The characteristic differences of the plant, how to grow a fraile at home, recommendations for independent reproduction, the fight against possible diseases and pests, notes for flower growers, species. Frailea is part of a large family called Cactaceae, whose native lands are considered to be the territory of South America. It includes the northeastern regions of Argentina, the eastern Bolivian lands, the southern regions of Brazil, as well as the areas of Colombia, Paraguay and Uruguay. They can even be found on mountainous areas. There are up to 17 varieties in the genus.
This cactus bears its scientific name thanks to Manuel Fraile, who served as curator of the cactus collection in the US Department of Agriculture.
All representatives of the Fraile genus have stems with spherical or shortened cylindrical shapes. In height, they rarely exceed 10 cm, while their diameter can vary in the range of 2–5 cm. That is, they are no more than a chicken egg in size. In natural conditions, it happens that the stem gives multiple lateral processes and the plant takes on a bushy appearance. The color of the stem surface is green, but under the direct rays of the sun, the cells of the epidermis seem to "tan", acquiring brown or purple tones, which is very harmful for the plant.
Areoles located on the surface of the shoots are small, they grow very densely and have white or yellowish pubescence. The ribs are low, like the papillae, indistinctly pronounced. Their number can vary from ten to twenty-five units. The formed spines are divided into central (but some types are devoid of them) and radial. Their color can vary from pale yellow to jet black. Radial spines with thin outlines, almost invisible, their diameter does not exceed 0.3 cm, there are 3–20 such spines. Central spines in length are measured 0.7 cm.
When flowering at the top of the stem, buds originate, in which the flower tube is covered with whitish pubescence. Usually, flower petals are painted in yellow color, and their size exceeds the parameters of the frailey itself. Such plants are characterized by such a property as cleistogamy, that is, when self-pollination occurs and the seeds ripen in a closed flower corolla. Flowering is observed only in cacti that have reached the age of 2-3 years, while the size of the stem can be by eye equal to the parameters of the cherry fruit. In order to enjoy the lush flowering of Frailea, it is necessary to provide a lot of sunlight during this period when growing at home.
During the cleistogamy process, there are a large number of seeds formed, their sizes are large, the surface is glossy, shiny. They are cup-shaped in shape, painted in brown color. The seeds are quite good and fast germination.
Since the plant has small parameters in height, it is interesting for flower growers who collect collections of cacti on their windowsill. When growing at home, the fraile develops fully and if the owner does not violate the requirements for care, then they delight him with lush flowering. However, it must be admitted that if we compare Frailea with other cacti, then it lives no more than a decade. Sometimes experienced cacti connoisseurs recommend grafting so that the plant has more than just its own root. In such cases, the development of the cactus is much faster, and its size increases.
How to grow a frailey, home care
- Councils for the selection of lighting. This "inhabitant" of the hottest places of the planet prefers a lot of sunlight, but when growing at home, you should not put a pot with a file on the sill of the southern window. In nature, the direct rays of the sun, like the heat, are compensated by the presence of a minimal breeze, which will negate the risk of burns. But indoors, when the pot is in the room behind the glass, there will be no constant air movement and the cactus stem can burn. The southeast direction is recommended, where the lighting will be bright, but diffused. If the flowerpot is in the southern location, then shading will be required at noon. A good level of light is necessary in order for at least some of the flowers to open. In winter, the owner needs to carry out supplementary lighting if the plant is in the northern room. Then phytolamps should shine around the clock.
- Content temperature. When growing Frailea at home, it is recommended to maintain constant heat values throughout the year, which should be in the range of 20-25 degrees. If summer heat comes, then the room must be constantly ventilated, which will correspond to the movement of air masses in natural conditions. If it is problematic to provide a full-fledged level of lighting in the winter months, then the pot of cacti is transferred to cooler rooms, but it is important that the thermometer does not drop below 12 heat units there.
- Air humidity. Here's something, but this factor will not require efforts from the owner of the frailey, since the plant feels good at low humidity levels in a living room or office. Even when heaters and central heating batteries are turned on in winter, there is no need to spray the cactus.
- Watering. This factor is the most important when cultivating a cactus at home. It is important not to fill the soil with Frailea in a pot, otherwise rotting of the roots and stems is inevitable, after which it is practically impossible to save it. This plant “does not forgive” mistakes during watering. If, when watering, the water is glass into a stand under the pot, then it is immediately drained from there. It is recommended to use warm water when humidifying, the temperature of which is only slightly higher than the thermometer in the room - 23–26 units. Also, the liquid should be soft and well settled. You can collect rainwater or use distilled water. If this is not possible, then tap water is passed through a filter, boiled and defended. It has been noticed that the plant sometimes gives signals that it lacks moisture, pulling its stem under the soil surface and decreasing in size. They try to irrigate regularly in the spring-summer period, but in the fall they are reduced, bringing them up to once a month in winter.
- Fertilizers. Some novice flower growers mistakenly believe that since a cactus grows in nature in rather harsh conditions and on poor soil, then plant feeding is not needed. But the whole thing is when the frailea is grown at home and the potted soil loses its properties. Starting from spring days, fertilizers are applied to the cactus. Their number can be 2-3 times before autumn. No top dressing is needed during the winter months. It is recommended to use preparations intended for cacti and succulent plants, without violating the dosage indicated on the package.
- Freylea transplantation. Since the cactus is very slow in growth, it is rarely transplanted and the volume that the plant accepts becomes the guideline in each case. The new capacity is selected small, but deep due to the large root system of Frailea. It must have an upper and lower drainage layer so that the soil is never waterlogged. It is desirable that the new flowerpot be made of natural materials, ideally, clay is better. This will be the key to adjusting the moisture content of the substrate. The soil for the frailey is selected light, air and moisture permeable to the roots, with slightly acidic pH values. You can use ready-made soil mixtures for succulents or cacti that are on sale. If you want to compose the substrate yourself, then combine equal amounts of clay soil, peat crumbs and coarse sand. Very fine gravel or crushed charcoal can be added to this composition. Small expanded clay or pebbles act as a drainage layer, and perlite is also poured over the soil.
- Features of care. The disadvantage of growing Frailea is that over time, the cactus loses its decorative properties and will need to be renewed.
Recommendations for self-propagation of frailey
When growing a cactus at home, you can get a new plant by sowing harvested or purchased seeds. It is recommended to sow such material in seedling boxes filled with sandy soil, which is slightly moistened before sowing. It is better to select a substrate that is nutritious, light and well-permeable to air or water, you can use a peat-sand mixture (its parts should be equal). The seeds are neatly and evenly distributed on the surface of the soil and lightly crushed into it. Then the box must be covered with transparent plastic wrap or thin glass must be placed on top. This will help create conditions for a greenhouse or mini-greenhouse - high humidity and warmth. The germination temperature is maintained in the range of 20-25 degrees, and the place is selected with bright, but diffused lighting.
Seeds germinate quickly and amicably after 8–11 days. During this time, ventilation should be performed every two days in order to remove condensation. After that, it is recommended to remove the shelter and grow the seedlings in a brighter place. When they increase slightly in size, they are transplanted into separate pots with suitable soil.
Fight against diseases and pests arising from the cultivation of frailey
You can please flower growers with the fact that this plant, if the rules of care are not violated, rarely gets sick, and it is not affected by harmful insects. But still, with increased dryness of the indoor air, Frailea is attacked by a spider mite or mealybug. The first pest manifests itself as a thin whitish cobweb that begins to wrap the stem, and the second insect can be identified due to white cotton-like lumps that cover the shoots. Spraying with insecticidal and acaricidal preparations is recommended.
With constant waterlogging of the substrate in a pot with frailey, measles rot is possible. If the symptoms are detected immediately (the stem becomes soft to the touch and its color turns yellow), then the cactus can occasionally be saved by transplanting using sterile soil and a pot, but before transplanting, all damaged roots are removed and the plant is treated with a fungicide.
If a cactus stops growing, then this is a reaction to poor watering. When the buds fall, the reason is insufficient lighting.
Notes to flower growers about frailei, photo of a cactus
The first taxon of this genus, Frailea pumila, which was subject to research, was assigned to the Echinocactus genus in 1838 by the botanist and flora taxon from France Charles Antoine Lemer (1800–1871). American botanists studying cacti Nathaniel Lord Britton (1859-1934) and Joseph Nelson Rose (1862-1928) identified representatives of this genus from the Echinocactus group, thanks to programmatic studies that were carried out from 1919 to 1923.
After the plant is purchased from a flower shop, it is recommended to put it in the so-called "quarantine zone", since even a seemingly healthy cactus can be a source of disease or contain harmful insects (or their eggs). After 2–3 weeks, the freyle must be transplanted, since the transport container and the soil in it may not be suitable for further cultivation. The operation is performed very carefully so as not to injure the cactus root system. It is also not worth watering the plant for another 14 days in order for the adaptation period to pass, while shading from the direct streams of ultraviolet radiation at noon is necessary.
Freiley types
- Frailea small (Frailea pumila). The branching of the stem in this species goes straight from the very base. The outlines of the stem are spherical. The surface of the shoots is painted in a dark green color with a reddish tint. On the stem, from 13 to 15 ribs formed by tubercles can form. The spines originating from the areoles are small, with a brown tint, their number is multiple, some have curvature. When flowering, small buds can open, the corolla of which is no more than two centimeters long.
- Frailea chestnut (Frailea castanea). The native territories of distribution are stretched from the southern regions of Brazil to the Uruguayan north. The stem is spherical, brownish-green in color, has the peculiarity of the formation of lateral processes. The height of the stem is small, the diameter is almost 4 cm. The ribs are separated from each other by stripes of clearly defined contours, their outlines are flat and rather wide. The spines, tightly attached to the surface of the stem, are soft and small in size (about 2 mm). Their color varies from reddish brown to charcoal. You can count the thorns in the range of 8-11 units. If flowering occurs, buds form at the top, which open a cone-shaped corolla. The flower reaches 1.5 cm in length. The petals have a yellow color. With improper care, the flowers do not open, but both pollination and seed ripening (cleistogamy) occur inside them. With the help of them, reproduction can be successfully carried out.
- Frailea phaeodisca considered one of the most attractive species of its kind. The surface of the cactus stem is smooth. The ribs, like the tubercles, are practically not pronounced. The shape of the shoot is spherical. The stem color is grayish-green with a reddish tint. Areolas have a chocolate brown color. Short radial spines of a light shade originate from them. They are pressed tightly to the surface of the cactus. When fully opened, the flower does not exceed 2 cm. If there is not enough sun during flowering, then some buds do not open and, thanks to cleistogamy, shiny seeds ripen inside them. They are large in size, but do not differ in long-term germination.
- Frailea dwarf (Frailea pygmaea) like other species, it has a spherical stem, or it can take the form of a slightly elongated cylinder. The epidermis is painted in a dirty green hue. The height and diameter of the stem does not exceed 3 cm. The size of the spines is small, they even look like whitish bristles. The flower tube also has a bristle coating. The size of the flower is average, the corolla reaches 3 cm in diameter, and does not exceed 2.5 cm in length.
- Frailea carapace (Frailea cataphracta). The outlines of the stem in this species are spherical with some flattening. The size of the diameter reaches 4 cm. The surface of the stem is green, but if the cactus is in direct sunlight for a long time, then it takes on a violet-blue tint.
When the plant is still young, the stem does not yet have lateral processes, but over time they grow in large numbers. Ribs are formed from tubercles in rows. Areoles are located at their tops. Each areola gives rise to five thin spines of golden yellow color. Under the areoles, spots resembling a crescent shape are visible. The color of these spots can vary from reddish brown to purple. The length of the corolla of the flowers is 4 cm.
