A characteristic description of the cactus: the etymology of the name, native territories, general appearance, recommendations for reproduction, difficulties in leaving, interesting facts, species. Melocactus (Melocactus) is also called the Melon cactus, it is included in the genus of cacti of the same Cactaceae family. In this genus, there are up to 33 species that are settled on the coasts of Mexico, and they can also be found in the interior regions of Guatemala, Honduras, Peru and northern Brazil. These plants are not uncommon in the Antilles, and if you believe historical data, then melocactuses were, apparently, the first cacti with spherical trunks that were seen by Europeans when the American continent was discovered. Plants settle in coastal places so close to water that splashes of waves often fall on their flowers and stems, but this does not harm melocactus.
This representative of the flora got its name due to its appearance, which looks very much like the well-known melon, and in Latin the beginning of mel means melon culture. The local population calls the plant "turban".
Melocactus have medium-sized stems, taking a shape from flattened-spherical to short-cylindrical. In height, the stems can approach the meter, but they are usually much lower. The diameter of the stem varies in the range of 10–20 cm. On the surface, high, as a rule, straight ribs, on which strong spines grow, are clearly visible. The number of ribs also varies from type to type - there can be from 9 to 20 units. They have oval areoles with little pubescence. The distance between them is up to 2.5 cm. The thorns also directly depend on the type of plant, they can take subulate outlines, be straight and bend at the top. In length no more than 2.5 cm, with white, gray or brown color. The number of radials can reach 15 units, they diverge on the sides and have a slight bend, the central ones grow 1–4 pieces, their size is longer, the color is the same as that of the radial ones.
Melocactus differs from all cacti in the presence of cephalius - a word derived from the Greek kefaln, meaning "head". This formation is a modified generative shoot, which can be felt or bristly. Its location is at the top of the stem, the color is bright. In fact, the cephalic is a peduncle, devoid of chlorophyll and stomata for gas exchange in tissues on the surface. It is densely covered with bristles or hairy pubescence. The purpose of cephalia is only to fulfill the function of flowering and fruiting. Young specimens do not have such an education. Cephalic appears at a time when the cactus reaches 10–20 years of age.
The flowers are often small with a bright color, the flowering process takes only a few hours, but they open in large numbers in the summer-autumn period. The color of the petals is pink, red or carmine red. The flowers of melocactus are pollinated ornithophilic, that is, hummingbirds perform it in nature, but it has been noticed that bees and other insects also participate in this process. Often this plant conducts self-pollination (the property of self-fertility), then even in a melocactus growing alone, seeds ripening.
The fruits of the plant are elongated, usually 1, 25 cm or slightly more, their surface is smooth, when fully ripe they take on a wide variety of pink shades.
Agrotechnics for growing melocactus at home
- Lighting and location. For this plant, bright lighting is preferable, but in the midst of summer days, only a slight shade from the direct rays of the sun. Therefore, you can put a pot with melocactus on the windowsills of windows with an eastern, western and southern orientation. It is on the south window that light curtains will have to be hung. If there is no choice, and the plant is on the north side, then it is recommended to carry out constant supplementary lighting with phytolamps, this will be the key to the subsequent formation of cephaly. The same measures are carried out in winter on windows of any orientation, since melocactuses "winter" in nature in bright sunlight.
- Content temperature. Only a cactus grower with experience can grow melocactus, since the plant is quite picky in terms of temperature and the standard wintering conditions will not suit it. In the winter months, as a rule, you will need to withstand heat readings above 10 degrees, and for some varieties, about 15 units. And on a cold windowsill it is better not to put a pot with such a cactus, in contrast to its more hardy "brothers". If possible, a flowerpot with a "turban" is placed in the upper part of the window opening, on a specially constructed shelf. Naturally, there should be no vents nearby. All this is because, under natural conditions, melocactus overwinters in a dry climate with high temperatures and high levels of solar radiation. Naturally, it is not always possible to create such parameters in rooms, but it is optimal when the plant “hibernates” at room temperature. If this condition is not met, then you should not wait for the formation of cephaly in the plant. In the summertime, heat indicators should not drop to less than 30 degrees, but at night they are lowered to the 20-degree mark. In order for such a temperature regime to be observed, cactus growers recommend taking care of heating if the temperature drops too much in the summer.
- Air humidity when growing melocactus during the hot summer months, it should be increased by spraying with soft and warm water.
- Watering. When it comes to growing melocactus, you should be very careful with soil moisture. In summer, watering should be regular and abundant, but such that the substrate is not swampy. In the winter, the plant is not watered at all. Only soft and warm water is used.
- Transplant and soil. Young plants are transplanted every year, and adults - every 4–5 years. The pot is selected flat due to the structure of the root system, but wide. A drainage layer is placed on the bottom. The soil is used for cacti or humus soil is mixed with sand (1: 2). The root collar is not deepened during transplantation. Small expanded clay or pebbles are poured onto the surface of the soil.
Steps for self-propagation of melocactus
You can propagate a cactus with the appearance of a melon both vegetatively and by seeds.
For seed propagation, use low containers, with a height of 3-5 cm, made of plastic. Before disembarking, they are disinfected and holes are made in the bottom to drain moisture. The substrate is used the same as for adult melocactus. Instead, you can mix turf soil, peat and river sand (in a ratio of 1: 1: 0, 5), add half a handful of fine expanded clay, crushed red sifted bricks and a fraction of crushed activated carbon there. A little fine sand is poured on top and moistened with a spray bottle. The seeds are spread over the surface and sprinkled with sand again. The container must be covered with glass.
After 14 days, shoots will appear. At the same time, it is important not to allow the soil to dry out and protect the seedlings from direct sunlight. Water for irrigation needs boiled water, watering is lower. Airings are carried out 2 times a day for 10-15 minutes. When the seedlings grow up, then on cloudy days the glass can be removed, so it adapts to the conditions of the rooms. Only when the height of the cacti is 1 cm, the shelter can be removed (already in winter).
In the spring, a transplant is carried out into a deep container, the root necks are not buried, and then the soil is sprinkled on top with small pebbles (5 mm). Up to 3 years old, transplants are annual, and less often after. Since melocactus has no lateral shoots, the top of the stem, the apex, should be cut off. In this case, you should try to leave as many areolas as possible intact. The slice is dried. The lower part of the stem, or the mother plant, soon forms young shoots, they can then be separated and then rooted or grafted.
Difficulties in growing melocactus and ways to solve them
When growing this cactus, the following problems can be distinguished:
- with waterlogging (especially in the autumn-winter months) or watering with unheated water, the rhizome and stem rot in melocactus;
- if the plant does not bloom, then you should pay attention to the lack of lighting or excessive moisture.
Most often, this cactus is affected by the root worm (nematodes), then it is rarely possible to save the specimen, but you can try to carry out processing: you should remove the melocactus from the soil, clean the roots from the soil and place the root system in a 0.5% solution for 10-15 minutes parathion or 0.1–0.5% fosdrin preparation. Or a spider mite can attack the plant. In this case, it is recommended to carry out the treatment with an insecticide.
Interesting facts about melocactus
The genus of these cacti got their name thanks to Joseph Pitton de Tournefort (1656-1708), a famous scientist from France, who was also a professor of botany at the Royal Gardens, located in Paris, and where medicinal plants were kept. This is due to the fact that with its outlines of the stem the plant resembles a melon, which in Latin refers to the word mel, with the abbreviation melpepo.
Since the flower is located at the top of the cephalius, as well as the shape and red color of the petals, it was the reason that the first Spaniards who came to South America called the plant "Turkish hat".
Types of melocactus
- Nice melocactus (Melocactus amoenus) has a spherical stem, cephalic (generative organ) pubescent with whitish wool. On the stem, there are 10–12 ribs, 4 pairs of radial spines are formed, with a length of 1, 2 cm, a single thorn in the center, equal to 1, 6 cm. Often, young shoots do not have such a thorn. When flowering, the size of the bud is 2.5 cm, the color is pinkish.
- Melocactus azure (Melocactus azureus) the native areola of growth falls on the lands of Brazil, namely the region of Bahia and Serra do Espinhas. It is because of the azure-blue color of the stem that the plant bears its specific name. The shape of the stem is from spherical to elongated, it is 15 cm in height, while its diameter is about 12 cm. Lateral shoots are absent. The number of ribs is from 9 to 10 units, they are large in size, sharp. The size of the areoles is rather large, their shape is oval, and they have a slight depression. Seven radial spines are painted in a light gray color, in the lower part of the trunk they are bent at the ends, measure 4 cm in length. Central spines can be one or three, they are gray in color, the top is dark brown, their length is about 2, 5 cm. Cephalicus in height does not exceed 3.5 cm, in diameter is equal to 7 cm. The color is snow-white, the bristles are thin, hair-like, red. The resulting buds have carmine petals. The seed material is clearly visible, large in size, the surface is shiny, the color is black.
- Baisky melocactus (Melocactus bahiensis) grows on the territory of Brazil in Bahia. The color of the stem is grayish-green, the shape is spherical, but over time, flattening appears. Its height reaches 10 cm with a diameter of about 15 cm. There are 10-12 units of clearly defined ribs. The length of 7–10 radial spines is no more than 2 cm. The spines located in the central part (1–4 jokes) grow up to 3 cm long. All spines are rigid, subulate, their color is brown, but with age they take on a gray color. The cephalius is low, with dark brown setae on its surface. When flowering, buds devoid of pedicels are formed, the petals of which are cast in a pink tone.
- Melocactus blue-gray (Melocactus caesius) has a spherical stem, which in its shape and color is very similar to a melon. There are only 10 ribs. There are 7 radial spines, and the central spine is the only one. The cephalius is snow-white, the flowers have petals of a pale cyclamen shade. It is considered among connoisseurs as a relatively unassuming type of cactus.
- Melocactus matanzanus grows on Cuban lands, namely in Matanzas, which was the reason for the species name. The color of the stem is dark green, the shape is spherical, in diameter it can reach 8–10 cm. The ribs are sharp, sinuous in outline, there are 8–9 of them. There can be 7-8 radial thorns, spread out, their length does not exceed 1 cm. The central thorn is single, thick, measuring 3 cm long. The color of the thorns is reddish-brown, over time they become lighter, strong and hard to the touch. The cephalic is 2–4 cm in height, 5–6 cm in diameter, the surface is covered with thick thin reddish bristles. The resulting flowers are pinkish, reaching 1.5 cm in length. The fruits are tied white-pink.
- Melocactus neryi. Native lands are in the north of Brazil. The color of the stem is dark green, the shape is flattened-spherical, the diameter can vary within 10-14 cm. There are 10 sharp, symmetrically located ribs. The number of radial spines is within 7–9 units, straight or curved, they reach 2.5 cm in length, there are grooves on the surface. They are devoid of central spines. The cephalius reaches 5 cm in height with a diameter of 7 cm, the bristles are reddish. The petals of flowers are carmine-red, up to 2 cm in length. Fruits have pinkish-carmine tones.
- Common melocactus (Melocactus communis). Probably the most famous of all species in the genus. The stem is quite large in height, it can reach up to meter indicators, while about 30 cm across is measured. The ribs are clear and rigid, covered with beautiful thorns. The cephalius has a snow-white color, there are brown bristles, which are 1 cm in length. The flowers have a pink tint. Native territories are in Jamaican lands.
- Melocactus broadwayi. They usually grow singly, easily recognizable by their cephalics in adulthood. When the plant is young, its stem shape resembles a small barrel. The outlines of the stem are conical at the top and rounded at the bottom, slightly elongated. The surface is ribbed. The height of the cactus can reach 20 cm with a diameter of about 20 cm. The cephalic is whitish with brown bristles. The number of ribs is in the range of 13-18 units. When blooming, small and inconspicuous buds appear, the petals of which change from a bright pink color to a purple tone. It is usually located in the upper part of the cephaly. The fruits are pear-shaped and red in color.
- Diamond melocactus (Melocactus diamanticus) may also be found under the name Melocactus diamantineus. It has extremely beautiful and very long red spines and large, woolly processes. The stem is spherical, it can reach 15 cm in diameter, and has 10–12 ribs. Cephalic with multiple setae of brown color.
- Melocactus intortus has the shape of a melon. It grows in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, as well as in Puerto Rico. Quite rare even in the wild. The stem is cylindrical, its color is green. There are 14–20 ribs. When the plant is young, it is elongated and spherical, but over time it takes on an oval or cylindrical shape. The flowers are red, pollinated by hummingbirds, and also multiply by seeds, which are carried by the birds that eat them.
For more on what melocactus looks like, see the following video:
