Decorative cactus Opuntia shallow. Description and features of care, plant photo

The small-haired decorative prickly pear Opuntia looks great in composition with other cacti and succulents. It is considered a hardy and drought tolerant flower. The two main differences of this variety are the snow-white color of the glochidia and the smaller size of the segments (3-5 centimeters in length, 2-4 centimeters in width), and, therefore, the smaller size of the prickly pear bush. In the article, we will consider in detail how to distinguish from other types of prickly pear, how to care for the plant at home, as well as learn about reproduction methods and visually consider the photo of the small-prickled prickly pear.

Botanical Description and Geography

Prickly pear, The scientific name Opuntia microdasys (Opuntia microdasys) belongs to the cactus family. Succulents are also called fine prickly pear prickly pear because of the peculiarities of covering the lobes - segments. The genus is numerous, there are more than 150 species.

Important! This variety grows well in apartment conditions.

The birthplace of growth is considered Mexico, America, the island of the Galapagos. The species is widespread in southern Russia. Succulents grows in nature in tropical forests, deserts, valleys. The plant was discovered in the 19th century by I. Leman. This variety belongs to the medium-sized cactus. It grows with a bush. The stem is highly branched, grows up to 50 cm in height. On stems in the sinuses are abundantly located kidneys - areola. Whitish areoles have small glochidia, golden yellow in color.

The processes are rounded, oblong segments. The size of the processes is average - up to 5 - 7 cm in length, dark green in color. The flowers are yellow with a golden hue. Stamens are small, threadlike. Flowering occurs in the summer. The fruits are in the form of a red berry (for more information about cactus fruits, see this material).

Here we talked about the differences between prickly pear and agave.

Photo

You will see a photo of the plant:

Housing conditions and care

Lighting

During the period of active growth, this cactus variety likes bright light, but direct exposure to the sun should be avoided. In the summer heat requires a slight shading of the windows. In winter, the flower also consumes a lot of light. Additional illumination is required for 2 to 3 hours a day.

Watering

Water the plant should be moderate, like all succulents. As the stem grows, the doses increase. In spring and summer, watering should be once a week. In autumn, watering is reduced to 1 time in 10 - 14 days. In winter, watering stops. The variety does not require additional spraying.

Attention! A warm shower is used to clean the leaves of dust. After the procedure, the plant is rearranged in a shady place until completely dry.

Water for irrigation is recommended to use only purifiedacidified with several granules of citric acid. It is recommended to pour water into the pan when watering, so as not to condense the substrate.

Temperature

The temperature in summer is up to 20 - 27 ° C. In spring, the flower feels good at room temperature. The optimum air temperature in winter is 6 - 10 ° C.

Priming

The substrate should be moderately nutritious, loose, acidified, light. You can buy a ready-made mixture for cacti. At home, you can prepare the substrate yourself.

Soil composition:

• Sod land - 1 h.
• Leaf land - 2 hours
• Clay -1 h.
• Sand-1 h.
• Peat - 1 hour
• Charcoal - 1 hour.
• Humus - 1 hour

Pot

For good growth, the small prickly prickly pear should be planted in spacious, wide containers. Drain holes are mandatory at the bottom.

Important! For the stability of the pot, a drainage layer of 5-6 cm should be placed at the bottom.

Pots are better to use ceramic. Ceramics retain heat well, prevent roots from overcooling and overheating.

Pruning

When transplanting, trimming is required:

1. Dry shoots are cut off.
2. Deformed sections of the stem, diseased leaves are cut out.
3. The root is cleaned of old, dry and rotten processes.
4. Slices sprinkled with crushed charcoal.
5. Strongly sprouted shoots that violate the shape of the crown should be cut off.
6. Young cropped fragments are used for cuttings.

Sloping, long branches should be tied up to form a beautiful bush.

Transfer

The plant is transplanted after 2 to 3 years. Transplantation is carried out in the spring. The process is simple, it is required to prepare the soil mixture in advance and disinfect the planting tank.

Transplantation scheme:

1. The plant carefully digs out of an old pot.
2. The roots are cleaned of old soil.
3. Sanitary pruning of the entire bush is carried out.
4. The pot is treated with disinfectants, dried.
5. The finished substrate is dried.
6. At the bottom of the pot are pieces of expanded clay, clay shards.
7. The mixture is poured, the substrate is not compacted.
8. The flower is buried along the root neck.
9. Pots are installed in a place with diffused lighting.

Within a week after planting, the dry content of the seedling should be observed.

Top dressing

The variety does not require regular top dressing. In the spring - summer period, complex mineral fertilizers are applied through irrigation once a month.

Find out more about caring for cacti in this material, learn about the types of cacti and their benefits and harms when grown in an apartment here.

Winter maintenance

In winter, the flower requires special care. Feeding and watering cease - the plant enters the dormant phase.

Attention! In winter, the plant should be kept cool.

Features of landing in open ground

In southern and moderate climatic conditions, the plant can be planted in open ground.

Florists recommend placing the flower in a well-lit, but closed from drafts place. Drainage is required.

It should be planted on the tops of multi-tiered flower beds and slides so that water does not accumulate in the soil. Excessively wet the flower dies.

Breeding

Seeds

Sowing of seeds is carried out in mid-March. Previously, the seeds should be wiped with sandpaper because of their dense shell. Seeds are soaked in a weak solution of manganese for 2 to 3 hours.

The composition of the substrate: sand, activated carbon, sheet earth, in a ratio of 2: 1: 2. Before sowing, the substrate is baked in the oven.

Sowing pattern:

1. Small wide containers are filled with a layer of drainage and a prepared substrate.
2. Seeds are evenly distributed over the surface of the soil.
3. Seeds are deepened by 1-2 cm.
4. Sowing is moistened.
5. Capacities are covered with a film.
6. Daily ventilation of the greenhouse is required.
7. The substrate is sprayed with water as it dries.
8. Seedlings are kept in the greenhouse for 3 to 4 weeks.
9. Sprouts with 2 to 3 leaves dive into small pots for growth.

Young sprouts are grown for 2 years. This is followed by transplanting into permanent pots.

Cuttings

Cuttings are carried out mainly in the spring.

Important! For reproduction, a healthy young stem without flowers is used.

The cuttings are pre-sprinkled with charcoal, dried in an upright position for 5 to 8 days until a dense film is formed at the cut points.

The procedure for growing seedlings:

1. The substrate is slightly moistened.
2. Cuttings shallowly installed in containers.
3. Seedlings are covered with a film.
4. Capacities are installed in a bright place.
5. The air temperature for rooting is at least 20 ° C.
6. Rooting takes place quickly, after 2-3 weeks.
7. Young shoots are transplanted into separate containers.

You can learn more about the reproduction of cacti here.

Bloom

Prickly pear prickly pear blossoms in mid-summer. The flowering is numerous, up to 10 flowers are formed on one process. The flowers themselves are yellow with a lemon tint, the diameter of the flower reaches 4 - 5 cm. The duration of flowering depends on the conditions of detention, ranging from 1 to 3 weeks. At home, it is difficult to achieve flowering, the plant requires greenhouse conditions.

To ripen the buds, the flower needs fresh air, a wide volumetric pot, a sufficient amount of light, a dry plant content in winter, limited top dressing, and a constant, without moving pot location. After flowering, flowers are removed only when the petals completely dry.

Read more about flowering cacti here.

Briefly about diseases and pests

• From a lack of light, growth is delayed, the leaves are deformed.
• Elevated air temperature during dormancy stops flowering, the stems stretch.
• From the dampness of the soil, drafts and cold, the substrate soups, the leaves dry, fall off.
• Fungal infections are the most dangerous for this flower. The stem becomes brown, the whole bush is covered with mold. The reason is high humidity. The plant is rejected. Treatment of healthy flowers and substrate with fungicide for prevention is required.
• From root nematodes, an urgent plant transplant will help. Affected roots are trimmed, the root is lowered into hot water for 5 - 10 minutes. The substrate and pot are sterilized.
• From insects, aphids, spiderworms and other pests, timely processing of the plant and soil with any insecticides will help.

The diseases and pests of cacti can be found in these materials.

Similar plants

1. Opuntia Cheri has the same as in the small-haired prickly pear prickles rounded greenish segments. The flowers are pale yellow.
2. Opuntia white-haired blooms in large yellow flowers. The segments are densely dotted with setae and glochidia.
3. Prickly pear prickly. The stem also consists of small green lobes covered with thick, short, thin needles.
4. Grade Alba - A type of small-haired prickly pear, grows in a compact bush. Short needles are tightly planted over the entire surface of the plant.
5. Sulfur Yellow Opuntia also has small lobes covered with thick light spines (how not to prick a cactus and what to do if this happens, read here). The plant is small, up to 40 cm in height.

Despite the fact that the prickly pear prickly pear is a desert flower, it requires a careful and careful attitude. Gentle light, moderate watering, careful top dressing are necessary conditions for the growth and development of a flower.

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