Cacti - a separate family of floweringPerennial plants order. Clove flowers. They are divided into 4 subfamilies. It is believed that evolutionary cacti appeared about 40 million years ago. However, fossils of such ancient specimens have not yet been found. Scientists are inclined to believe that the homeland of indoor cactus, as well as other species, is South America, and it appeared relatively recently, about 10 million years ago. And then it began to spread throughout North America.
Today, these plants are very popular withlovers of indoor breeding flowers. In addition, there are a lot of rumors that cacti absorb electromagnetic radiation from household appliances. Therefore, many people put them near their computers. However, this information is not officially confirmed by scientists.
Cacti classification
These plants are divided into four subfamilies: Pereskievy, Opuntsiyevy, Mauhenievye and Cactus. They differ not only in external data, but also in a number of other signs.
Pereskievs - an evolutionary link connectingcacti and leafy plants. This is a kind of shrubs with non-succulent stems and full-fledged leaves. Opuntia have reduced leaves, succulent stems and special thorns - glochidia. These are small and very fragile spines, hard and sharp with serrate notches. Growing beams, getting into the stomach of animals, cause irritation. The entire subfamily has a similar seed structure and flower shape.
Habitat cactus subfamily Mauh-ena mostly - Patagonia.Similar plants on Opuntsievye externally, but without glochidia. They have conical leaves and pronounced succulence. Cacti combine the remaining genus of this plant. They have no leaves at all, except for small processes on the trunk. Glochidy is not too. This subspecies includes epiphytic plants and numerous xerophytes.
Areal distribution
Where do cacti grow?Their main habitat is the deserts of North and South America. Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina have the most riotous diversity. You can also find them in Africa and Asia. Many species were brought to Spain, Italy, France, Australia, India and Russia. Although the homeland of the indoor cactus is South America, it can take root on almost any continent, if the necessary conditions are created for its vital activity. For example, this plant does not like colds.
Cacti live in alpine deserts,adapting to the harsh climate. For example, mammillaria, neobessia, escobaria, telokaktus and other species. There are whole thickets in the savannas. There you can meet Cereus and Opuntia. But not always the habitat of the cactus - desert. It is often found and evergreen tropical forests. A distinctive feature of such plants is the complete absence of spines.
The adaptability of the cactus to the habitat
Природа наделила кактусы желобками.On them the water rolls to the roots, which are thickened in order to store as much moisture as possible. They can occupy up to 5 square meters around the plant. In this case, the superficial roots absorb dew and moisture from the soil.
The adaptability of the cactus to the habitatdepends on the habitat. For example, due to the spherical shape, low evaporation of moisture is achieved. And the ribs on the stem prevent the formation of cracks. The cactus is saved from the hot sun by a thick skin. Some species are covered in a variety of spines and fibers, creating a protective shadow. For plants that "live" in the deserts, nature has provided the absence of leaves to save precious moisture.
Desert cacti
They are the most resistant and unpretentious to the environment among all the cacti. There are three main types of these plants:
- Echinopsis. These are cacti with hard spines, which go in even rows, and round stems.
- Prickly pear. Plants have leafy flattened stems that look like green pancakes.
- Astrophytum Its representatives are characterized by powerful ribbed stems and developed spines.
Cacti in the desert, as a rule, have powerful stems and many intermediate ribs. At the same time they have strong long spines.
Cacti room
These species are dwarf and occupy quitelittle space. They can be grown on the same sill dozens. They, like their other brethren, are divided into forest and desert. Potted plants are dwarf copies of cacti growing in nature. Some of them were obtained by crossing different species. Home - more capricious and require care. Basically, a small green cactus is in demand with flower lovers.
Names of indoor species
The names of cacti are quite interesting, and fewwhom they are at the hearing. These houseplants are Echinopsis comb, Peruvian, cereus Knippel, disocactus flagelliformis, ECHINOCACTUS GRUSONII, Espoli woolly, Astrophytum Capricorne, hametsereus Sylvester, parody zolotoiglistaya and krovavotsvetkovaya, cactus, Notocactus, Pereskia (single instance, having leaves), rebyutsiya dwarf and some others.
Very good for indoor breeding.phyllocactus with fleshy leaves. The flowers they have large and different colors - from white to purple. They propagate by cuttings and seeds. They love the light, in the summer you need good watering and spraying. Epiphyllum is considered the best indoor cactus. He is very hardy, the color of his flowers is different: from white to purple-red. In the summer, these cacti should be kept in bright places, but not exposed to direct sunlight. They reproduce by cuttings.
When cacti bloom
These plants are beautiful in their own right.But still nice to see how they bloom, which is very rare. There is an opinion that after this the plant dies, but it is erroneous. Healthy cacti give flowers every year. Much depends on the conditions in which they are contained.
In order for them to bloom, they need a goodroot system. And the plant must be in a state of growth. Cacti without live roots will not give flowers. They require fertilizing - potassium phosphate. But often it is harmful to use it. Winter cacti should be in a cool, dry place, and in summer - to get enough fresh air. For an active and healthy existence of sunlight, they need three to six hours a day. It depends on the specific type. To the sun, the plant must always be turned by the same side.
The biggest cacti
These plants can often reach hugesizes. Where do cacti grow best? In America, they can be found in large quantities not only in the desert, but also on the streets of cities. Very often, they grow much higher than human growth, and people standing next to such a giant seem to be just "bugs." Huge cacti in the desert can rarely be found, mainly on the outskirts, but not in the center. They can grow so that resemble trees. Such cacti store a huge amount of water in fleshy stems. Often they grow in whole colonies.
How cacti breed
You can breed them at home as if you wereseed aid and method of grafting. In the first case, shoots appear within a week, in some species - even after a month. Sowing is best done in the spring, in the middle or at the end of the season. A seed bowl is placed on the heater, and the temperature is maintained at 25-30 degrees. Many use room greenhouses or greenhouses, as the natural habitat of the cactus is mostly warm countries.
Land for sowing is poured on the drainage layer.She sprinkled the seeds and pressed on top of a small plate. The tablet is placed in warm water, so that the liquid gets into the drainage holes and well moistened. Emerged shoots should be protected from direct sunlight. As soon as the first shoots appeared, watering is reduced. The picks are made after the spines appear.
The cuttings are also produced in the spring, takingtop or side shoots. The drainage layer is poured into the pot, and the ground is above it. Cuttings should be cut with a sharp knife and dried well for a week. After that, plant in the sand to a depth of 1 cm. For greater stability, the cuttings can be tied to pegs. Then cover with a can. Watering begins only after the cactus has begun, and until that time, the earth is only slightly moistened. Cuttings can be prepared in advance in the autumn and stored in the dry sand until spring.
Varieties and forms
Cactus habitat - arid places, and nature took care of them to thishave adapted themselves. These plants can be divided into several groups, which differ not only in appearance, but also in terms of their growing at home:
- with leaves;
- coral;
- leaf-shaped;
- spherical;
- papillary;
- figs;
- elongated;
- stickleback;
- soft;
- the rest of the small kind.
Star-shaped astrophytum: description of a cactus
It belongs to small and monotypic species.It is considered a real gem among cacti. It has a beautiful and long flowering that can last all summer. He is unpretentious, loves warmth and sunshine in the summer, and in the winter - cool and dry. This cactus grows very slowly. It is very difficult to find: astrophytum perfectly masked. It adapts well to the surrounding area and merges with the landscape. May take the form of stones or other plants.
