Browningia

Family. Cactaceae.

Origin. Chile, Peru, Bolivia.

Description. Browningias are tree-like, solitary-growing cacti, sometimes branched, reaching a height of up to 10 meters. The stem is cylindrical, vertical, up to 50 centimeters in diameter, often bluish in color due to a waxy coating. The ribs are numerous, not pronounced, with large areolas. The flowers are bell-shaped, solitary, white or red, open at night, the floral tube is white to purple, slightly curved, covered with large, thin scales. The fruits are small and yellow. Lateral shoots appear in mature plants in the upper part of the stem. The seeds are black, tuberculate. Young plants are heavily spiny, while adults often have only a few thorns.

Height. In nature up to 10 m, in culture up to 5 m.

Home care

Temperature conditions

The minimum temperature in winter is from 8 to 10 ° C, the rest of the time normal room temperature is suitable. 

Lighting

Bright, with light shading from direct sunlight in summer.

Substrate

Well drained, standard mineral mixture for cacti, gas and water permeable.

Feeding

Feeding may not be necessary at all if the cactus was recently transplanted into fresh soil. In other cases, during the period of active growth, feed once a month with fertilizers for cacti in half the dosage. Stop feeding in September.

Flowering time

Summer.

Air humidity

There are no special requirements, it is good at keeping heated rooms dry, it is especially important to keep it dry in winter.

Soil moisture

In its natural habitat, browningia grows in extremely dry areas with very little rainfall. The dry season can last 8 to 12 months. Water moderately in summer and reduce watering to a minimum in winter.

Transplant

Transplantation is carried out as it grows and there is a need to change the substrate, every 2-3 years, in the spring.

Reproduction

Propagated by grafting, seeds or cuttings. Cuttings are dried for a week or more and rooted at a minimum temperature of 20 °C (but more is better) in spring and summer in damp sand.

Pests and diseases

Susceptible to rotting due to excessive watering. 

Among harmful insects, browningia can be attacked by mealybugs, aphids, scale insects and nematodes.

Note

Quite a rare plant.