Kleistocactus Strauss is very popular with fans of succulents. This plant is characterized by an unpretentious nature, and stunningly beautiful appearance. You will learn about how to ensure proper care of the Strauss Cleistocactus at home from our material.
Description
Kleistocactus Strauss, whose photo is presented in the article, belongs to the family of South American cacti. In the natural environment, this succulent massively grows in the foothills of the Andes, in the rocky and hilly areas of Uruguay, Peru, Bolivia and western Argentina.
The plant reaches up to 3 meters tall and about 15 cm in diameter. The trunk has 20-30 ribs with numerous areoles. A bunch of light spines comes out of each of them, making the stem seem to be covered with a whitish bloom. Because of this feature, Cleistocactus is also called the "silver candle."
This species belongs to multi-flowered cacti. The flowering period begins in August, but the buds are only released at no less than 45 cm in height of clematocactus.
Home Care
The plant, like most succulents, is quite unpretentious. And caring for him includes the following agricultural activities:
- watering;
- top dressing;
- transfer;
- prevention of diseases and pests.
It is also important to maintain a comfortable temperature, humidity and lighting in the room where the Cleistocactus is grown.
Temperature
Kleistocactus Strauss refers to thermophilic plants, and + 22 ... + 26 degrees will become comfortable indicators for it. In summer, the culture will endure hotter conditions. But in winter it is advisable to transfer the plant to a room with + 14 ... + 16 ° C. For example, at this time, you can take the pot out onto a glazed balcony or loggia. But it is important that the flower is in no way exposed to drafts or sudden changes in temperature. In winter, the plant is gaining strength for a new vegetation, and any failure will adversely affect its viability.
Lighting
Kleistocactus Strauss is a very photophilous plant. And for normal development, he needs good lighting. Therefore, it is better to grow succulent near the south or east window. In this case, you can not shade the plant in the afternoon, because the numerous thorns of the cactus are its natural protection against burns.
With the advent of winter or when growing in a darker place, it is desirable to provide the pet with additional illumination with a phytolamp. Otherwise, the plant will suffer from a lack of light, which will affect not only its attractiveness, but also the ability to bloom.
Humidity
Kleistocactus does not need high humidity. But in a very dry and hot room, pests can attack it. To avoid this, spray spikes periodically with warm water from the spray gun in the summer. And also to increase humidity, you can put the pot in a container with wet expanded clay or moss. But in this case, you need to make sure that the water does not reach the drainage hole. Otherwise, the roots will suffocate.
Watering
Kleistocactus Strauss, like most succulents, is a drought tolerant plant. And he needs regular watering only in spring and summer, during active vegetation. During this period, it is advisable to keep the soil moist but not wet. Keep in mind that moisture stagnation is detrimental to the roots of succulents, so do not overdo it with watering.
With the advent of autumn, gradually reduce moisture. And in winter, reduce watering to a minimum. Just a teaspoon of water once a month is enough for a cactus. At this time, the plant has a dormant period, so it is better not to disturb it. Watering the cactus in winter, transfer it to a warm room, and return it to cool conditions when the liquid is completely absorbed.
Top dressing
Cleistocactus, photos of which are presented in the material, grow on depleted soils. Therefore, they can fully develop without fertilizers. But if you want to wait for buds from pets, then feed crops from late May to early September once a month. To do this, use special liquid fertilizers designed for succulents.
Transfer
Young Strauss cactus cacti are preferably transplanted annually. For adults, it is enough to hold this event every 2-3 years. You need to start the procedure in the spring, then the plant will bear the stress from the transplant easier, and can even bloom in the summer.
Before the event, it is important to prepare a suitable substrate and a new pot. As for the flowerpot, give preference to stable, but not too deep containers. Their diameter should be no more than 2-3 cm larger than the previous ones.
Kleistokaktusu suitable store mix intended for succulents. If you want to make a substrate yourself, then mix the following components:
- 4 parts of sand;
- 2 parts of turf land;
- 2 parts of leafy soil;
- 1 part peat.
Be sure to sanitize the mixture before planting, otherwise the plant will suffer from pests and microorganisms living in the soil. To disinfect, hold the substrate over steam or warm in the oven.
How to transplant a plant
Before the event, put on tight mittens so as not to injure your hands on the sharp needles of the plant. Perform the procedure in this way:
- At the bottom of a new pot, pour a layer of drainage 3 cm thick. For these purposes, use expanded clay or brick chips. Fill the drain with a layer of prepared substrate.
- Remove the cactus from the old pot. Gently brush off the ground and inspect the roots of the plant. Rinse the plant if necessary. But in this case, before transplanting it needs to be dried for 2-3 days.
- Remove rotten and weakened processes and shorten too long roots. Sprinkle places of cuts with charcoal.
- Put the plant in a pot, and cover the voids with soil. Keep the root collar slightly below the soil level.
- Fix the flower with the upper layer of drainage, which will serve as its support.
At first, do not water the cactus. And when he takes root, provide him with the usual care.
Cactus seed propagation
Kleistocactus Strauss is propagated in different ways, and the method of growing from seeds is not popular with gardeners, because it is a long process. Nevertheless, thanks to it, rare varieties can be grown. It is advisable to hold the event in the spring, then the plants will have enough natural light, besides they will not suffer from heat.
How to grow Cleistocactus from seeds:
- Prepare a peat-sand mixture and fill it with a suitable container. Lightly moisten the soil.
- Spread the seeds evenly over the surface, keeping a distance of 2-3 cm. Sprinkle them with soil, 0.5-1 cm thick.
- Cover the landing with foil or glass and place in a room with ambient light and a temperature of at least +20 ° C.
- Until seedlings appear, spray the crops daily with warm water from the spray gun. When the seedlings break through, remove the film, and gradually reduce watering to 2-3, and then once a week.
- When the plants are strong enough, dive them into small individual pots.
In the future, provide young cacti with regular care.
Top breeding
Thus, you can update or revive a home cactus.
How to conduct an event:
- Cut the crown of the plant with a sharp knife. The trimmed part must be at least 10 cm.
- Slightly “grind” the lower cut, giving it the shape of a pencil. Why is this needed? When dried, the soft tissues will be drawn into the stem. And if the cut is left even, then in a few days it will take the form of a concave funnel, and is unlikely to give roots.
- Sprinkle the slice with charcoal, and dry the cactus for 3-4 days.
- Plant the plant in a pot with suitable soil, while not burying the stem, but support the flower with chopsticks for stability. Watering a cactus at this time is not necessary.
- When the plant forms roots, remove the support, and provide the plant with normal care.
Reproduction by children
Lateral processes not less than 20 cm long are suitable for reproduction. They are broken off by hands and dried for a week. Then, planting material is rooted in small pots filled with a substrate with the same composition as for adult plants (more about soil in the chapter “Transplantation”). Before the kids take root, they need to provide support.
Diseases and Pests
With proper care, Strauss's Cleistocactus is almost never sick. But if you violate the watering regime, and often overmoisten the soil, then the roots of the plant can rot. In this case, even a transplant will not help the cactus. And you can save the flower only by pruning and growing from the top.
In some cases, the intensive growth of children and lateral processes causes drying and death of the central stem. If you notice this situation, then immediately cut off the shoot, and sprinkle the place with crushed charcoal. So you save at least side shoots.
When grown in too dry and hot conditions, pests can attack the cactus. Most often, the plant affects a spider mite and a mealybug. If parasites are noticed, immediately treat the succulent with an insecticide, for example, “Aktara” or “Akktelikom”. Otherwise, a large colony of insects will quickly destroy the tropical handsome.
Ensuring the correct care of the Strauss Cleistocactus at home is not so difficult. The main thing is to adhere to the recommendations for cultivation, and create comfortable conditions for the plant. And it will certainly thank with rapid growth and attractive appearance.