Cacti and other succulents
Among ornamental plants, a large group of thick species is known, fleshy leaves or shoots. They are the so-called. succulents. Ornamental plant lovers refer to all these plants as cacti, however, professionals should know the differences. We call only these succulents cacti, which belong to the botanical family of cactus. So not every succulent is a cactus, but most cacti are succulents.
Cacti and other succulents are grown as houseplants for decorating rooms. They play a minor role in floriculture, but they are a permanent fixture; They can be found in almost every flower shop, planted individually in small pots or in several (different species) in special vessels.
Cacti have spherical shoots, fleshy or cylindrical (Cereus), ribbed in most species. There are also species, that have no ribs, but more or less protruding nipples (Mammillaria) or flattened shoots (Opuntia), often resembling leaves (e.g. Zygocactus). The leaves are usually reduced to tiny scales or hairs, and breathing was taken over by the chlorophyll-containing shoots. Of the kinds, which form leaves, the Pe-ireskia used as a rootstock for other cacti is widely known. On the backs of the ribs, the tops of the warts or over the entire surface, like for example. in prickly pear, there are tufts of thorns or woolly hairs.
In most cacti, flowers grow singly and are usually sessile. Some species bloom during the day and these have yellow flowers, pink or red, less often white, others only at night and have white flowers (e.g. "Queen of the Night"). Cactus flowers usually last for several days on the shoots, but there are also such, which wilt after a few hours.
Apart from cacti, succulents have representatives among many families. They are characterized by fleshy leaves, in which they accumulate a supply of water and food during unfavorable conditions. They are usually covered with a thick layer of wax or thick hairs, which protect them from excessive evaporation. Some succulents also store water in bulbous-thickened roots.
Agave is the most famous of the succulents (Agave), al o e s (Aloe), crassula (Crassulla), eczeweria (Think), havorsja (Haworthia), mesemeb (Mesembrianthemum) stonecrop (Sedum).
Even though cacti and succulents belong to different families and don't have the same requirements, but general growing conditions, for most of these plants they are common.
Multiplication
Cacti are propagated by seeds, by suckers, seeding and grafting, succulents usually by suckling and cuttings.
Siew. Fill the cups or flat boxes with leaf soil mixed with an equal amount of sand, and cover the surface with a thin layer of sand alone. The crockery is filled like this, that their edges stick out 1,5 cm above the ground. It is therefore necessary, that the seeds remain covered by the glass for a long time, so there must be free space for the seedlings.
Cacti have tiny seeds. They are sown in sowing, does not cover up, he only presses it lightly with a wooden board, and then covers it with glass. Because they require a temperature of 20-30 ° to germinate, so we sow them in the greenhouse in February, in March, and in the apartment - in April and May. We do not water the sowing, but spray it with a sprayer, paying attention, that the earth is always moist, but not wet. If the soil is dry, place the cups in the water, so that the water does not reach higher than the height of the dishes. If there are drops of water on the windows, the windows must be turned over, so that the drops do not fall on the cacti. Cacti usually sprout after a few days, but the seedlings are very small, they are often difficult to see with the naked eye. If they were sown too densely, you should quilt as soon as possible. Due to its small size, this operation is performed with a fork and a thin pin. The size of the vessel, to which we dive (bowls and boxes), depends on the number of seedlings. Put a 1.5-2 cm layer of shell and sand drainage on the bottom of the dishes, and then leaf soil with sand. The spacing is adjusted to the size of the seedlings; it is usually not more than their diameter. Young cacti grow better in a cluster, so we rarely replant them - once or twice in the first year of cultivation, the second time, at spring. Only in the third year they are planted in pots with a diameter of 4-5 cm.