Heliocereus

Origin. Guatemala, Mexico.

Description. Heliocereus is a tropical epiphytic cactus with fleshy, long, straight, sometimes branched from the base and serrated lodging stems 20 - 40 cm long (sometimes up to 1 m in length), resembling tentacles. Young stems have a bright green color, while old ones take on a brown tint. The spines are small, evenly distributed along the entire length of the stems. The flowers are large - up to 14 cm in diameter, curved, funnel-shaped and very showy, dark crimson, pink or salmon, with numerous petals, open in the evening and remain open for about 3 days. They have a pleasant aroma and can appear in any part of the stem. The fruits are ovoid or oblong berries, up to 4 cm long and about 2.5 cm in diameter, green in color, becoming brownish-red when ripe.

Height. 15 - 90 cm.

Home care

Temperature conditions

The minimum temperature in winter is at least 8 - 10 ° C. If the temperature is maintained above 20 ° C all year round, the plants do not have a dormant period.

Lighting

Grows in partial shade. Avoid exposing this cactus to direct sunlight, especially on hot summer days.

Care

Adult plants bloom without much trouble if properly cared for. Once the buds form, do not move the heliocereus to another location, as even small changes in the environment can cause the buds to fall off. Old shoots over two years old turn brown and unsightly - it is best to remove them.

Substrate

Heliocereus like soil with sufficient organic matter, unlike most terrestrial cacti. Grows well in a substrate containing sphagnum moss, perlite and coarse sand to improve drainage.

Feeding

Start feeding from the formation of flower buds until complete flowering every 2 weeks.

Flowering time

Spring.

Air humidity

Spray periodically.

Soil moisture

Water enough in spring and summer to keep the soil moist, but do not allow water to stagnate in the tray - always drain off excess. During the rest of the year, water more sparingly, allowing the top of the soil to dry out between waterings.

Transplant

After flowering.

Reproduction

Propagated by stem cuttings 10 - 12 cm long, taken in spring or summer. Dry the cutting site for 1 - 2 days before planting, and insert the cutting to a depth of 3 cm into loose soil. Keep the pot warm.

Pests and diseases

Harmful insects can include mealybugs, spider mites and scale insects.

Note

These forest cacti, as a rule, live indoors for a long time.