Echinocactus - one of the brightest representatives of sort cactaceous which homeland has recognized Mexico, but its area of distribution includes also the southern states of America. This species of cactus has ten subspecies. And we love the most widespread echinocactus of Gruzon who has successfully taken root as houseplant flower growers.
Instruction
1. The body of echinocactus has spherical shape which grows in the nice ridge column stuck by rigid needles over time. For the spinosity the cactus has got the nickname "sea hedgehog". Unfortunately, it blossoms only in usual environment.
2. Echinocactus – the child of the desert therefore for contents it in house conditions, it is necessary to create the conditions which are brought closer to natural. It is desirable to place pots with plant at the windows coming to South side. During the summer period leaving consists only in regular watering and spraying, at the same time it is impossible to allow overwettings of the soil to avoid rotting of root system.
3. During the autumn and winter period it is necessary to observe temperature condition. Temperature + 12 wasps - the lower limit of admissible temperature. Quite often the plant is placed for the winter in the greenhouse, there it is moderately watered, watching only that the soil did not dry up. The echinocactus only seeds as this species of cactus, unlike others, does not give collateral escapes breeds.
4. The main condition of cultivation of echinocactus from seeds is the patience and diligence. Crops of seeds are carried out to spring season. Clean sand can serve as the soil, but soil from beaten brick will be the most favorable environment for seeds. This substance is prepared as follows: brick, it is desirable old in which the lime mortar, istoloch in crumb is washed up, to sift and to calcinate properly in can on naked flame. After calcinating to humidify, fill in container layer no more than one centimeter and to bring seeds. To close container cover or film and to place in the light place.
5. Shoots of seeds can be expected during from two to thirty days. It depends on quality of seeds and correctly prepared soil. To water there is no need, but to air periodically, uncovering for ten minutes, it is required.
6. As soon as there are first volosik of shoots, it is possible to hold the first sword-play. It is done in the same soil, previously sharpened peg having made superficial pole. It is desirable to do sword-play by row, at small distance of seedlings from each other.
7. At this time watering of seedlings is not made, but they can be attacked their worst enemy - putrefactive mold. That will secure seedlings against this phenomenon, seedlings spray with weak solution of manganese.
8. There is a wish to note once again that cultivation of cactus from seeds demands absolute accuracy and purity. Seedlings are so gentle that react to any oversight. The fan to the flower grower needs to stock up with patience and diligence as such sword-plays in the first year of life of seedling it is necessary to do ten times. All this time seedlings are in container under the cover opened only for airing. The watering mode - sparing.
9. At sword-play the break of roots is possible, but it goes only on the seedling benefit. After break the root system begins to cluster that in turn provides seedling with good nutrition.
10. In year the seedlings are required to be replaced in vegetable mix from sand, peat and soil. There seedlings grow in small cacti and as soon as their growth reaches 2 cm them replace in individual flowerpots. Before change it is necessary to trace that the body of cactus was bone-dry that excludes rotting process emergence.
11. Cultivation of echinocactus from seeds - business the labor-consuming, laborious, demanding patience and skills. However at successful outcome you will be pleased by the whole family of "prickly hedgehogs".