Glandulicactus

Family. Cactaceae.

Origin. America.

Description. Glandulicacti are spherical or cylindrical cacti. The stem is up to 20 cm high and up to 15 cm in diameter. The ribs are well defined. The spines are grayish, yellow or reddish, often curved, long - up to 15 cm. Flowers are funnel-shaped, from pink to dark red, red - brown, brownish - purple or almost black, 2 - 4 cm long, about 3 cm in diameter. Flowering produces round or oval fruits with a diameter of about 2.5 cm, which become red when ripe. It grows slowly.

Height. Up to 20 cm.

Home care

Temperature conditions

A very heat-loving plant. Flowers open only at a temperature of about 30 ° C. In winter, the temperature is reduced to 12 ° C.

Lighting

As much sun as possible. Lack of light leads to stunted growth or an ugly shape of the stem. 

Care

Glanduliacactus is grown relatively rarely, as it is very sensitive to waterlogging and grows slowly.

Substrate

Any ready-made mixture for cacti or succulents with the addition of coarse sand will do.

Feeding

Feed once during the growing season with a cactus and succulent fertilizer (high potassium, low nitrogen) at half strength. Poor soils are preferred, excess nutrients increase green mass.

Flowering time

From March to May (some species at the end of August). Flowers open during the day and close their petals at night. 

Air humidity

Provide very good air circulation around the cactus, but protect it from cold drafts. Almost all problems arise from waterlogging and poor ventilation. In winter, the air should be very dry.

Soil moisture

Water sparingly and keep dry in winter.  

Transplant

Glandulicactus needs a relatively large and deep pot, as it has a fairly large root system. Can survive without transplantation for many years. 

Reproduction

The seeds germinate relatively easily, but many young seedlings die in the first year. Sow the seeds in loose, moist soil with a high sand content in the spring. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of sand and add a fungicide to the water to prevent rot. Cover the pots with glass or a plastic cap for 1-2 weeks to maintain humidity. Mist 1-2 times a day for the next two weeks, after which most of the seeds should germinate.

Pests and diseases

Glandulicacti are prone to rotting when overwatered. 

With good care, insect pests rarely appear. Sometimes spider mites, mealybugs, thrips and aphids appear.