Cactus - a separate family of flowering perennials order Caryophyllales.They are divided into four subfamilies.It is believed that evolutionary cacti appeared about 40 million years ago.However, as the ancient fossil specimens have not yet found.Scientists tend to believe that the birthplace of the cactus room, for that matter, and other types of - South America, and he appeared relatively recently, about 10 million years ago.And only then began to spread across North America.
Today these plants are very popular among fans of indoor cultivation of flowers.In addition, a lot of rumors that the cactus absorb electromagnetic radiation from household appliances.So many people put them close to their computers.However, this information is not officially confirmed by scientists.
Classification
cactus These plants are divided into four subfamilies: Pereskievye, Opuntsievye, Mauhienivye and cactus.They differ not only external data, but also on a number of other features.
Pereskievye - an evolutionary link between the cacti and deciduous plants.This genus of shrubs with succulent stems and not full-fledged leaves.Opuntsievye have reduced leaves, succulent stems and special thorns - glochidia.This is a small and very fragile spines, hard and sharp serrated with notches.Grow beams, getting into the stomach of animals, cause irritation.Everything subfamily similar structure and shape of the flower seeds.
Habitat cactus subfamily Mauhienivye mostly - Patagonia.Opuntsievye similar plants on the outside, but without the glochidia.Have tapered leaves and pronounced succulence.Cacti combine the remaining kind of this plant.The leaves are non-existent, except for small shoots on the trunk.Glochidia there too.This subspecies includes epiphytic plants and many xerophytes.
A real spread
Where cactus grow?Their main habitat - deserts of North and South America.The most riotous diversity falls on Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.You can find them in Africa and Asia.Many species have been brought to Spain, Italy, France, Australia, India and Russia.Although the birthplace of indoor cactus - South America, it may take root in almost every continent, if his life to create the necessary conditions.For example, this plant does not like the cold weather.
Cactus live in mountainous deserts, adapting to the harsh climate.For example, Mammillaria, neobessiya, Escobar, telokaktus and other species.Come across the whole thickets in savannas.There you can meet Cereus and Opuntia.But not always the habitat of cactus - desert.It is common and evergreen tropical forests.A distinctive feature of these plants - a complete lack of thorns.
Fitness of cactus habitat
Nature has endowed cactus grooves.As it rolls down the water to the roots which are thickened in order to store as much moisture.They can take up to 5 square meters around the plant.This surface overlying the roots absorb dew and moisture from the soil.
Fitness of cactus habitat depends on the area of growth.For example, with nodularity achieved little evaporation.A rib on the stem prevents the formation of cracks.From the hot sun makes a thick skin is a cactus.Some species are covered with lots of thorns and lint, creating a protective shadow.For plants, "living" in the deserts, nature has provided and the lack of leaves in order to save precious water.
desert cactus
They are the most resistant and undemanding to the environment among the cacti.There are three main kinds of plants:
- Echinopsis.This cactus with hard spines that are in neat rows, and round stems.
- Opuntia.Plants have flattened leaf-stems, like green pancakes.
- Astrophytum.For its representatives characterized the powerful ribbed stems and developed spines.
Cactus in the desert tend to have strong stems and a plurality of intermediate ribs.At the same time they have a strong long spikes.
Cactus room
These species are dwarf and take up very little space.They can be grown on a windowsill dozens.They, as well as their other cousins, divided into forest and desert.Indoor - a copy of the dwarf cactus growing in nature.Some of them were prepared by crossing different species.Home - capricious and require more care.Basically, the amateurs of flowers demand a small green cactus.
Names room types
Names cacti are interesting enough, and few people are on the ear.These houseplants are Echinopsis comb, Peruvian, cereus Knippel, disocactus flagelliformis, ECHINOCACTUS GRUSONII, Espoli woolly, Astrophytum ibex, hametsereus Sylvester, parody zolotoiglistaya and krovavotsvetkovaya, cactus, Notocactus, Pereskia (the only instance of having leaves) rebyutsiya dwarf and someothers.
for indoor cultivation of very good fillokaktusy with fleshy leaves.The flowers are large and have different colors - from white to purple.Propagate by cuttings and seeds they are.Like light, summer need a good watering and spraying.Epiphyllum is considered the best potted cactus.It is very hardy, painting his various flowers from white to purple-red.In summer, these cacti to keep in a bright place, but do not expose to direct sunlight.Propagate by cuttings them.
When blooming cactus
These plants are beautiful in themselves.Still, nice to see them bloom that happens very rarely.It is believed that after the plant dies, but it is mistaken.Healthy cacti give the flowers every year.Much depends on the conditions in which they are contained.
order for them to bloom, they need a good root system.And the plant must be able to grow.Cactus without living roots, flowers will not give.They require fertilization - potassium phosphate.But often it is harmful to use.Hibernate cacti have in the cool, dry, and in the summer - get enough fresh air.For an active and healthy life sunlight enough for them three to six hours a day.It depends on the specific form.To the sun the plant should always be turned to the same side.
biggest cactus
These plants often can reach huge sizes.Where cactus grow best?In America, they are found in large quantities not only in the desert, but also on the streets.Very often, they grow much taller than a man, and the people standing next to a giant with, seem to be just "little insects."Huge cactus in the desert can be found rarely, mostly in the suburbs, but not in the center.They may grow so that resemble tree.These cacti stockpile huge amounts of water in the fleshy stems.Often they grow up whole colonies.As
breed cacti
divorce in the home can be like using seeds and by grafting.In the first case the seedlings appear within a week, in some species - even after a month.Seeding is best done in the spring, in the middle or at the end of the season.Saucer seed placed on heating, and maintained at a temperature of 25-30 degrees.Many used room teplichke or greenhouses, as the natural habitat of cactus - it's mostly warm countries.
land for planting poured in the drainage layer.She sprinkled seeds and pressed on top of a small plaque.Flat dish is placed in warm water so that the liquid flows into the drainage holes and a good moisturizer.Appeared seedlings should be protected from direct sunlight.As soon as the first shoots appeared, reduce watering.A pick made after there were thorns.
Cuttings also produce spring, taking the top or side shoots.The pot is filled drainage layer, and on top - the land.Cuttings should be cut with a sharp knife and a good dry for a week.After that, put in the sand at a depth of 1 cm. For greater stability of the cuttings can be tied to stakes.Then cover with a jar.Watering begin only after the cactus began, and until that time the land is only slightly moistened.Cuttings can be prepared in advance and stored in the fall to spring in dry sand.
varieties and forms
Habitat cactus - dry place, and nature has taken care that they have adapted to it.These plants can be divided into several groups, which differ not only in appearance but also in terms of their growth at home:
- with leaves;
- staghorn;
- leaf;
- spherical;
- papillary;
- fig;
- elongated;
- stickleback;
- soft-bodied;
- other small species.
The star Astrophytum: description cactus
It belongs to a small and monotype species.It is considered a real gem among the cacti.It features a beautiful and long flowering period, which can last all summer.He is unpretentious, loves heat and sun in summer and in winter - cool and dry.This cactus grows very slowly.Its very hard to find: Astrophytum perfectly camouflaged.It adapts well to the surrounding area and merges with the landscape.It can take the shape of rocks or other plants.
