How to care for a prickly handsome man? We breed Mikhanovich's hymnocalicium at home

Gimnokalitsium Mikhanovich is very popular among flower growers. He is successfully bred even at home. The variety is classified as homemade cacti.

A variety of colors and shapes allows you to choose the best option for each lover of these extraordinary plants. He will successfully decorate any room - be it a kitchen or a bedroom. Unpretentious care and a high degree of endurance make it a favorite flower, even for those who are not used to taking care and caring for flowers.

Botanical Description

Gimnokalitsium Mikhanovich, lat. Gymnocalycium mihanovichi is the international scientific name for this cactus. Gymnocalycium in literal translation means "bare tube", "holo-cup". The flower was named after the Argentine shipowner N. Mikhanovich in the early 20th century. The philanthropist organized and maintained a scientific expedition to Paraguay.

Gimnokalitsium Mikhanovich belongs to the succulent family of the group Cactus genus Gymnocalycium. Variety bred, obtained as a result of selection and natural mutation of natural varieties. The stems of the flower are flattened, have a dark red, brown color, with a pink or reddish hue.

There are varieties with a green trunk with a grayish - bluish tint. The stem height of an adult plant is up to 5 cm. The shape of the flower is round, spherical. The cactus is small in diameter, up to 8 - 10 cm. The ribs of the stem are narrow, well-defined, have a triangular section.

The height of the ribs reaches 6 - 7 cm. The edging is dark, slightly wavy, pointed. Across the lateral ribs are pointed protrusions. Spines grayish-brown, slightly curved to the stem (read about why thorns need a plant, read here, and in this article you can see tips on how not to prick a cactus and what to do if this happens).

Reference. The length of the thorns is not more than 1 cm. The flowers have a funnel shape, numerous petals, flower diameter up to 5 cm.

The fruits are fleshy, formed by cross-pollination, ripen within 2 weeks (you can learn about the species of fruiting edible plants of the desert here). Seeds are small, brown.

Habitat

The homeland of this cactus is considered South America, Bolivia, Uruguay, South Brazil, Northeast Argentina, the variety is widespread in Paraguay. Natural habitat - mountain peaks, river valleys. Most often grow in groups, forming decorative compositions.

A distinctive feature of the variety is the "bare tube", flower tubes do not have bristles and hairs, unlike other cacti covered with smooth small scales.

These cactus varieties do not have chlorophyll. Therefore, for full-fledged growth and nutrition, they are grafted onto other slowly growing cacti (we talked about other varieties of cacti in detail here, and from this article you will learn how to quickly develop a desert plant at home and why it does not increase in size).

Home Care

Temperature

The main condition is that the air temperature must be constant. It tolerates dry air. Wide temperature frames - 15 - 30 ° C.

Like most other indoor plants, does not tolerate sudden changes in temperature and drafts. But stale air is also harmful to the flower, it is necessary to ventilate the room.

Read more about how to properly care for a cactus in a separate article.

Watering

The variety requires moderate watering. Between watering, the substrate should dry well so that the process of decay does not begin.

The frequency of watering depends on the conditions of detention, namely the temperature and level of humidity in the room, the amount of direct sunlight. Water for irrigation is recommended to use only clean, soft, room temperature.

Tap water needs to be passed through a filter, add 2-3 crystals of citric acid or a few drops of vinegar to soften and neutralize salts.

Attention! In winter, watering should be as rare as possible. The flower does not need additional humidification and spraying.

Shine

The variety loves bright but diffused light. It is advisable to place pots on the eastern and western windows. In spring and summer, the windows should be shaded with a light curtain. Young flowers require a gradual adaptation to the sun, it is better to arrange the pots remotely from direct sunlight.

Priming

The soil should be light, loose, slightly acidic. A drainage layer is required. The soil should pass water well, sufficient air permeability of the substrate is necessary.

You can buy a ready-made mixture for cacti and succulents. The composition of the soil mixture:

• Sod land - 1 h.
• Leaf land - 2 hours
• Humus - 1 hour
• Peat - 1 hour
• Perlite - 1 hour
• Sand -2 hours
• Expanded clay drainage and foam pieces.

Pruning

Gimnokalitsium Mikhanovich needs vaccination. This will require cropping.

Trimming Rules:

1. The top layer of maternal healthy cactus is cut.
2. The grafted part of the variety is cut with a sharp blade.
3. Slices are tightly connected, combining and maintaining the structure of the stem.
4. Landing parts are fixed with an elastic band or harness.
5. After 10 to 14 days, the gum is removed.

Cutting tools must be sanitized.

Top dressing

Fertilize the flower only during active growth. Special top dressing for succulents or cacti is suitable. Fertilizers are applied through irrigation, 2 to 3 times a month.

Pot

For planting you need a round shallow pot. The diameter of the pot is selected according to the size of the root system. Be sure to make drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.

Important! When transplanting, the new container should be 2 - 3 cm larger than the previous one.

Transfer

It is better to deal with transplant in the spring. Young flowers are transplanted every year. Adult flowers require a transplant after 3 to 4 years, as the root grows. For drainage, pieces of charcoal and brick chips are used.

Transplantation scheme:

1. A new pot is processed with boiling water for disinfection.
2. The substrate is sterilized.
3. A flower is extracted from the pot.
4. Dry and rotten roots are trimmed.
5. Places of slices are sprinkled with crushed coal.
6. Rhizome completely freed from the old substrate.
7. A layer of drainage spills out to the bottom of the pot.
8. Fresh substrate is poured into the container half the capacity.
9. The root is neatly placed, covered with the remaining substrate.
10. The soil is slightly compacted.

How does it feel in the open ground?

In spring, you can dig pots in the garden in a slightly shaded area. This variety does not belong to winter-hardy varieties, therefore, the autumn humidity of a temperate climate is detrimental to the flower. In spring and summer, in southern climatic conditions, the pots are planted in elevated places, rocky hills, on the sunny side of the walls of houses. Mulch the soil with peat to preserve heat and moisture.

Breeding

Seeds

A fairly labor-intensive process that requires special conditions of detention. But such sowing gives stronger and healthier seedlings.

Most varieties of this variety are propagated precisely by growing seedlings. Sowing can be done at any time of the year.

Seeds are soaked in a weak solution of manganese for 10 -12 hours. Soaked seeds germinate faster in the soil.

Sowing Rules:

1. The fine-grained substrate is disinfected by baking in the oven or by steaming in a water bath.
2. Sowing is located in small shallow containers.
3. The substrate is well moistened.
4. Seeds are located without deepening.
5. The containers are covered with a transparent film or glass.
6. Daily ventilation of the greenhouse is required.
7. Regular moistening of the crop through spraying.
8. The first pick after 2 - 3 months when spines appear in the seedlings.
9. When transplanting seedlings, an earthen lump is preserved.
10. Fortified seedlings are transplanted into separate pots after 5 to 6 months.

Read more about breeding, rooting and caring for cacti here.

Side layers (kids)

Lateral layers have no roots, are easily separated. Division Procedure:

1. The process is rotated clockwise with tweezers or fingers.
2. The separated parts are dried in the shade for 2 days.
3. The shoots are buried in a moist, ready-made substrate.
4. Rooting is quick, within 2 weeks.
5. Young flowers are transplanted into small pots.

Attention! If the process has its roots, which are intertwined with the mother's roots, transplantation of the entire bush is required. The separated part is transplanted into separate containers.

Features of care after planting

An important condition - seedlings and seedlings require a moistened substrate. It should be ensured that the soil does not dry out for the first 2 to 3 months.

Then watering is reduced, the plant is transferred to normal mode. The air temperature for seed germination and seedlings is 20 - 22 ° C.

For better germination, a temperature difference of 3 - 4 ° C is needed. Lighting should be adequate.

In winter, lighting for seedlings is desirable. The light is bright, diffused. First wintering conditions after planting:

• Good lighting.
• Air temperature - 13 - 14 ° С.
• Watering every 10 to 12 days along the edges of the tank.

Watering should not fall on the root neck.

Bloom

Gimnokalitsium Mikhanovich blooms in large flowers with a diameter of up to 8 cm. From May to October, funnel-shaped, tubular flowers form on the tops of the main stem. There are varieties with pink, lilac, yellow, white, red colors, depending on the sub-grade. The petals are elongated, silky.

Reference. Flowering occurs in 2 to 3 year old plants. Long flowering, plants bloom until late autumn.

Find out more about flowering cacti here.

What to do if it does not bloom?

In a volumetric deep pot, flowering does not occur. The pot for ripening the bud should be the size of the root.

For good flowering, winter rest is required for the flower at a reduced temperature up to 12 ° C. Lighting is necessarily bright, and watering is rare.

Disease

• From an excess of bright light on the stems appear dry brown spots - burns. Rearrange pots or obscure windows.
• Root rot, decay of the root neck arises from frequent watering, damp air. An urgent transplant, replacement of the substrate and the pot, and sanitary processing of the flower are needed.
• From a scab, a red spider mite, a mealybug, prophylactic treatment of the substrate with any insecticides is required. In case of minor lesions, the stem should be washed with hot water, it can be wiped with a solution of ethyl alcohol.

To learn how to protect your favorite cactus from diseases and pests, read this article.

5 similar plants

• The tuberous (humpbacked) gymnocalycium has a similar rounded stem shape.
• Gymnocalycium tiny small size, ribbed stalk, covered with thorns. Apex flowers.
• The multi-flowered hymnocalicium has a spherical shape of the main stem. The flowers are pink.
• The Friedrich Gymnocalycium has a rounded stem of a brown hue. There are transverse stripes.
• Gymnocalycium Salio is similar to Mikhanovich Calico with a spherical single stalk. The spines are also curved.

Gimnokalitsium Mikhanovich is considered the most unpretentious and hardy cactus. Observing all the rules of care, planting a flower in a timely manner, you can in a short time wait for a good growth of an exotic flower.