For many, the picture has become familiar when there are not only office supplies and a cup of coffee near the computer, but also a beautiful, elegant pot with a flower. Usually this flower is a cactus. He is credited with magical properties and features. It is believed that the cactus absorbs harmful radiation that adversely affects the human body. We will not go into details and debunk this myth. If you still have a cactus or even a collection that was very fashionable in its time, let's help this prickly pet or pets bloom.

Like succulents, they store large amounts of water for long periods of time in their fleshy leaves. Carefully follow the instructions for caring for your cactus genus for the best results. Cacti are fascinating plants, not only because of the barbs that run through them, but also because of the flowers they are capable of producing. Some even grow blue flowers which can give a very different touch to your garden or balcony.

Not all types of cacti are able to bloom, and not all do the same. Depending on the class, some flowers can even last a day, while others can be maintained for several weeks. The flower cactus needs special care. In winter, observe your rest period and place it in a place protected from the cold. In autumn and winter you don't need to water them as they are able to store a lot of water inside. In the spring, move it to a place with as much sunshine as possible and start watering it again, but not in abundance.

First of all, you need to know the name of your cactus. The answer to the question of when it blooms will largely depend on this. Look for such information on the Internet or buy a book that describes in detail the different types. It is advisable to look at pictures where these species are depicted.

Different types bloom at different periods of their "cactus" life. For example, many members of Mammillaria, a genus of about 500 species, can flower in their first year. This is the case when they are grown on vaccinations. The rest of the Mammillaria bloom, of course, with proper care, in the second year of life and later. With its buds it can please you, also in the second year, and Rebutia (Rebutia), and Aylostera (Aylostera), and Escobaria (Escobaria).

Finally, before the flowering season, fertilize them with a high-potassium fertilizer or cactus-recommended product. And remember to clean it periodically with a brush or soft bristle brush. Watch your pickles and enjoy the show. What do you think of this idea? Excellent Very good Good Average Poor.

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Subscribe and receive in our mail our best ideas. Cacti are becoming more and more popular plants, and they are not. With impressive resistance, they can withstand long periods of drought without giving up that exotic aesthetic and idiosyncrasy that we love so much. An aesthetic that many of us failed to appreciate properly, or at least not until we saw their impressive blooms.

If you are a happy owner of one of the hundred species of Echinocereus (Echinocereus), or you have cacti from the genus Echinopsis (Echinopsis) on your windowsill, then you will have to wait three years before flowering. Popular among cactus lovers Gymnocalycium (Gymnocalycium) or extraordinary Astrophytum (Astrophytum) will show all its beauty in the fourth year. Many other cacti bloom in five years.

These plants are found in large desert and semi-desert regions from Mexico to Patagonia. Cacti are characterized by presenting leaves transformed into thorns and having stems that support water and carry out photosynthesis. A few weeks ago we talked about the differences between cactus and succulents, we usually think that cacti are all those fleshy plants that can withstand high temperatures and have thorns, but tend to mix some varieties of succulents that also have thorns.

That's why in this opportunity we bring you the anatomy of a cactus. Collection of assorted cacti Collection of cacti. Due to their specific characteristics, they are very attractive to most collectors, which is why they are very widely used in world-class horticulture.


There are many plants different types, whose flowers open at night, although their colors are discrete, mostly white or cream tones, usually very fragrant flowers, especially at night.

The general rule for all cacti, if you want them to bloom, is one. All plants need a dormant period. At this time, usually during our winter months, the minimum amount of moisture is required. It is recommended to spray the potted soil only once a month or do without watering at all. It is desirable to lower the air temperature. If possible, then up to + 10 degrees. The room where your pets are housed must be ventilated. It is best to do this when it is sunny and relatively warm outside.

In general, flowering plants are not difficult. However, when we talk about cacti, things change. And because it is a rich plant, it is sometimes difficult to know if we water it more or less than we should, which prevents it from blooming. As you well know, cacti are slow growing plants. In fact, it makes sense that it takes years to bloom, so you don't have to despair. Also, some types of cacti bloom at night or open their petals when there are no rays left to avoid burning.

Of course, there are species that grow flowers with very bright colors so you have to pay close attention when choosing your cactus if that's what you want. If you want your cactus to bloom, you must respect its winter rest. This means that you should place the plant in a bright spot and away from cold temperatures, reducing watering to once or twice a month.

Choose a permanent location for the cactus. The southeast side is the best. There is enough light, the intensity of which increases gradually. Cacti do not like very much when they are rearranged or turned from one side to the other, especially during a period called budding. Usually, buds form on the shaded side of the plant. And if you turn this side towards the light, so to speak, at the wrong time, then all the buds can dry out and crumble.

On the other hand, it is important to remember that cacti should not be watered. It will be in the spring when you start watering them, but not in abundance. The important thing is that the sun gives you the maximum number of hours in a day and also ensures that you have a warm atmosphere at night.

Finally, it's important that you be aware of the time your cactus blooms and fertilizes the plant one or two months in advance. You should be aware that cacti need a fertilizer rich in potassium or a specific fertilizer for these plants. Faith will come out in the next issue, but the damage will be done.

If your cactus was given a good wintering, which means low air temperature and minimum humidity, then from January, you can see the first buds in some species of Mammillaria. Start increasing watering, then in March - April, or even earlier, the first flowers will appear. Usually the buds grow for about a month. At the end of summer, representatives of this genus begin to throw out buds again. With their flowering, they can delight until the New Year.

The purpose of writing this note is that all readers can access the photos with their name and know the names of the cacti that are always consulted. Without a doubt, the most beautiful moment, or which attracts a lot of attention from all people in the life of your plants, is blooming.

For all hobbyists, gardeners and cultivators of plant species, flowering, a sign of good cultivation and excellent care, is a sign that we are doing things right. Cacti and other succulents are no exception; Have spectacular flowers and what surprises us the most is to discover when they have bloomed.

If the collection of cacti consists of several species, then in May it will look like a luxurious flower garden. By this time, of course, with proper care, all your prickly pets will bloom. With the right selection of the collection, this flower garden can be fragrant and delight you with its flowering, all year round.

The cactus family includes 3000 various kinds, not similar to each other in the shape of the stem, size, structure of the flower and its color, habitat, growth rate. There are cacti that look like a tube, a candelabra, a starfish, a scallop, a coiled snake, a beer keg. Among them there are dwarfs, such as Blossfeldia (7 mm) and giants - Cereus (25 m).

Flowers are leaves modified for reproduction. Its main function is to attract pollinators to exchange pollen between flowers, they are fertilized by the same thing, and produce fruit, with seeds. By dispersing seeds, plants perpetuate the species. Cacti and succulents make great efforts to produce flowers and reproduce. They mobilize the nutrients accumulated in their interior and are extracted from the arid environment where they live. They produce bright flowers, sometimes fragrant and even nocturnal to attract some pollinators.

Most chicks bloom in spring or summer, some are succulent in autumn; And only when the specimens are at least 2 or 3 years old, and are not reduced in size. Once a cactus begins to bloom, it will do so every year and the number of flowers per specimen will grow exponentially.

Such dissimilar species are united only by some common features:
- all cacti are perennials;
- belong to the class of dicots;
- have a specific organ - areola;
- form fruits from the lower part of the ovary;
- all fruits are berries;

In addition, all of them are photophilous, drought-resistant, easily tolerate heat.

Mammals, also from Mexico and the southern United States, have crown-shaped day flowers that are white, fuchsia, pink, or yellow. One of my favorite flowers is a cactus, originally from Mexico, and as shown in the photo, the flower is large and very showy. In succulents, slipways have star-shaped flowers that give off the smell of rotting flesh, as they are pollinated by flies in Africa. Another African succulent with a very special flower is the calcareous titanopsis. Species that open their flowers at night are usually pale white to attract nocturnal insects. Many of these cacti give off perfume to attract the attention of moths, and in many cases to bats. During the year the cactus appears "dead", its long, thin, greyish, thorny branches appear dry, lifeless trunks, but in the spring it produces buds that turn one night a year into beautiful flowers glowing white.

cactus bloom

In nature, all cacti bloom because they reproduce by seeds. Subject to the minimum conditions of maintenance, the plant pleases with flowers at home. Shading, excessive watering, wide dishes can cause the lack of buds.

A blooming cactus is an unusually bright and memorable sight. Some of them bloom at dawn, others at sunset. On some, the flower lasts for several hours, and on others for several days. Some bloom in summer, and some in winter, but only once a year. This is due to the fact that flowering is an incredibly energy-intensive process.

The rarity of this plant and its unique flowers attract the attention of nature lovers every year, who patiently wait for the “queen's call”, as it is known at night, when the cactus flower is almost at the same time. According to experts, it is the plant's survival instinct that produces this massive bloom.

Cactus flower coloring

All cacti bloom at the same time because they only live one night and are dependent on nocturnal moths to pollinate, which allows the cactus to generate the seeds it needs to continue reproducing, says Mason Lee, Tohono Chul Park spokesman and expert at the plant. .

Cactus flowers are shaped like a gramophone or bell. Numerous petals are arranged in a spiral in one or more rows. Some species (discocactus, strombocactus, bartshell) exude a delicate aroma, and some smell like rot (stapelia).

Every year, about a thousand people come to the park to enjoy the "great night" in which they appreciate the flowers until dawn. There's no exact date for cactus flowering, so Mason closely monitors plant behavior as soon as the first buds appear to try and "predict" the night when most open in unison.

This year the "Queen of the Night" is very "moody" and its flowers took longer than usual, because traditionally it is almost improvised with flower lovers the appointment takes place in June. This delay is due, according to the expert, to the ongoing drought experienced in recent months and this year's high temperatures of living space and the late arrival of monsoon storms are the usual fall every summer.

Among the cacti blooming in room conditions, the largest flowers are in echinopsis (12 cm), coryphant and echinocerus (6-8 cm), and the smallest in blossomfeldia (2-5 mm).

The most flowering types of cacti include:
- echinopsis (funnel-shaped flowers white, yellow, bright red);
- Mamillaria (flowers are small red, bright pink, white);
- astrophytum (five-centimeter light yellow flowers with a red core);
- phyllocactus (flowers fluffy bright red and white);
- epiphyllum (funnel-shaped white flowers);
- rebutia (flowers are small bright orange, purple);
- hymnocalcium (large white flowers with red bases, pink).

Due to this capricious behavior of the "Queen of the Night", hundreds of people register on the park's website to receive updates on the flower's progress until the "big night" arrives. The white flowers with yellowish hues begin to open their petals around 6 pm and reach fullness before midnight.

Visitors begin to arrive at the park as soon as it begins, the sidewalks are decorated with lamps that allow people to see these majestic flowers of a peculiar aroma of the evening "intense and sweet.". "It's a cactus that lives for many years, we don't know exactly how many, but it could be over a hundred," explains Mason.

Poorly blooming indoors include, for example, Gruzon's echinocactus. Even in greenhouses, this plant blooms only at a respectable age with large sizes.