Gymnocalycium: houseplant care
Gymnocalycium was made popular by three virtues: beauty, long-lasting flowering, and ease of care. Indoor plant belongs to cactus. The group under this name includes several dozen varieties. They differ in the shape of the stems, the size of the needles, the shape and color of the flowers.
Description of indoor plant hymnocalycium
Latin name Gymnocalycium. The homeland of the cactus is South America. With proper care, the plant begins to bloom in May and pleases with its beauty until September. The diameter of the stems of various species ranges from 4 to 15 cm. The ribs of the indoor flower are decorated with chin-like tubercles. Flowers growing on bald, scaly stems come in a variety of colors.
Gymnocalycium crowned with luxurious flowers
The most popular are representatives of the Gymnocalycium family of the following types:
- S is distinguished by a spherical flat stem, reaching a diameter of 15 cm. 7-cm flowers can be cream or white;
- M, characteristic features: large, 12 cm, flattened-spherical stem with tuberous ribs, pink flowers, located on a short tube;
- Saglione – stem in the form of a ball with a diameter of 30 cm, topped with small pinkish or white flowers;
- Friedrichii – The globular stem can be reddish brown or pinkish brown. Diameter 10 cm. The triangular ribs of the plant are decorated with dark edging. The flowers are small, bluish pink in color.
All varieties compete with each other in beauty. Whatever species you plant on the windowsill, provide it with proper care.
To keep Gymnocalycium doing well, do the following:
- Provide a warm, sunny place. A cactus needs bright lighting.
- Keep the plant temperature in summer 20-24 ° C, winter 15-18 ° C. Temperatures less than 5 ° C are detrimental to the cactus.
- In the spring and summer, water the potting soil as it dries. In autumn, watering should be sharply reduced, and in winter it should be reduced to a minimum.
- In a warm season, feed the plant with cactus fertilizers every 2-3 weeks.
- Repot the flower annually. Add brick or expanded clay chips to the soil for cacti.
For reproduction of representatives of the Gymnocalycium family, lateral processes or seeds are used. The latter produce healthier and stronger offspring.
Gymnocalycium is decorative and unpretentious. Its beauty will be a striking addition to any interior. From one glance at a flower, the mood rises.