Types of cacti photos and names. Types of home indoor cacti: care, names and photos

Cacti are one of the most ancient plants on the planet. They are native to North and South America. Depending on the habitat, desert and tropical (forest) cacti are distinguished. Most species, with the exception of perexia, lack true leaves. Instead of leaves, cactus stems have hairs or spines. In extreme conditions, this helps them economically spend scarce moisture.

Desert

Interesting cactus. young plant looks like a ribbed ball. With age, the cactus acquires a cylindrical shape 15–30 cm in size. Depending on the type, the spines may be straight, curved, or completely absent. In summer, flowers bloom, resembling.

Unpretentious and easy to grow. Suitable for beginners.

Echinocereus is a cactus with soft, cylindrical and ribbed stems 15–60 cm long. As it grows, it begins to branch. Numerous spines grow from the areoles on the shoots.

Large funnel-shaped flowers are located singly on the sides of the shoots. There are different colors (greenish, pink, lilac, yellow) and size - 2–6 cm long, 4–8 cm in diameter. After flowering, juicy and sweet fruits appear on the stems.

One of the slow growing cacti. This globular plant becomes barrel-like with age. The stem is ribbed, dark green. On the ribs are many areoles with yellow spines. To the top of the stem, they form a dense hairy edge, which is why the echinocactus is sometimes called the "golden ball".

Only adult echinocactus bloom, but not all species. In late spring - early summer, single yellow flowers bloom at the top.

Globular cactus dark or bright green. From the areoles, on well-defined ribs, short, brown spines grow.

It is famous for its large and beautiful flowers. They bloom in summer, have a funnel-shaped shape with a long (up to 20 cm) pubescent tube. Flower color is white, pink or red. In some species, the flowers smell pleasant.

By modern classification The genus Echinopsis includes cacti of the genus Lobivia. Outwardly, they are similar, but over time, many children form at the root of lobivia. Lobivia blooms with red or yellow flowers.

Cactus in the form of a prickly ribbed ball or cylinder with straight or curved spines of bright color. Children can grow on the shoots.

It has underdeveloped, superficial roots. Large red or yellow tubular flowers appear in summer only on older plants. Several flowers bloom at once at the top of the stem.

A plant with a short spherical or cylindrical stem. It has clear ribs with low tubercles and white fluffy areoles. From each comes from 1 to 5 central long spines and 10-40 short ones.

The flowers of the traditional form for cacti are tubular in the form of a funnel. Orange, red or yellow flowers with small petals are located at the top of the stem. After flowering, small fruits with hairs are tied.

A plant with a fleshy stem in the form of a flattened ball up to 15 cm in diameter. The stem is divided into wide and rounded ribs. It is green-blue in color, without thorns, soft and velvety to the touch. Throughout the stem are tubercles-areoles with tufts of light hairs.

The root of the lophophora cactus is powerful, with thick processes, in diameter it matches the size of the stem.

Flower buds are laid at the top. The cactus blooms in summer with white, pink, yellow semi-double flowers. In their place, after flowering, red fruits appear.

A common and easy to grow species. Refers to slow growing cacti. The plant consists of long shoots, branched at the base and completely covered with white-yellow spines. Shoots can be upright, drooping. Creeping species are suitable for hanging baskets.

It is distinguished by unusual tubular flowers 10 cm long. They do not fully open and their petals are covered with scales.

It is a type of cleistocactus. Espostoa looks like a silvery, woolen ball. Thick straight and branched gray-green stems are densely covered with white fluffy hairs and sharp spines. The height of an adult plant is 35–70 cm. room conditions it rarely blooms.

These are spectacular large plants. They develop slowly, at home they can reach 1 m.

The shape of the gray-green stem is cylindrical, ribbed with straight spines. In young plants, they are light, with age the spines turn brown.

Funnel-shaped flowers are located on a long tube. Their color can be white, pink, red. Flowers bloom in summer - at night and live only one day. In order for the cereus to bloom, it needs good lighting and a long daylight hours.

It has a columnar and powerful green stem with clear edges. On the ribs grow straight and long spines of white or yellow-white color. Mature plants produce white or cream flowers. After flowering, soft fruits with red pulp are formed.

To grow a Lemerocereus, patience is required, as the plant is capricious and demanding in care.

The largest genus in the cactus family - unites more than 200 species.

These plants are easy to grow even for an inexperienced grower. On the surface of the stem, there are many papillae in the form of a cone in rows or in a spiral. Spines grow from their tops. Depending on the type of spines come in different lengths, colors and shapes.

In spring, they bloom profusely with small flowers of different colors. The flowers grow around the top of the plant from the axils between the papillae. After flowering, red or pink fruits are formed.

It has a large collection of over 190 species.

It is a bush of flat, oval and fleshy shoots covered with thorns. At proper care blooms profusely from spring to autumn pink flowers. After flowering, sweet and edible fruits are tied.

Cactus in the form of a flattened ribbed ball with long spines. Gymnocalyciums include cultivars, both with a gray-green or brown-green color traditional for cacti, and with yellow or red stems. They are grafted onto green cacti.

Plants begin to bloom from 2 or 3 years. Flowering is long - from spring to autumn. Tubular flowers grow at the top of the stem. The color of scaly petals can be white, pink, red.

Miniature spherical cactus. Suitable for making succulent compositions. On the entire surface of the stem there are tubercles, from which straight spines and soft bristles grow. Able to branch at the base and eventually densely fill the surface of the pot.

Most rebutia flowers form near the base. Blooms from 2 years. Funnel-shaped flowers are bright yellow, red, orange, purple. In place of flowers, fruits are tied.

Tropical (forest)

One of the most common and beloved cacti. It consists of branched and long (up to 1 m) shoots 1.5–3 cm in diameter, covered with bristle-thorns. In young plants, the color is bright green; in adults, the stems become gray-green. The flowers are tubular, 8–10 cm long crimson or Pink colour. They bloom in the spring.

Cactus with a spherical or cylindrical stem and clear, straight ribs. Spines - straight or curved, 1–3 cm long.

Among other cacti, the plant is distinguished by the presence of cephalium - a woolly formation at the top. Some species grow several cephalia.

Small crimson flowers bloom from the cephalium. Juicy fruits of white or pink color also ripen there.

Pereskia is the only leaf cactus in the family. This is a small tree or bush with powerful stems, green or purple leaves, in the axils of which thorns grow. During the dormant period, the foliage of perexia dies and falls off.

A plant with flat and long fleshy shoots up to 50 cm with jagged edges. A few spines grow in the notches.

Epiphyllum is valued for its abundant and colorful winter blooms. Fragrant funnel-shaped flowers with a diameter of 10-15 cm are white, pink, red, yellow. At cross pollination can set edible fruits.

Cactus with very long, thin, serpentine shoots. They can grow up to 5–12 m. The surface of the shoots is glossy, with sparse and small spines.

Selenicereus is distinguished by unusual and large flowers. In some species, they are huge - 30 cm in diameter and a tube up to 40 cm long. The structure of the flowers is complex: the central part of the white color looks like a bowl or a water lily. Around it are long and narrow outer lobes of pink, yellow, red, brown.

Magnificent flowers bloom in the evening and wither before dawn. For this, selenicereus was nicknamed the "queen of the night", "moon cactus".

Schlumbergera (zygocactus or Decembrist) (Schlumbergera)

A hardy and disease resistant plant. The drooping and branched shoots consist of flat, toothed segments 4–6 cm long and 2.5 cm wide.

White, pink, orange and red flowers bloom in December-January at the ends of the shoots. Flowering lasts for 1 month.

The plant consists of many thin, drooping shoots of a rounded, ribbed, flat shape. Shoots are covered with short hairs.

In winter, the shoots are strewn with small flowers of pale pink, white, yellow or orange color. At the end of flowering, the stems are decorated with berries that look like bright beads. Ripsalis can be grown as an ampelous plant.

Outwardly similar to the Schlumbergera, but has differences in the structure of the segments, flower shape and flowering time.

Shoots consist of flat or ribbed segments up to 6 cm long and up to 3 cm wide. They are bright green in color, burgundy edging appears in the sun. The protrusions on the edges of the shoots are smoothed, at the ends of the segments there are thick bristles.

The flowers of the plant are semi-double with a diameter of up to 4 cm of pink, white, red color. Up to 3 buds can be tied in one areole. Ripsalidopsis blooms in spring.

An exotic plant. This is a small bush with branched green shoots up to 30 cm long. They consist of many parts of a cylindrical, bottle-shaped shape 2–5 cm long. The shoots are covered with small hairs.

In winter, small flowers of crimson, yellow, orange color are revealed on the upper shoots.

Once in the world of cacti, you understand that these are not primitive thorns. Amazing discoveries await everyone here, many years of “friendship” with plants, excitement and joy at the appearance of even one long-awaited flower.

You can learn more about the types of cacti from the video.

Such a flower culture as cacti is perfect for all lovers of home plants. They are very easy to collect. There are more than 3 thousand varieties of cactus plants in the catalogs. Their photos and names are striking in their beauty and unusualness. Not a single florist in this world knows everything about indoor cacti, and not a single botanical garden has a complete collection of them. Various cacti, species, photos with names can be viewed in different botanical catalogs.

A little about cacti

These plants are very hardy. If you properly care for them, then they can grow and delight with their beauty for a very long time, about tens and hundreds of years. The main thing is that growing such succulents at home does not need a lot of space.

They grow in different places wildlife and are called:

1. Desert cactus.
2. Tropical cactus.
3. Forest cactus.

Proper care of them requires close attention. Their immunity is very weak and there is always a risk of bringing home a new plant to infect it with some kind of disease in existing samples.

It is also very important to transplant already growing flowers into larger pots in time. Be sure to line the bottom of the pot with a layer of drainage. This will allow excess water to drain down from the pot. Further, the soil is filled up and a seedling is planted, and finally, we also lay the top with the same expanded clay.

Not all soil is good for flowering cacti. A good habitat for them should allow air and water to pass through it well. It is best to use a ready-made mixture that is commercially available. If you do not trust store soil, then you can cook it yourself:

• River sand, carefully washed from clay.
• Brick crumb.
• Leaf humus.
• Sod humus.
• Peat.
• Earth.

Be sure to disinfect the resulting mixture, use steam for this. This will help get rid of diseases and all existing pests in the soil. Watering is done at home with soft water. Generally, bottled water is best. If this is not possible, then boiled water is simply used. It is slightly warmed up, poured on top of an earthen lump. Too much frequent watering unwanted. It is necessary to shed thoroughly so that the entire soil mixture is wet, and the excess goes into the pan. As soon as the water in the pan evaporates, you can carry out the next watering.

Echinopsis ( Echinopsis).

A flower like echinopsis is similar to other flowering cacti. Most often, such flowers begin to be called precisely according to their characteristics and their characteristic flowering. The name of this flower is translated as "Hedgehog".

Its stem, initially sprouting, has a spherical shape. Then gradually growing up, it begins to stretch and becomes like a cylinder. The color of the cactus is most often saturated green. The ribs are even in shape, with a bright color tint.

Such a thorn blooms with rather large buds. The flower may have a different color:

1. Pink.
2. White.
3. Yellow.
4. Orange.

The bud has a funnel shape. They develop and begin to bloom on a long pubescent tube. Its length can be different, but most often it reaches at least 20 cm. It pleases with beautiful flowering only in spring, and for a very short period of no more than three days.

It loves to grow under the rays of bright light. Direct sunlight does not leave any burns on it. In summer, the recommended temperature for growth is from +22 to +27 degrees. And in winter time years from +6 to +13 degrees. During winter adaptation, the plant does not require any watering.

Notocactus ( notocactus).

The view of such a wonderful interior flower is quite popular among flower growers. Notocactus is naturally a very beautiful flower. The name of this plant is translated as "Southern cactus". The homeland of this succulent family is precisely the southern regions. The stem can be of two forms:

• Globular.
• wedge-shaped.

His ribs are well defined and covered with a very large number of spines and needles. Flowering comes in buds different sizes. The most common colors are:

1. Yellow.
2. Yellow purple.

Such a colored cactus in all its glory can be seen for 5-6 days, no longer, and its flowering period falls on summer or spring. The bud looks very impressive round shape. Lighting should be quite bright, but at the same time diffused. Watering is done frequently from March to September, and sparingly at other times of the year. But under no circumstances should overwatering be allowed.

Notocactus are divided into several types:

All the names of cactus species are collected here, photos and names in Russian are easy to view in botanical catalogs.

The main types of notocactus

Euphorbia (Euphorbi)

Euphorbia is considered a very interesting type of succulents. Many flower growers are interested in where it comes from and how to grow it properly. This plant is very common. You can meet him almost everywhere, he survives perfectly both at home and on summer cottages and even in the forest.

This plant is considered to be a cactus because of the juice inside it, it stands out when the leaves are cut or broken. The liquid is odorless, if touched with bare hands, a burn may occur. This is a feature of this tall handsome man.

Most often it grows in countries with a tropical climate. Care for him is minimal, so even the most novice flower growers can grow it.

You need to place it in a room where there is no through wind, and also make sure that watering is moderate. Temperature regime should be at around +18 to +20 degrees.

The soil mixture is suitable for cacti, do not forget about the drainage layer, it is necessary for any plants. Special humidity is not required. The direct rays of the sun do not harm him. In winter, the plant does not need to be watered. But with the beginning of spring, watering is resumed. Water defend before watering. You can not bathe it, the leaves are flat and thin, so they can be easily damaged.

Feeding the cactus is carried out with the arrival of heat, no more than once every 4 weeks. Mineral fertilizers are used for this. A transplant is done for young plants every year, but adults can live without it for more than 3-4 years.

Cereus ( Cereus).

You rarely see the beautiful name of a cactus translated into Russian, but such a representative of this family as the cereus has it. It translates as small wax candle. It stands out from the rest of the succulents for its outstanding size. It grows up to 20 meters in height. Like many others, he is considered to be a long-liver among all this huge family.

This cactus stores moisture inside its stems. This feature allows him to survive in the conditions of the scorching sun. It is most often a desert plant. It can also grow even on rocks, where there is no soil cover.

Cereus cacti are divided into several types:

According to the available information on this subfamily, it becomes clear that such cacti are in great need of constant sunlight. When grown at home, it is best to place it on the balcony on the south side. He always needs the sun in large quantities, and at any time of the year. In winter, flower growers use special photo lamps for plant germination.

Temperature is not as important as lighting. But still there are a few recommendations for this plant care item:

1. In winter, the plant feels good at a temperature of no more than 8-11 degrees.
2. In spring and summer, it is best to place the plant outdoors. The optimum temperature is from +15 to +32 degrees.

Watering should be carried out only with warm water. It is best to use plain tap water. Purified and boiled water is not suitable for this type of plant. Watch the intensity of watering. Especially in winter, watering should be reduced to 1 time per month. If the water stagnates, the cactus may begin to rot.

Neutral soil is best for him. Feed, you need from mid-spring, and ending with the summer period. Fertilizer is best suited mineral liquid. It begins to bloom in spring summer period usually in May and June. You can observe such an amazing phenomenon only at night. The buds gain all their beauty and strength, located on the sides. They give off a pleasant vanilla scent.

Mammillary ( Mammillaria).

This type of cactus is very common for growing at home. They began to grow far in Mexico. They love in wild nature grow on calcareous soils and rocks. They release their root system deep into rock crevices.

Plant small size round shape, it is worth noting that it is very fluffy. In addition to the edge, he has small papillae on the stem itself. Small soft spines grow from them. This plant adapts well to hot and cold climates. But still, there are some types of mammillaria that are more capricious to weather conditions.

Types of mammillaria:

When growing a cactus at home, a lot of attention should be paid. There are a small number of rules that you need to follow, and then the plants will delight you with their beauty for many years. First you need to build the right lighting, it is necessary in large quantities. Place it on south side balcony. In winter, do not forget to direct the light of phytolamps to the plant.

The air temperature should not exceed +25 degrees. If you do not follow this, you can get a burn on the plant itself. Ventilate well or do not close the windows on the balcony at all in the summer. In winter, the temperature should not rise above 11-12 degrees. Watering is not required. If you have the appearance of such a cactus with pubescent stems and crowns, then the temperature should be at least 15 degrees.

Fertilization is carried out in liquid form, this allows you to achieve multi-colored flowering.

Small plants require repotting every year. The soil mixture for them must be drained. It is necessary to add brick chips and gravel, unlike humus, it is harmful for this type of cacti.

prickly pear ( Opuntia).

Prickly pear is the most common type of succulent. Its species number about 300 names. Such a flower has fleshy shoots. Rarely there are specimens that have grown to the size of a tree. Most often they creep along the ground. Spines are located on the shoots around the entire perimeter. Flowers are found singly. After the buds fade, berries appear on it, which is also edible. The fruits first have a greenish color, then it turns red and at the end of ripening it is already a burgundy color.

It is very difficult to get such a flowering cactus at home, for this you need to be able to properly care for the plant. The fleshy heads of this succulent can also change color. It is worth noting that not only the berries of this cactus are eaten, but dishes are also prepared from its fleshy stems.

Peyote (Peyote: Lophophora williamsii)

This type of plant is considered hallucinogenic. It is called mescaline peyote. As you can see from the picture, it is very small. Most often it grows on gravel roads. It has no needles or thorns. It contains hallucinogenic alkaloids. Most of it contains mescaline. Its top has a round flattened shape, it is divided into 5-10 equal parts.

The plant is completely unpretentious and easy to grow. The soil does not require a special composition. Watering is extremely rare. He feels lonely both in a tropical climate and in other others. It is often used in magical rituals and not only.

Cactus is an extremely common crop in indoor floriculture. Exists great amount species of the cactus family. What are the cacti and the names of the species can be found below.

All representatives can be divided into three groups:

• Pereskievye;
• prickly pear;
• Cereus.

These species differ in structure. So, Peresciaceae have round stems and flat leaves. which are covered with straight spines. often bloom solitary flowers. Differs in edible fruits.

Opuntia cacti are distinguished by small leaves covered with thorns.. In addition to spines, they also have glochidia. Glochidia are the modified leaves of a plant. Bloom large sizes. The colors are varied. The fruits are mostly edible.

Cereus leaves and glochidia are absent. This is the largest family, which includes a variety of species. In some representatives, the fruits are edible. In general, Cereus cacti prefer dry areas.

cactus bloom

All varieties bloom, but not every representative will please with their flowering at home. For a culture to flourish, you need to create right conditions content for her.

Flowering depends on the variety. Representatives meet with small flowers(Mammillaria). And in other species - large sizes. For example, this applies to Echinopsis. The size of its flower can reach 15 cm.

Flower color is varied: white, pink, red. So, for example, night flowers (that is, those that bloom at night) are distinguished by a pale color - white, cream or light pink. Daytime - can have almost any color. The exceptions are blue and black.

The main varieties and their names

All cacti can be conditionally divided into groups:

• Room;
• Forest;
• Desert.

Indoor

Indoor cacti are called cacti that adapt to home growing conditions.

To the room can be attributed:

• Notocactus otto;
• Small-haired prickly pear;
• Rebutia.

These species get along well in indoor conditions and bloom with proper care for them. Some may bloom in the first year of life, for example, some Mammillaria.

One of the most popular cacti that is grown at home is Euphorbia. This is an ornamental culture, which is distinguished not only by its original appearance, but also by the poisonous milky juice that is contained inside the stems and leaves.

Forest

The most popular representatives of forest crops include:

• Decembrist;
• Ripsalidopsis.

Decembrist and ripsadolipsis are similar in appearance. However, the petals of ripsalidopsis grow straight, not folded back. Coloring is red.

Epiphyllum has a not very neat shape. The specific epiphyllum is remarkable for flowers of red shades. However, many varieties with a variety of colors have been bred.

Decembrist different flowering in winter. This is a very common variety. It blooms with white, pink, purple and red flowers.

Also included in the forest:

1. . It has a round stem shape, blooms with a single white flower;
2. . It is remarkable not only for orange flowers, but also for edible fruits. Some of them have a pleasant taste and useful properties;

Desert

The species of desert spiny should include:

• Mammillaria;
• Rebutia.

Most representatives bloom indoors with beautiful flowers.. Some of them have the ability to bloom in the first year of life.

Determination of the type by external qualities

Growing a cactus but don't know what it's called? You can determine the variety by its external data.

blooming

All cacti bloom, but not all can bloom at home. Wherein flowering varies by variety.

They bloom mostly in small flowers. Possible colors: yellow and pink. There are several flowers, they may not open at the same time, but alternately.

Has many varieties. That's why flower colors are varied: white, yellow, red, hot pink. Blooms with numerous flowers.

Notable for the fact that only one flower blooms. However, it is large and yellow in color.

Decembrist or Schlumberer

Notable for the fact that blooms in winter. They call him a Decembrist because it blooms under New Year. Flowering is large and has a red color.

cacti with leaves

In general, all representatives have leaves. However, they are represented by thorns. If we talk about cacti, which really there are leaves familiar to everyone, then you can call Pachypodium.

prickly pear have leaves in the form of elongated cakes, on which spines are located.

Differs in large leaves of light green color with denticles along the edges.

Long

Cereus are considered the highest. The height of some representatives reaches 20 meters. At home, of course, they do not reach such heights. But they could, if the ceilings of the apartments did not interfere with them. Cereus is distinguished not only by its height, but also by its excellent flowering, large white with a creamy tint. In addition, they have an incredible aroma.

Up to 2 meters in height Euphorbia can grow.

Cactus with long needles

Long needles can boast Echinocactus (Echinopsis white-flowered), Carnegia, some varieties of Mammillaria, Ferocactus. This is far from a complete list.

The spines of Echinocactus Gruzoni can reach a length of up to 5 cm.

Decorative

Most varieties are decorative. Both flowers and stems and leaves of this culture are decorative. Among the most commonly grown in the house are:

• Mammillaria(differ in beautiful flowering);
• Decembrist(distinguished by luxurious flowering in winter);
• (a type of milkweed, beautifully blooms with large flowers);
• spurge(all types of milkweed differ not only decorative properties, but also curative);
• (very original representative with long leaves);
• (decorative with long shoots and large flowers);
• (culture with an original spherical stem with one large snow-white flower).

fluffy

Espostow called fluffy cactus. This is a culture of Perunian origin. This species is called fluffy because of the hairs that play a protective function. The height of this culture in room conditions does not exceed 70 cm, in natural conditions can grow up to 5 meters.

The plant was nicknamed the "Peruvian old man" for the hairs that appear gray.

non-thorny cactus

to the cacti that do not have spines, include some types of Ariocarpus. This is an original culture with an unusual stem and a large single flower. It can also be attributed astrophytum Asterias. This species is distinguished by a beautiful and very large single flower in the form of a chamomile, which is located at the top of the stem.

Thus, in nature there is a huge variety of different cultures. All cacti differ in height, flowering, needles. Everyone can choose a plant to their liking. Cactus - the original culture with the most incredible flowering. What could be more interesting than a blooming cactus?

Cacti are very common all over the world, as every year the number of people who are passionate about growing and breeding these amazing plants. There are very unusual species, not at all prickly, exotic, original, unusually beautifully flowering cacti types of photos with names different varieties presented in the article.

The cactus family is very numerous and diverse, so it is easy to choose among this variety a type of cactus that would bloom and develop well when home care. Choose from all the magnificence and diversity of the plant to your taste is not difficult.

Cactus habitat and varieties

The best natural habitat for such unusual plants is the arid desert and semi-desert areas of Bolivia, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Peru, where the greatest variety of forms and types of cacti is found. They can be found in some countries of Spain, Asia, Africa, Australia, India. In the wild, cacti grow in the Crimea, on the Mediterranean coast.

Having adapted to the harsh climate, they began to spread through the high deserts: on the elevated plateaus of Peru, Bolivia, there are whole thickets of escobaria, mammillaria, telocactus, neobessia. winter temperature it can drop to zero there, snow falls, plants have to adapt to such difficult climatic conditions.

Brazilian, Uruguayan savannas - appropriate place for the growth of prickly pear, peresian, cereus, toy climate zone long dry periods.

Mexico is the richest in variety of cacti, the most bizarre forms grow in the Andes mountains, a wide variety of beautiful views can be found in South America, which is considered the birthplace of cacti.

According to their appearance, cacti are conditionally divided into:

1. Shrubs.
2. Tree-like.
3. Herbaceous.
4. Lianoid.

Natural environmental conditions suitable for desert cacti:

• large differences in day and night temperatures, when it is very hot during the day and quite cool at night (differences can be up to 500 C);
• the humidity level is quite low (in total, up to 250 mm of precipitation can fall per year);
• depleted in humus, but very rich in minerals, sandy and gravel soils, loose and acidic.

Desert cacti are particularly unpretentious and adaptable to environmental conditions, they are endowed with powerful stems and long, strong spines. These cacti are divided into three types:

1. Echinopsis - they have thick round stems, on which rigid spines are located in even rows.
2. Prickly pear - with flattened, pancake-like leaf-shaped stems.
3. Astrophytums - having ribbed stems and developed, powerful spines.

Cacti from the pereskaceae family are the only ones that have ordinary flat leaves, hard spines are located on round tree-like stems.

Despite the fact that most of humanity is accustomed to considering cacti as plants of arid deserts, there is a multiple variety of plants of this family that live in the evergreen tropics, where the average annual rainfall is 200 - 300 mm per year, the average temperature is + 180º C.

It is interesting! Forest tropical cacti do not have thorns, the shape of the stems is mostly flattened.

Brief description of cacti

They belong to succulents - plants whose vegetative organs are adapted to collect and store water in their tissues. They are, indeed, perfectly designed to exist in extreme conditions:

• their fleshy stems are covered with thick skin that prevents moisture from evaporating;
• wax coating on the stems also protects against the evaporation of precious moisture;
• thorns grow on stems instead of leaves;
• along the grooves of ribbed stems, morning dew rolls down to powerful thickened roots,
• accumulating in large quantities for many months;
• cacti can shade themselves from the scorching sun, growing in multi-tiered bizarre forms or covering themselves with thin light hairs;
• the spherical shape of many species also prevents evaporation.

Since the cactus does not have leaves, the function of photosynthesis is taken over by the stems, the most diverse in shape: cylindrical, spherical, flattened, creeping, hanging, and others. Also different kind they also have spines - from barely noticeable, very thin to large, straight or curved. There are very unusual feather-like spines.

Cactus flowers are found from surprisingly small to huge sizes, all kinds of shades (there are no only blue and black flowers), very delicate and beautiful, single or in groups, pleasant aroma.

Desert cacti photos and names

Succulents adapt to the local conditions in which they have to grow. For example, ridges on ribbed stems are very clearly visible when there is a shortage of water, but during the rainy season they become almost invisible, as they swell from the supply of moisture, thus the surface of the plant is protected from cracking.

Some cacti have root system able to shrink, others have taproots deep underground, the roots of some specimens are radish-shaped, can accumulate a lot of water, and their small roots are located below the surface of the earth to absorb moisture from dew and fogs. The area of ​​​​small roots can occupy up to 5 m2 around its plant.

All these adaptations help a great variety of cacti species to grow, bloom and survive in difficult conditions for many thousands of years.

astrophytums- spherical in shape, with rather sparse ribs strewn with hairs, this species has beautiful varieties, star-like and hard, long spines.

Ariocarpus- with low, flattened stems, the axils of elongated tubercles are filled with fluff, they bloom amazingly beautifully.

Gymnocalyciums- some varieties of this species are quite unusual: due to the lack of chlorophyll in the stems, they are pink, yellow, red. Between the ribs there are transverse tubercles.

Cleistocactus- have cylindrical erect tall stems, densely covered with white or light yellow spines, flowers bloom at the very tops.

Mammillaria- one of the most common species, spherical stems are covered with tubercles, on which spines grow.

Lophophora- unusual cactus appearance, similar to a pumpkin, has smooth surface without thorns.

It is interesting! Lophophora juice has hallucinogenic properties, it is forbidden to collect it.

Cephalocereus- an unusual, atypical appearance for cacti: the spines are white, thin and very long, flowing, resembling hard gray hair. But appearances are deceiving, such thorns can seriously injure.

Forest cacti photos and names

Forest (tropical) cacti are demanding on other conditions than desert ones, they need high humidity, scattered light. Under natural conditions, these are epiphytic shrubs, settling on trees or in rocky crevices.

Living on trees, they feed on organic decomposition, and on rocks, clinging to stones with their roots, they are content with the insignificant amount of humus available there. Aerial roots provide them with moisture.

The stems of these cacti are long, soft, thin, hanging down, instead of the usual thorns - bristle-like hairs.

Ripsalidopsis- low, up to 20 cm bushes, the stems consist of segments of a ribbed flat shape with jagged edges. The stem is drooping, becoming woody as the plant matures. An abundance of red or pink flowers are laid at the ends of the stems.

Rhipsalis- its numerous stems are thin, rod-like, highly branched, without thorns, are rounded, flat, ribbed, of various green shades. Flowers have the shape of a bell, look very original in hanging planters.

Epiphyllum- with fleshy leaf-like stems, along the edges with notches and spines. The flowers are large, funnel-shaped, of different beautiful shades and a pleasant aroma.

Aporocactus- the ribbed stems of this original plant grow up to two meters in length, while having a diameter of up to 1.5 cm, covered with bristle-like spines, due to its appearance it is popularly called "rat's tail". It blooms with large, bright, elongated flowers. Multiple shoots form whole bushes.

Distinctive features of cacti

It can be difficult for a flower grower at the initial stages of hobby not to confuse cacti with other succulents, because there are species without needles, with leaves that are not at all like cacti.

In order not to be deceived, you need to carefully look at the plant to find areoles - small bulges in the form of pads with hairs or spines coming out of them. If pads with fine hairs are not found, then this is not a cactus, but another plant.

Desert cacti are clearly defined by the presence of ribs of various shapes, needles arranged in rows along them, and the stems are columnar or spherical in shape.

Moist forest cacti have stems mostly hanging down, they are leaf-shaped, consisting of small serrated segments, with soft spines.

Home blooming cacti

Cacti blooming on home windowsills can be a truly fabulous sight, their flowering is so unusual and beautiful. These flowers have won a strong place in the hearts of flower growers, especially cactus lovers are captivated by the fact that the plants are not capricious, do not require too much attention, and are very easy to care for.

It is interesting! It is often practiced to plant different types of cacti in a common container in order to create original compositions, because care for them is almost the same.

And the variety of varieties and species of the cactus family is simply amazing, so cute and bizarre specimens are found. But the most popular ones that do not require special conditions, they feel great on the windowsill or on a table near the window.

Types and names of home cacti

Mammillaria found in houses and apartments, probably most often, the species is quite popular, famous for its distinctive feature - the presence of a white web between the needles that entangles a cylinder or ball. Blooms start from early age, flowers of very beautiful colors are arranged around the top of the stem in the form of a wreath.

Rebutia during the flowering period, it can resemble mammillaria, only its wreath is located at the bottom of the stem, the spherical stem is completely covered with long spines diverging in different directions. Flowering is bright, plentiful, but for this the plant needs to provide winter rest in a cool sunny room, additional watering and ventilation. The ribs are replaced by tubercles, dwarf varieties reach only 2.5 cm.

Cereus at home, it reaches above half a meter in height, occurs with and without thorns. Its interesting distinguishing feature is that it cannot stand a direct hit. sun rays. Flowering in some varieties of cereus is daytime, in others it is night, the flowers are white and large.

It is interesting! It stimulates the flowering of the cereus by keeping it in a cold room in the winter, without this mandatory flowering procedure, you can’t wait.

notocactus has the ability to bloom profusely and periodically resume flowering. At the top of the spherical stem, funnel-shaped flowers appear with petals in several rows of delicate shades.

A large number of species and intraspecific diversity allow you to find plants to your liking and preference.

Ways to make cacti bloom

Flower growers who have long been engaged in the cultivation and cultivation of cacti have collected considerable experience and many ways to achieve earlier and more abundant flowering from these amazing plants.

It turns out that flowers do not like to be turned to the sun in different directions. Yes, if a plant constantly exposes only one side to the light, it bends its stem, but lays the opportunity for flowering.

And vice versa, substituting different sides of the flower to the sun, the owners make the plant lose this opportunity. It has to be determined: correct form stem or beautiful flowers.

When dusting cacti, you need to be extremely careful not to damage the spines: a broken spine can cost flowering. But this does not mean at all that you can let the cacti fall down with dust, you just need to work carefully. When loosening compacted soil, you should also try not to injure the roots.

In the autumn months, the volume and number of irrigations gradually decrease, and by the beginning of winter they stop altogether, only with the approach of spring (mid-late February) does the spraying of plants begin warm water to wake them up from their winter dormancy. In the same cold months, cacti are kept in cool rooms with moderate lighting.

During the formation of buds, it is forbidden to transplant and fertilize cacti, they will immediately drop their buds that begin to develop.

Grafting cacti

They also resort to such a method, forcing not flowering plant lay buds - a cutting is grafted to its cut from flowering variety. The sections are connected so that their surfaces must completely match, you can try to tie them with a thick thread.

The grafted plant should be moved to a warm, shaded room and covered with a glass jar. In about two weeks, tissue fusion should occur.

To carry out such an operation, you will need a well-sharpened thin knife so that the cuts are even, and the plants are not deformed.

Domestic non-flowering cacti

From the numerous cactus family, some flower growers are attracted to those species that do not bloom at home, but are particularly decorative. Among them:

1. Cephalocereus senile, having a cylindrical stem, entangled in many silver-colored hairs up to 10 - 12 cm long, making this plant very original.
2. Echinocactus Gruson, the most popular in indoor floriculture, has the shape of a ball and grows very slowly, the ribs are densely covered with yellow spines.
3. Cleistocactus grow even more slowly, it begins to bloom only after many years, on a columnar stem there are many ribs covered with short bristles, creating the effect of a silvery coating;
4. Espostoa woolly, in addition to silver bristles, has long sharp spines, can grow up to 70 centimeters.

Despite the absence of flowering, such specimens are often found in home collections, as they look very beautiful and allow you to create the most interesting design combinations.

echinocactus-grusonii

espostoa-sherstistaya

Features of caring for cacti at home

Caring for cacti at home is absolutely not burdensome, even a novice grower can take care of them. The main thing is to provide the plants with the conditions they want from the very beginning.

Suitable soil mixtures

Most of the substrate should consist of large particles that provide good passage of moisture and air. The presence of large doses of nitrogen in the soil for desert cacti will be detrimental, its amount must be strictly calculated when compiling the mixture:

• leafy ground, cleared of branches - 2 parts;
• sod land with clay - 2 parts;
• coarse sand or small pebbles - 2 parts;
• small broken brick - ½ part;
• charcoal - ½ part.

Optionally, a dessert spoon of superphosphate and a teaspoon of crushed chalk are added to the volume of such a composition.

Cactus transplant

In order for the transplant to be successful, the plant is not watered a few days before it, then the earth lump is easier to remove from the pot, the root system is not damaged. Most right time for such a procedure - March-April, the deadline is the beginning of September, so that by winter the plant has time to take root and does not need watering.

The pot must be purchased a size or two larger than the previous one. The transplant container must be disinfected, as well as the soil for filling.

At the bottom of the prepared flowerpot, put a layer of pebbles for drainage, pour some slightly moistened earth, put the cactus removed from the pot and gently sprinkle the roots with earth to the upper root neck. A stem buried in the ground will begin to rot when watered. You can only water after two days. During this period, when the plant takes root, it must be protected from drafts.

A place for a new pet is chosen so as not to rearrange it too often, cacti do not like a change of scenery.

Cultivation of cacti by sowing seeds

This business is very troublesome, but exciting, so many flower growers are trying to breed succulents with seeds.

It is important! If you decide to sow cactus seeds, you will need to follow disinfection measures: all tools and boxes must be treated with steam, and the soil must be calcined in the oven.

A layer of drainage is poured at the bottom of the container for sowing, then prepared moistened soil, which is carefully leveled. Seeds are laid out directly from above with a distance of 2 - 3 centimeters.

Large seeds are only lightly sprinkled with sand, small ones are simply left on the surface. The containers are covered with glass or film and placed in a warm, dark place with good air circulation for two weeks.

When the seeds hatch and sprouts appear, the film is shifted, and the containers are transferred to a bright room, but protected from direct sunlight. The earth is only moistened, it cannot be flooded in any way.

Only after the thorns appear, the film can be removed completely. Plants that have reached a size of 5 mm need picking. During the first year of growth, small cacti will have to dive up to 10 times, this is a prerequisite for growing them in this way. This helps the plant to form lateral roots that promote faster growth.

Cactus requirements for air humidity

If succulents do not receive moisture, they will not be able to replenish their reserves, which they so need. Air humidity allows plants to receive the necessary nutrients from the atmosphere, getting into the plant through the skin, moisture accelerates metabolic metabolic processes.

Most affordable way increase the humidity around the plant - spray it with warm settled water. It is better to do this in the morning, making sure that the sun does not shine directly on the cacti.

How to properly water cacti

Watering issues must be studied even before acquiring new specimens, because improper watering can simply ruin a flower. Each species requires its own mode of soil moisture.

cleistocactus_saimapatanus

Frequent watering should be provided to specimens located in hot, dry rooms, and the planting containers of the flowers are small.

Forest species growing at home require more water, because the climate of their natural growth is much more humid than the desert. When it is rainy or cloudy outside, it is better to refrain from watering.

Water should be taken settled, without any impurities. Cacti are watered in two ways: some flower growers moisten the soil from above, others pour water into the pan.

It is important! In winter, young plants are watered once a month, perennial flowers need only one watering during the winter period.

In the mornings, while the sun is not shining brightly, cacti are very fond of spraying, because in natural conditions they are moistened with dew every morning.

Diseases of cacti and their treatment

Cacti are most often susceptible to fungal diseases, the most dangerous for them is late blight, which can kill a flower in a short time. Cacti also suffer from helminthosporosis, fusarium, brown spot, anthracnose and other diseases caused mainly by improper care or poorly performed decontamination procedures.

To fight diseases, plants are treated with specially designed preparations. To protect your favorite cacti from infection, you should follow preventive measures: plant and replant only in disinfected soil, feed only with fertilizers for cacti, avoid watering with cold water, make sure that the topsoil is dry before watering.

spurge cactus

These beautiful, not devoid of originality plants are only considered to be a cactus, they have rather fleshy stems, thorns, they belong to succulents. There are a great many of its species, it grows rapidly, with appropriate care it easily reaches a height of up to three meters (if space permits). Having reached a large size, they acquire a shape resembling a chandelier.

adapt to different conditions content, durable, throughout the entire time able to maintain decorative look. The most unpretentious are triangular euphorbias, having a triangular stem shape.

As for a succulent, for milkweed, excess moisture is worse than its lack. In winter, when the flower is in a cool room (veranda, winter Garden, etc.) Euphorbia should not be watered at all, so as not to provoke root rot.

They belong to milkweeds because of the milky juice that appears on the fractures, it is necessary to handle these plants carefully: their juice is poisonous, causes burns to the skin. In connection with this circumstance, it is better not to place euphorbia in children's rooms.

Desert cacti without thorns

They refute the generally accepted opinion that a cactus must have thorns, astrophytums. Astrophytum stellate areoles are covered with gray-white pubescence, there are white spots on the stem, characteristic of this species. This attribute is absent in Astrophytum multistigma. Ariocarpus has very weak spines, which are lost with age, new ones do not appear in their place.

astrophytum-asterias-nudum-oibo

ariocarpus furfuraceus

That's how amazing these thorny and non-thorny cacti are, the many species and names of which are shown in the photo, how many positive emotions they give to their owners, who grow them with such love. Cacti have occupied and continue to occupy a strong place on the windowsills of many flower growers.

Cacti, as houseplants, began to spread in connection with the advent of home computers. Since many believe that these plants are able to reduce radiation levels. Cacti in general are unpretentious succulents, but even such, accustomed to weather surprises and drought, can get sick and die if the rules for their maintenance are violated. This plant is unusual, so caring for it should be different from caring for other plants in the flower garden.

natural habitats

The homeland of the cactus is America. But they also grow in sultry parts of Africa, Asia, and can even be seen in Europe. In nature, they are huge. Prefer to live in dry areas the globe and feel good in Argentina, Chile, Mexico. The plant has many species, some of which grow in tropical forests. They can also be seen on the shores of the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

natural conditions in which cacti feel good:

1. Low humidity. Most species prefer regions with low humidity. However, some prefer high level moisture, so they live only in tropical forests.
2. Temperature changes. We are accustomed to feel the temperature changes that occur in deserts. There, the difference between day and night temperatures is up to 50 degrees.
3. Loose substrate. Usually cacti grow in mineral soils, for example, gravel or sand are suitable, the main thing is that the composition is loose. However, some species prefer the oily ground of the rainforest.

These plants have a fleshy stem and thick skin. This feature was formed in the process of evolution, it allows the plant to adapt to the lack of water.

To prevent moisture loss in cacti There are defense mechanisms

• Instead of leaves, thorns.
• Hairs on the epidermis.
• Wax coating.
• Stem consisting of ribs.
• Deep root system.

cactus care

It is not difficult to care for cacti, but you still need to know some important points:

For the cactus to bloom

Some cacti bloom at a young age. But there are some, for example, prickly pear or cereus, which are quite difficult to bloom. For cacti to show their decorative flowers, they need to create conditions that resemble natural ones. How to make a cactus bloom at home?

As a rule, in a room, a cactus begins to bloom when it reaches three or four years. From this age, every spring they will delight you with their beautiful flowers. You can find out which cacti bloom at different times during the year and build a collection. Then there will be no break in the flowering of cacti.

The secret of cactus flowering lies in the fact that most plant species can only bloom on new growth. In order for it to appear, it is necessary to provide high-quality care throughout the summer, and in winter to arrange relative rest for the plant. It should also be noted that the laying of flowers occurs in a slightly cramped pot.

Types of cacti and their names

Below are the types of cacti that grown at home, names are given and brief characteristics varieties.

Cacti have long lived with us in apartments, but they are rarely used as an important element of decor. However, some lovers of these plants still consider them in this role. Decorators should protect yourself from thorns that pose a threat to humans. Wear thick gloves when interacting with these desert dwellers.

For those who wish to collect houseplants, cacti are a long-lived and diverse group that can be easily collected and grown. Since plants are easy to care for and don't need regular watering , pruning, transplanting, spraying, and so on, they are suitable both for those who cannot imagine their home without them, and for a novice amateur gardener or someone who is not very passionate about them, but wants to have a living corner.

Cacti: a prickly miracle