaria and rebutia, it is necessary to arrange a dry and cool period of winter dormancy, which lasts from November to March. At this time, they should be placed on a cool windowsill or taken out into a cool room. Notocactus, parody and hypnocalycium can be left on the windowsill in the living room, but in winter you should significantly reduce watering.
In the humid forests of Brazil and Jamaica, moisture-loving cacti plants settle. Their main distinguishing features are a bare stem with numerous ribs, very short and soft spines, and a beautiful green color. The stems are leaf-shaped and often hang down. The most popular succulents of damp forests in our homes are “Decembrists”. They are called so because they bloom in winter. Latin name Zygocactus flowers. The flowers are brightly colored: scarlet, white or pink. Forest cacti do not tolerate bright light; they must be kept in partial shade. In order for the plant to please with flowering, it should not be frequently moved from place to place or the air temperature should change sharply.
Interesting facts about cacti and succulents
Due to the unusual appearance for Europeans, cacti attracted the attention of the first colonizers of America and were brought to Europe as ornamental plants already in the 16th century. The first known collection of cacti was collected in the second half of the 16th century. Apothecary Morgan in London. Subsequently, the popularity of these plants constantly grew, which was facilitated by their biological characteristics - unpretentiousness to watering and dry air, easy vegetative propagation. Also indoor views, in particular rebutias, can be buried in the garden in their pots in the summer. In botanical gardens different countries, including Russia, as well as in the greenhouses of private individuals, significant collections were collected.
Private collections in Russia were lost as a result October Revolution 1917. However, large collections have been preserved in botanical gardens, which are by far the largest scientific collections of cacti in Russia. Their mass distribution, as popular indoor plants, began in the late 1950s. Clubs for cactus lovers arose, some of which still exist today. Nowadays, several dozen of the most unpretentious species are among the most common plants used in indoor landscaping; on the other hand, enthusiasts assemble collections consisting of hundreds and even thousands of species.
On the Mexican plateau, in the Jornadodel Muerto desert, lies the country of succulents. Various growing here natural views, amaze with their size and variety of shapes. Ribbed balls, one and a half meters high and two and a half meters in girth, lie on the yellow sand, like huge hedgehogs with their long needles exposed. No wonder they are called: hedgehog cacti, or echinocactus (Echinocactus) and echinopsis (Echinopsis). Some are densely covered with long yellow and reddish spines and from a distance resemble sitting birds or animals. Sometimes you can see a cactus plant with long white hanging hairs that look like an old man's head. The pillar-shaped cereus makes a special impression in the Mexican desert. Multifaceted green columns, one and a half meters thick, rise to a height of 15 meters. From the middle they branch out like a candelabra...
