Gymnocalycium - types and names, home care

Flowers

Gymnocalycium is an unusual, spherical cactus native to the deserts of South America. It gets its name from the unusual flowers on a smooth, scaly stem. The Gymnocalycium group is quite diverse, and sometimes identifying a particular plant requires several years. It's after this period that the plant blooms, and its stem takes on a distinct shape.

A flowering cactus in a single pot—the so-called Gymnocalycium mix—is a beautiful and decorative sight. It requires little care indoors, which is why Gymnocalycium mix has become quite popular among gardeners. This arrangement grows in any conditions and can adapt to a wide variety of habitats.

Fans of this plant believe that the cactus absorbs all negative energy present in the home and neutralizes the negative energy and emotions of those around it. Therefore, this unusual flower, or a group of them, can be placed in any room of the house, and even at work.

Characteristics of Gymnocalcium, names and descriptions of species

The plant's stem is spherical and, depending on the species, brown, gray, gray-green, or brown-green. The body is ribbed, covered with tufts of curved spines of varying sizes. The spines are shorter at the edges, ranging from 13 to 15 mm, while the spines in the middle can reach three centimeters in length.

Only mature Gymnocalycium plants bloom from spring to fall. The flowers are located at the top of the plant, are bell-shaped, and consist of several rows of elongated petals. The flowers come in a variety of colors, primarily red, white, cream, yellow, and pink.

The cactus bears fruit. Its fruit is round and elongated, reminiscent of an egg, and can be red, green, or purple.

The spherical shape of the stem is typical in young plants, but as they grow, the body becomes ribbed and more elongated. Depending on the variety, Gymnocalycium grows from 2.5 to 30 centimeters in height.

Up to 100 species of this cactus grow in the wild, but far fewer—about 15—are cultivated indoors. The list of the most popular species, with their names, consists of only a few items; the photo shows their differences.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgdxIgWcDys

Mikhanovich

This is the most common indoor Gymnocalycium species. It is small in size—up to five centimeters—and has prominent, textured ribs. The trunk color ranges from green to brown. Its long, curved spines can reach 1 centimeter.

It blooms with large flowers in shades of white, pink, or yellow. It doesn't require any special care in an apartment.

It is noteworthy that this species served as the basis for breeding work, which resulted in the emergence of hybrid varieties of Gymnocalycium friedrichii with brightly coloured purple, red and yellow trunks.

Friedrich or Japanese

Friedrichii cactus, also known as Japanese cactus, owes its origin to the work of Japanese breeders. They developed a variety of cactus lacking chlorophyll. A distinctive feature of Friedrichii cactus is the variety of trunk colors—red, burgundy, yellow, and orange. This plant has an unusual and vibrant appearance, but it does not grow on its own; it requires grafting.

The ribbed stem is spherical in shape and up to 10 centimeters in size, the spines are brown and curved, and the flowers can be pink or lilac.

Saljo

The Saljo variety is the largest, reaching 30 cm in adulthood. The trunk is shaped like a knobbly sphere. The spines are long and lilac-gray. The flowers, on the other hand, are small, white, red, or pink.

The ribbing of the stem depends on the overall size of the cactus - the larger it is, the greater the number of ridges there will be on the trunk.

Reductum

The species reductum, more commonly known as the humpbacked cactus, is a large cactus whose stem changes shape with age. A young specimen of this species has a spherical stem, colored a bluish-gray-green. With age, the stem becomes elongated and can grow up to half a meter in height. The spines are straight and long, with one central spine significantly larger than the others.

The ribs on the trunk are marked with grooves, giving the stem a segmented appearance. The flowers are predominantly cream-colored.

The reductum species has a specific variety called nigrum. It is distinguished by its almost black stem and black spines.

Baldianum

Baldianum, or Balda, is a cactus with a greenish-blue stem shaped like a flattened sphere. It can reach a height of up to 10 cm and a width of up to 9 cm. The ribs are flat, separated by grooves. With age, the ribs become tuberculate.

The spines are pinkish-gray or ash-gray. The flowers are small, up to 5 cm, and come in a variety of shades—white, orange, and red.

There are other varieties suitable for growing indoors. Popular ones include Small-flowered, Naked, Bruja, Rubra, and others.

What is Gymnocalcium Mix and how to create a composition?

This whimsical combination of small, round cacti in a single pot is known as "Gymnocalycium Mix." The variety of stem colors, their shapes, and the riot of colors in the blooms create an incredibly attractive and striking appearance.

When creating a composition, cacti no more than five centimeters in diameter are typically used. Round and elongated varieties, grafted, and blooming in various shades are combined. Care for such a composition is the same as for a single cactus.

Mix — The Mikhanovich and Friedrich species are most often used to create a striking composition. The former are miniature, while the latter are striking with their vibrant, unconventional cactus flowers.

Plants are planted in a single pot, spaced 2-3 centimeters apart. When the time is right, they can be moved to a larger pot.

Caring for Gymnocalcium at Home

Native to the arid regions of South America, Gymnocalycium is easy to care for and undemanding. Its main focus is on creating conditions as close to natural as possible.

Choosing soil and pot

Cacti of this species grow slowly, meaning they don't require frequent repotting. This should be done no more than once every two to three years. You can tell when a plant needs repotting by the roots—when they emerge from the bottom holes of the pot, it's time to choose a new one. It should be slightly larger than the previous one and no more than 2 centimeters in diameter.

Be sure to place drainage at the bottom of the container and then fill it with fresh soil. This can be a ready-made succulent substrate or a homemade one. To prepare the soil at home, mix peat, leaf mold, turf, and sand (preferably coarse sand), along with a small amount of charcoal. All ingredients are combined in the following ratio: 2:3:2:2:2:1.

Transfer — Young plants can be replanted annually, preferably in the spring.

After removing the cactus from the pot, clean the roots of soil and dead tissue and rinse them, along with the trunk, in warm or hot water. Leave the cactus out of soil for a few days to dry, then place it in fresh soil. After repotting, allow it to sit for a week without watering.

Lighting

Gymnocalycium has different lighting requirements at different times of the year. In summer, it requires bright but diffused light. It's best to avoid placing it in direct sunlight, as this can cause sunburn. In winter, the plant requires additional lighting.

Note!

When choosing lighting, it is important to remember that the more thorns a plant has, the more light it needs.

The plant also requires good lighting during flowering. Fresh air is essential for the cactus, so it's best to ventilate the room frequently.

As for temperature, the cactus tolerates heat and even extreme heat in summer without any problems. In winter, the ideal temperature is considered to be 12-15 degrees Celsius. Winter coolness won't harm it, as long as the thermometer doesn't drop below 5 degrees Celsius.

Watering and fertilizing

Relatively dry soil is a natural condition for cacti. During the growing season, it requires regular, but not excessive, watering. Moisture should not stagnate in the soil; the soil should dry out completely. In the fall, reduce watering intensity, and in winter, keep it to a minimum.

For watering, use settled, room-temperature water. It's important to remove limescale, as it's harmful to the plant. It's also recommended to add a little lemon juice to the water—acidified water is beneficial for the plant's health.

For fertilizing, it is advisable to use ready-made mineral fertilizers without organic matter. Fertilizers are applied during the growing season; no additional fertilizing is required in winter or fall. When choosing a fertilizer, ensure it contains a low nitrogen content. When preparing a solution, the nutrient concentration should be halved compared to the recommended amount.

Wintering

In the fall, the cactus begins a dormant period, which continues until the end of winter. During this time, the pot is moved to a cooler room—around 14 degrees Celsius. A glassed-in balcony is ideal for this purpose.

In winter, the cactus is watered only after the soil has dried out—about once a month, no more often. Fertilizing is not necessary, and it doesn't require misting. With the arrival of spring, the plant is misted or showered and moved to a brighter location.

Graft

Only the Friedrichii cactus requires mandatory grafting—it won't grow on its own because it lacks chlorophyll. Other varieties don't require grafting.

For the procedure, two completely healthy plants are selected. Identical, even cuts are made on them with a sterile knife. The cuts are quickly joined together immediately after pruning, precisely aligning the cambium rings.

To ensure better adhesion, the parts should be pressed tightly together and then tied, preferably with a thin rubber band. The cactus can be left tied for up to 10 days. You can cover them with a plastic or glass jar or a bag.

Diseases, pests and their control

The most common problems Gymnocalycium suffers from indoor problems include spider mites, rot, and mealybugs. As with other plants, these diseases arise from improper indoor care.

Spider mites typically attack young plants. Adults have very thick skin. Signs of the pest include dry, rusty spots. Washing a single plant in warm water and treating it with alcohol is sufficient. If you have a large number of plants in your home, they should be treated with an insecticide. Dry indoor air is a common cause of the disease.

Mealybugs attack the root system and trunk. Signs of infestation include a lack of flowering and slow flower growth. To detect the pest, dig up the cactus and rinse the roots in hot running water for about 15 minutes. If the disease has also affected the trunk, the entire plant must be rinsed. Afterward, it is recommended to apply an insecticide to the soil.

Root rot is most often caused by overwatering or overly fertile soil. Only the root system is affected. The plant stops blooming and growth slows. To treat the disease, trim off the affected areas of the roots and rinse the plant in hot water. Afterward, treat with charcoal or a fungicide and let it dry for a few days. Then root.

How to propagate a flower at home

To propagate gymnocalycium indoors, layering and seeds are used.

Propagation by seed produces stronger plants, but it's not the easiest method. The best time to do this is spring. Prepared seedlings are placed in pre-moistened, nutritious soil, the same as for adult plants. The substrate is preheated in the oven, cooled, and then moistened.

Cacti — The seeds are placed shallowly in the soil, and the containers are placed in a bright place, maintaining a constant temperature of +20 degrees.

The layering method is simpler and is used for all species that produce offspring. To do this, the offshoots are separated from the mother cactus, dried for several days, and rooted in the plant's usual soil. The offshoots usually take root well and are cared for in the same way as adult cacti.

Frequently asked questions about growing

Why is Gymnocalycium grafted?

Grafting is used for plants that cannot reproduce on their own. This is the only way to propagate them, as such plants lack chlorophyll. Another reason for performing the procedure is to save a dying plant.

Why doesn't the cactus bloom?

Lack of flowering can be caused by root rot due to overwatering, mealybugs, or frequent pot changes. Watering should be moderate, and the location should be consistent and well-lit.

If a cactus's spines are accidentally broken, will it survive?

If the plant itself isn't damaged, there's no need to worry. A new thorn won't grow in that spot, but the cactus will continue to grow.

Are all Gymnocalciums flowering?

With proper care and reaching the age of 2-3 years, any type of gymnocalycium blooms.

Whether grown on its own or in a mixed plant, Gymnocalycium is unusual and incredibly beautiful. Proper care and a few simple steps will ensure annual blooms of this lovely, spiky ball.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6fiECE0AJw