Cultivation of cactus flowers

Opuntia in horticulture refers to a single cactus family plants, nearly 100 genera of about 2000 species; multi-pulp plants are generally referred to as the stem, leaves or roots of plants, fleshy and succulent, there are nearly 50 families,(excluding cacti), about 10,000 species, but both are often called multi-pulp plants or palms.

There are many varieties of cactus flowers, most of which grow in tropical and subtropical desert or grassland areas, only a few epiphytes in tropical rain forests, wetland trees or rocks. In order to adapt to the local ecological environment, long-term evolution has formed a variety of strange, changeable plant posture and growth habits. Their leaves have evolved into cone spines, flat hooks, hair seats or needle clusters. The stem changes into a pulpy and fleshy body, some flat like palm fan, some round into ball, standing like a column, and some overlapping peaks like green mountains, colorful, meteorological. Floral shape variety: trumpet shape, funnel shape, rosette shape, bell shape, cylindrical; large as Wang Lian, small like pearl orchid, petals single and double complete. Color rich and colorful, white, yellow, orange, yellow, scarlet, pink, magenta, purple, and so on, and some bright as silk flash. The flowering period is generally from April to November, and some flowers in winter or early spring, less than 1 day to 3 days, more than 7 days to 10 days, several times a year.

Cactus flowers are strong in nature and adaptable. Generally not afraid of heat and dryness, environmental conditions are not strict, the most suitable for family cultivation. Outdoor balcony, indoor several table display, large-scale varieties of individual ornamental, magnificent physique; small varieties of the combination of potted plants, colorful, exquisite, interesting.

Cactus flowers are usually divided into terrestrial (ground) and epiphytic (saprobic) two categories, terrestrial species originated in tropical or subtropical arid desert or semi-desert areas of America, plant fat, thick cuticle, multi-edge, multi-thorn; sexual likes strong sunlight and dry environment, a wide variety, only cactus has more than 400 varieties, such as Jinhu, Xintiandi, Atlas ball, Huasheng ball, Changsheng ball, and according to the shape of the immortal mountain, monk crown, cactus whip and so on, mostly common to the public. Epiphytic species originated in tropical forest land, the plant plane is larger, the cuticle is thinner, nearly no edges and no thorns, the root system is generally not directly buried, stuck in the dead tree hole or the humus accumulated near the tree, the environment is required to be moist, but there is no ponding. Often produce gas root climbing, and absorb nutrients and water, such as Ling Jian lotus, Trigonium arrow (measuring sky ruler) epiphyllum, crab claw orchid, immortal finger, etc., like warm and humid environment and half shade. Terrestrial species spend a long dry season each year, mostly with winter dormancy habits (a few summer dormancy). The epiphytic species do not have a long dry season in the producing area, so there is no annual dormancy period, only a short period of semi-dormancy or slow growth after flowering. In the process of palm cultivation, it is very important to treat the different habits of terrestrial and epiphytic species differently and manage them appropriately.

The optimum temperature for the growth and development of Opuntia flowers is 20℃ to 37℃, and the optimum temperature difference between day and night is 15℃. Above 38℃, some varieties originating in North America contracted their roots and entered dormancy, grew slowly below 20℃, stopped growing below 10℃, and most varieties entered dormancy. Family cultivation, frost-free areas in the south, can be in the outdoor balcony winter shelter, the north in late September that is, need to enter the room, until the middle of April of the following year, can leave the room. In the hot summer period, the shade can be used to cool down, so as not to cause summer dormancy due to excessive temperature rise of the basin soil, or burn the new tender tissue at the top, affecting the growth. Ground born cactus flowers in high temperature, high humidity special environment, visible growth obviously accelerated, body color new tender, but the growth of the body tissue is not full, once left high humidity environment, immediately shrink, dim color, it is difficult to recover. Some people put palm flowers in glass boxes for a long time, this method is not desirable. Should follow its habits, normal maintenance natural shape. In winter in the north, indoor heat preservation and cold protection are carried out to avoid smoke and dust pollution. Bright places should be closed with film buckles; water control makes plants quiet and dormant.

Cactus flowers are generally said to be sunny plants. Most of the terrestrial species have higher requirements for light intensity and light quality, so they are suitable for placing in places with sufficient light, and should not be shaded for a long time, resulting in sparse thorn seats and deformation of plant posture. Epiphyte species need shade in late spring and mid-autumn, dense shade in midsummer, soft and sufficient light indoors in winter, and maintain high air humidity. High temperature and strong light can easily cause yellow epidermis and dried stem meat.

Potted cactus flowers, suitable with strong permeability of the earthen basin, bottom pad broken brick particles for drainage layer. The palm root cluster is small, the planting pot should not be too large, the pot diameter should be similar to the plant diameter, beautiful and harmonious. It is generally believed that palm origin desert barren, planted in some sand can be, it is a misunderstanding. Basin soil capacity is limited, water and fertilizer buffer is poor, but also need to carefully prepare suitable soil, ground palm requirements loose permeability, moderate fertility of the culture soil, available vermiculite 4 into, containing less colloidal sand 3 into, fully decomposed humus 2 into, furnace ash and a small amount of old wall lime powder 1 into, mixed evenly for standby. Epiphytic species need to be rich in humus, loose fertile, permeable slightly acidic sandy soil culture, available peat soil and sand half, plus some humus effect is better.