General signs of ferocactus, a description of the rules for care, recommendations for reproduction, transplantation and soil selection, difficulties in growing, interesting facts, species. Ferocactus (Ferocactus) is a member of a large family of perennial plants - Cactaceae (Cactaceae), it also includes similar perennials, divided into four groups: perennial, prickly pear, mauhyeny and cactus. Representatives of the latter group are completely devoid of leaf plates, with the exception of those leaves that have greatly decreased in size (rudimentary) and are located on the flower tube. Glochidia are also absent - spines of small length with microscopic outgrowths-hooks, which are easy to break off. They are most represented in the opuntia family, and ferocactuses belong to the Cereus subfamily (Cereoideae Schum.), Which also includes about 35 plant species.
In general, cactus is a fairly old family, into which perennials emerged more than 30–40 million years ago. The ancient Greek scientists used the word "cactus" to name plants that were unknown to them. A Swedish botanist who lived in the 17th century, Karl Linnaeus first used the name "Cactus" in 1737 in one of his first robots, but apparently it was an abbreviation for melocactus, which denoted plants with certain properties, and, strangely enough, he chose the name " thistle ", that is, a plant that has thorns. And then they began to use this name for similar perennials. However, in the word "ferocactus" the first part "ferus" in translation from Latin means as tough, indomitable or wild, apparently, this is due to the long thorns that cover the plant.
The homeland of this cactus is quite vast territories: the lands of North America, Mexican geographical areas, as well as the south or southeast of America, California, Oaxaca, Queretaro and other desert areas. They also like to settle in the foothills or mountainous areas at an absolute altitude of 500-3000 m. But there are varieties that grow at the bottom of deep canyons in the United States.
Ferocactus is usually a plant with the following properties:
- thermophilic and growing in the deserts of the planet, tolerates low humidity indicators well, can do without watering for a long time;
- has a rounded, flattened, spherical or elongated form of growth;
- the stem can be singular or numerous lateral processes (offspring), which are similar in outline to the pillow;
- it is completely covered with thorns - powerful in appearance, quite strong, sometimes with a very beautiful shade;
- the ribbing is well defined, the ribs are high, sometimes covered with tubercles and there can be from 13 to 40 units of them;
- spines, radially located, measure 2-4 cm in length and have a color in white, yellowish or light brown tones, they are acicular or subulate in shape;
- the spines located in the center reach a length of 3–7 (sometimes 13) cm and there are from one to 13 cm, the color is very diverse, they grow in shape straight, subulate, in the form of hooks or slightly curved, can be flat or rounded;
- flowers have a short tube that is completely covered with scales;
- flower buds, large in diameter (up to 7 cm) and various shades (cream, pinkish purple);
- flowers can open at the same time for several dozen;
- the fruits of ferocactus are fleshy, also covered with scaly, reaching 6 cm in length and up to 3 cm in diameter;
- when the fruits of a cactus are removed, then a mark does not pass in their place for a long time.
Some of the ferocactus species can grow in huge colonies, where there are hundreds of shoots. For example, Ferocactus robustus is always perceived as one whole plant, its diameter can reach more than four meters at a meter height. After cacti such as Echinocactus, it is the largest perennial with the shape of a ball or cylinder. Flowering in natural conditions occurs only in adult plants, and in the room there is practically none.
Tips for caring for ferocactus in an apartment or office
- Lighting. The plant, like a real inhabitant of desert areas, loves bright lighting both in winter and in summer months. Only some species require a little shading at midday. Therefore, windows from the southern, eastern and western locations will do, but on the windowsill of the northern side of the room, you will have to illuminate the ferocactus.
- Content temperature. It is necessary to adhere to heat indicators of 20-35 degrees in the summer months. In winter, a dormant period begins, in which maintenance is necessary only at 10-15 degrees. If the thermometer drops to 8-10 degrees, then this can be fatal for ferocactus. Air baths are most suitable for the plant in summer, as it loves fresh air and sun. The "prickly handsome" is very sensitive to sharp fluctuations in heat, he is afraid of drafts and cold.
- Air humidity for this inhabitant of the deserts it should be low, he can cope with this perfectly, in the summer you can spray him lightly. During winter dormancy, it is also required to withstand low humidity levels, otherwise the plant will rot at low temperatures.
- Watering ferocactus. It is necessary to moisturize the plant with the arrival of constant warm days abundantly, but not often. The soil in the container should dry out completely before watering again. In no case should moisture stagnation be allowed. The plant is more likely to successfully tolerate the forgetfulness of the owner than his diligence in moistening the soil in the pot. In winter, watering should be limited, only when the soil is very dry, you can moisten it a little. Water for irrigation is used well-separated at room temperature. Can be watered with distilled water or collected after the rain, melted snow, but warmed up to a temperature of 20-24 degrees.
- Fertilizer. Feeding ferocactus is not required, since in nature it can grow on rocks, which are very few in nutrients. Special fertilizers are used for cacti and succulent plants, while the dose is reduced by half or even three times that recommended on the package. Regularity of application once a month from spring to autumn.
- Transplantation and choice of substrate. For young ferocactuses, it is recommended to change the potting medium and the container itself every year, and over time only once every 2-3 years. The plant is very sensitive to the fact that the root system is disturbed and after this procedure it sometimes gets sick. The transplanting process is carried out in the spring. The new container should be approximately one size larger than the previous one. In its natural habitat, ferocactus lives well on calcareous and rocky, stony soils. The acidity of the transplanting medium varies between pH 7-8 and should be light and well-drained. You can use ready-made mixtures for cacti and succulents, and add river sand or fine gravel to them. And also flower growers make soil mixtures independently from leafy soil, sod soil, peat soil, coarse sand, crushed brick (in proportions 1: 2: 1: 1: 0, 5). Crushed coal is added to the composition of the substrate.
- A feature of ferocactus. When the plant is in the active phase of growth, syrup of a thick consistency begins to emerge from the rosette of thorns in the very center, it looks like sugar. When this syrup solidifies, it turns into crystals. They need to be removed with special care or washed off with a soft brush moistened with alcohol.
Recommendations for self-propagation of ferocactus
Ferocactus propagates by seeds, sometimes by cuttings.
When planting seed, it is required to wrap it in a napkin, linen bag or paper and soak it in warm water for at least a day. This is necessary for the seeds to swell and increase their germination. The substrate needs to be calcined in the oven, then moistened and seeds are poured onto its surface, it is not required to deepen them, just dust it a little with soil. The container with seedlings should be wrapped in a plastic bag or placed on top of glass. It is recommended to put the container in a warm place, the conditions of a mini-greenhouse with constant temperature and humidity will be maintained in the pot itself, but it is necessary to periodically open the seedlings to ventilate and moisten the soil from a spray bottle. The first shoots are expected to appear in about a month. After that, the film or glass is removed so that the plants get used to the air and room conditions. The seedling pot can be placed in a well-lit place, but without direct sunlight. When young cacti grow up, they are transplanted into separate pots.
If propagated by cuttings, then it is necessary to take them only from a healthy and strong ferocactus. Slices must be thoroughly dried before planting, within 3-4 days. For planting, a substrate is made of sand and crushed charcoal, or use small expanded clay (there is information that rooting in it is faster). Cover the cuttings with a glass jar or cut plastic bottle. It is regularly necessary to ventilate the planted plants and moisten the soil if it dries up. When the cuttings root and get stronger, the jar is removed and transplanted into separate containers with suitable soil.
Problems in growing ferocactus and their solution
The plant is practically not affected by diseases and pests, however, difficulties arise when the conditions of detention are violated.
Of the harmful insects that are interested in this cactus, spider mites, mealybugs and aphids are isolated. When the first pest is damaged, the plant becomes covered with a thin cobweb and whitish dots (insect eggs) if you shake the stem over the paper, then the ticks can fall off and you can see them. The mealybug is manifested by formations on the stem in the form of cotton pieces and also a sticky coating, it can lead to the development of a sooty fungus. Aphids like to settle on the stem, since there are no leaves, then the shoots and buds of the cactus begin to deform, plant growth stops, galls appear - unaesthetic growths, and the pest itself is clearly visible (green or black bugs). Aphids appear due to extreme heat or dry soil in a pot.
Since the plant does not have leaves, only a shower procedure is suitable, which will help to remove insects at least partially, the soil in the pot is wrapped in polyethylene so that water does not get into the pot. An insecticide treatment can be carried out.
If ferocactus is kept in cool conditions and the soil is flooded, then, as a result, gray rot is affected. If a problem is immediately noticed, then the root shoots of the plant can be washed, the lesions can be removed, disinfected, treated with a fungicide and transplanted into new sterile soil, and the conditions of maintenance and watering can be leveled. If the rot was not noticed immediately, and it strongly affected the stem, then the cactus cannot be saved.
Interesting facts about ferocactus
The plant has a very wide range of uses in its homeland, especially for economic purposes. It is customary to give cactus pulp to animals in the form of food, and it also serves as a reliable source of moisture in desert areas. In Ferocactus acanthodes, the shoot tips are always south-facing and can be used as a compass. Since the stems of this plant are hollow, they are still used by the Indians to store food. Craftsmen made fish hooks from hard thorns or use them as an awl. Ferocactus seeds are quite tasty and edible. Many of the species are used as raw materials for the production of flavors or sweets. When in the last century, in 20-30, they began to industrially produce "cactus sweets" for confectionery purposes, the population suffered greatly, since many of the growing areas of this plant were devastated.
Ferocactus species
There are a lot of plant species, here are only a few.
- Acanthus ferocactus (Ferocactus acanthodes (Lem.) Britt. Et Rose). The plant is distinguished by a large elongated stem, which rarely forms lateral processes, is painted in a rich emerald hue. It can grow to a height of 2-3 meters with a diameter of 60 cm. The number of ribs varies from 25 to 27, and their height is approximately 2 cm. Brown areoles are available. The spines located radially in the amount of 10-15 pieces are usually thin and rigid, and those that grow in the center in the form of an awl (2-3 units): one bends upwards, measuring 10-12 cm in length. The color of all spines can be either white-pink or red. The flowers are shaped like bells with a tube covered with purple scales. They can reach 5 cm in length with a diameter of 7 cm. Painted in yellow and orange shades. 3-centimeter fruits ripen. Nevada (USA) and Baja California (Mexico) are considered homeland.
- Ferocactus coloratus Gat. This representative also grows up to a meter in height with a diameter of 30 cm. The ribs are 13–20, they are tall, covered with tubercles, the areoles are large, with pubescence. The length of the radial spines is one and a half centimeters, they can be from 10 to 14 pieces, similar to the bristles, the color is dull white. Central spines are measured up to 3.5 cm in length, there are 9–11 units of them, they are straight, tough and strong. The one in the middle is colored brownish-red, similar to a hook, flat and wide. The buds are straw-yellow in color, the fruits are also yellowish, the seeds are dull, black. The homeland is the same.
- Ferocactus Wide-spiked (Ferocactus lutispinus). This plant has a dissonant name "Devil's tongue". Its stem is large in the form of a ball, approximately 35 cm in diameter. The flowers of the plant are painted in shades of pink. Ribs in the amount of 15–20 units differ in density. In the center there are 4 spines, one of which has a hooked bend. Radial grows from 7 to 10 pieces.
- Ferocactus Ford (Ferocactus fordii). The stem has a rounded shape in the form of a ball, there are 20 ribs. Radial spines in the amount of 15 units are completely light and pale. In the center, hooked spines, usually 4–5 pieces, are painted in a red-gray shade. Flowers of a beautiful purple color scheme.
- Ferocactus Imary (Ferocactus emoryi). The plant grows to a height of one and a half meters, it has few ribs. When ferocactus is very young, tuberosity is clearly visible on its ribs. The spines are located radially from 5 to 8 units, one of them with a length of 8 cm is straight and strongly curved. The spines can be colored white or red. Bloody red flowers with yellow spots.
- Porcupine ferocactus (Ferocactus hystrix). The perennial plant is shaded with green-blue color. The stem is spherical. The number of ribs is about 24 units. On the ribs there are protruding brown spines. The flowers resemble bells in shape, grow one at a time, reach a size of 3–3.5 cm, and are painted in bright yellow tones. Flowering occurs during the summer months.
- Ferocactus powerful (Ferocactus robustus). The widest-growing species - with a diameter of 5 m, it reaches 1 m in height. The stem is dark green, with 8 ribs, in the shape of a ball. The spines are brownish-red, flat and of varying lengths.
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