The characteristic differences of denmoza from other cacti, the rules for growing an interesting plant in indoor conditions, the rules of reproduction, difficulties in cultivation and ways of solving them, types. Denmoza (Denmoza) or as it is also called Denmoza, botanists are included in an extensive family of plants that are capable of accumulating moisture in their parts, contributing to their survival in arid climates. It bears the scientific name Cactaceae, and such representatives of the flora are called, respectively, cacti or succulents. This genus was first discovered on the territory of Argentina (land of Tucuman and Mendoza) and it includes only two varieties. These cacti prefer to "settle" in shrub thickets growing at the foot of the mountain ranges.
It is curious that the plant got its scientific name thanks to the island where the cactus was discovered - Mendoza, and the term "Denmoza" comes from its anagram. Often in the literature, this representative of the flora has additional names: Echinopsis, Cleistocactus or Pilocereus.
All denmos are distinguished by a very slow growth rate, and their life cycle is 10-15 years, while the stem can grow from half a meter in height to 1.5 meters. Moreover, its diameter often varies in the range of 15-30 cm. When the cactus is still young, the outlines of the stem are spherical, but over time they acquire a cylindrical shape and become like columns. The color of the epidermis of the stem can vary from dark green to pale greenish. On its surface, 15–30 ribs are usually formed, differing in height and large size. They are located parallel on the stem, sometimes there is a slight waviness, the width at the base can reach 1 cm.
The location of the areoles is not frequent, usually the distance between them is almost 3 cm. Very picturesque spines originate in them, which are divided into central and radial. There are 8-10 radials, their color ranges from yellowish to blood-red color. Such spines grow in the form of rays, which, bending slightly, deviate to the surface of the stem. The length of the radial spines is 2–3 cm. A single spine is usually located in the center, but it may not be present at all. It resembles an awl with its outlines, with a length of up to 15 cm.
When Denmoza blooms, flowers open, which reach 7.5 cm in length. Their shape is funnel-shaped, while they do not open very much, exposing the stigma (or, as it is commonly called, the pistil) and a bunch of stamens protruding outward. Anthers can often protrude from the corolla of a flower to a height of 1 cm. There is no clear delineation into individual petals in the corolla. Those that are located on the outside have a tiled structure. The flower petals have a reddish tint. The outer surface of the tube is covered with whitish hairs. The location of the buds usually falls on the tops of the stems of adult specimens and it is interesting that the flowers open at any time of the growing season. Flower buds, immersed in a whitish pubescence, are laid in late autumn and in this state wait out the dormant time in winter to begin their revitalization with the arrival of spring heat. For the first time, flowering can be observed both in young specimens and in cacti that have crossed the threshold of 30–40 years.
After pollination in denmoza, spherical fruits ripen, resembling berries, which do not exceed 2.5 cm in diameter. The surface of the fruits is painted in a light green color, but occasionally the berries take on a reddish color and, when fully ripening, bifurcate. Inside the fruit are seeds that give rise to new plants.
Rules for growing denmoza in room conditions
- Lighting and choosing a place for the pot. Since in nature these cacti are always "hiding" in bushes, where the foliage creates an openwork shade, when grown indoors, it is recommended to put the plant on the windowsill of an east or west window, where bright lighting with light shading will be provided. If denmosa is installed in a southern location, then at summer noon, so that the stem does not stay long under ultraviolet streams, organize shading. Light curtains are suitable for this. The plant can tolerate direct sunlight without problems for itself, but then it is necessary to gradually accustom it to them. It is also worth remembering that too thick a shadow or a northern location for a cactus will not work, but if there is no way out, and the plant is in the wrong place, then supplementary lighting is carried out with phytolamps. It is important that in winter the duration of daylight hours is at least 12 hours, therefore, during this period, additional lighting is carried out at any location of the cactus.
- Content temperature. For Denmoza, temperatures in the range of 20-25 degrees are most suitable in the warm season, although the plant can withstand higher temperatures, but in this case, frequent ventilation will be required. With the beginning of the dormant period, it is recommended to lower the thermometer column to 10–12 units, but the temperature is not lowered below 8–10 degrees.
- Air humidity when the content of the denmosa should not be high, especially during the rest period of the cactus, which falls on the winter. Spraying is not needed.
- Watering. As for many cacti, moderate moisture is recommended for denmoza in the warm season, when the plant has ended its dormant period and the growing season has begun. The reference point for watering is the state of the soil in the pot - it should dry well from above and even a little more. As soon as autumn has come, watering begins to be reduced and dry maintenance is recommended in winter. Water is used only warm with indicators of 20-24 degrees, and it must also be well settled. Florists use distilled or bottled water when growing Denmoza. Otherwise, you can collect rainwater or collect water in the river, but all this on condition that there is confidence in the purity of the liquid. If this is not possible, then it is recommended to pass water from the tap through a filter, boil for 30 minutes. and leave to settle for at least a couple of days. Then the liquid is drained from the sediment and is ready for watering.
- Fertilizers. Since under natural conditions the cactus grows on rather poor soils, it is rarely fertilized. It is recommended to use preparations intended for succulents and cacti, released in liquid form, so that they can be diluted in water for irrigation. It is recommended to reduce the dosage by half of that indicated by the manufacturer. The frequency of fertilization is once every 30–45 days and only when the growing season of the cactus begins (from spring to early autumn).
- Transplant and advice on soil selection. Since denmoza has a rather low growth rate, the plant often does not need to change the pot. Florists advise transplanting only once every 2-3 years. Usually this operation is performed in the spring, when the cactus has come out of dormancy. It is recommended to make holes in the bottom of the new container so that excess moisture flows freely, and also, before putting the soil into the pot, a sufficient layer of drainage material is poured (for example, expanded clay or pebbles, you can use clay shards).
It is better to transplant by the transshipment method, that is, when the earthen lump does not collapse. At the same time, before transplanting, do not water the denmose so that the soil dries well. Then, turning the pot over, and lightly knocking on its walls, it is easy to take out the cactus. In a new flowerpot, a little new soil is poured onto the laid drainage layer, and then an earthen lump of the plant is placed. The new substrate is gently poured on the sides to the top of the pot. After transplanting, watering is not needed for another week so that the cactus root system adapts and does not rot.
The substrate must have good air and water permeability. You can use purchased soil mixtures intended for succulents and cacti, or you can compose the soil yourself. It is necessary that the composition contains at least 30% perlite, pumice or coarse river sand.
Do-it-yourself denmoza breeding rules
To get a cactus with an unusual pattern of thorns, seeds are sown, but occasionally the plant is cut.
Since Denmoza has a very slow growth rate, it is quite difficult to obtain seed, but even if you have cactus seeds, you should remember that many years must pass from the moment the sprouts appear until the first flower blooms. This is because only when the stem reaches 15 cm in height, the buds will bloom.
In spring, seeds should be sown in loose and pre-moistened soil. It can act as a soil for cacti and succulents, or a peat-sand mixture (parts of the components are taken equal). The container with crops is placed in a greenhouse. For this, glass is placed on the pot or the flowerpot is covered with a transparent plastic wrap. When caring for crops, you should choose a place for the pot with bright but diffused lighting so that the direct rays of the sun do not destroy the young shoots. Also, temperature indicators are maintained within the range of 22-25 degrees.
All care will be to ventilate the crops daily to remove the collected condensate. Airing time is 10-15 minutes. But some growers, in order not to carry out such an everyday operation, make small holes in the cover film. It is also recommended if the soil in the pot begins to dry out - spray it with soft and warm water from a spray bottle. When the first shoots appear, the shelter can be removed, gradually accustoming young denmoses to room conditions. Since the growth rate is very low, the transplant is performed only when the cactus grows up.
When grafting, use (if they appear) lateral processes or cut off the top of the stem. The stalk should be dried for a couple of days so that the cut is tightened. Usually 2-3 days are enough for a thin whitish film to form on the cut of the workpiece. Then the planting is carried out in a moist (but not wet) peat-sandy substrate or clean river sand. It is advisable to organize a support for the cutting so that the cut surface is always in contact with the soil. You can plant the stalk next to the wall of the pot, on which it will lean. Cuttings, like crops, are placed in a mini-greenhouse and also looked after. Usually a glass jar or plastic bottle is used, from which the bottom is cut off. The latter option will facilitate the operation of airing, since by slightly opening the bottle cap, you can not completely remove the shelter from the handle.
When leaving, the condition of the soil is monitored, it should not dry out completely. It is better to carry out watering by drip so that the water does not stagnate at the base of the stem, and its decay does not occur. Only when it is noticed that rooting has taken place, you can transplant into a more suitable pot and soil.
Difficulties appearing when caring for denmose, and ways to solve them
If the growing conditions are often violated, then the cactus also becomes a victim of pests, among which the scale insects, mealybugs or aphids are distinguished. Treatments with insecticidal and acaricidal preparations are recommended.
If there is too frequent filling of the substrate in the pot, then the stem begins to soften and rot. But these are already the consequences of damage to the root system of denmoza by rot. It is urgently necessary to remove the areas affected by decay, treat the plant with a fungicide and transplant it into a new pot using sterile soil. If the rules for keeping a cactus are violated during the dormant period, then flowering may not occur.
Curious on a note about denmose, photo of a cactus
In this plant, the flowering period cannot be called clearly, since the buds begin to open from June to September days. Before the dormant period, flower buds are laid and only with the activation of growth, the buds begin to grow and open the corolla.
Denmoza types
There are only a couple of varieties in the genus.
Denmoza rhodacantha or as it is also called Denmoza rhodacantha. The plant was described in 1922. The stem is usually single in a cactus, with a gradual thickening, reaching 16 cm in diameter. Over time, the shape of the stem begins to lengthen and its contour becomes cylindrical. On its spherical surface there are 15 high ribs, which rise 1 cm above the stem, with areoles rarely located. They have 8-10 radial spines, which reach a length of 3 cm. They are distinguished by curved outlines and a red or yellow tint. The central thorn is more powerful in appearance and subulate; often a cactus can be deprived of it. It is thanks to the radial spines, which radially deviate towards the stem, that a pattern of unique beauty is created. The stem color ranges from dark to light green.
The cactus begins to bloom when its height becomes 15 cm. The flowers have reddish petals and the length of the flower tube reaches 7.5 cm.
The name of the plant has its roots in ancient Greek, and is translated as "red spine", as the variety is characterized by an accumulation of bloody thorns. However, in terms of configuration and color, they are not constant and these parameters can change. With age, such cacti begin to form a whitish long bristle on the surface of the stem. Such a plant, with bristly features, was previously called Denmoza Erythrocephalus. But Denmoza "rhodacantha" and "erythrocephala", although they differ in external characteristics, are one and the same species. This type of cactus is considered a barrel cactus and continues to remain with a ball-shaped stem for a long time before taking on a shortened shape. There is also a "flavispin" shape, characterized by orange-yellow spines.
The native growing areas are in the mountainous regions of Argentina, where it is most often found in San Jose, Mendoza, and also not a rare guest in Tucuman, La Rioja and Salta. Basically, the absolute height at which these cacti prefer to grow is 800-2800 meters. The main threat to the species is human activities (mining) or forest fires.
Denmoza red-headed (Denmoza erythrocephala). In height, the stem of this species can approach 1.5 m with a diameter of about 30 cm. The ribs are straight, they number from 20 to 30 units. Each areola has thin radial spines, which reach 3 cm in length. Their color is brownish-red, acicular outlines, sometimes reaching the state of hairs. The thorn located in the center is more elastic and does not exceed 6 cm in length. Its color is reddish-brown. The length of the flower tube of the flower is 7 cm, the petals are cast in a red tint.
Denmoza erythrocephala (Denmoza erythrocephala). It is a barrel-shaped cactus with unusual flowers. The rim in them is zygomorphic (that is, a single plane of symmetry can be drawn through its plane, which divides the surface into two equal parts), tubular. This species is highly variable.
