Cleistocactus

Family. Cactaceae.

Origin. South Africa, Bolivia.

Description. Cleistocactus has an erect or recumbent, thin green stem, which is so densely covered with silvery-gray, dark brown or golden-yellow hairs that it appears fluffy from a distance. The shoot has 23-25 ​​narrow ribs with small areoles, which contain about 30 thin needles 2 cm long. The main stem often branches at the base. Cleistocactus bloom at the age of 10-15 years. Flowers are narrow, tubular, red, orange, yellow, green, located mainly in the upper part of the main stem, 8-10 cm long.

Height of indoor plant. Up to 1.5 m.

Containment temperature

In spring and summer, cleistocactus is kept at normal room temperature. During the dormant period in winter, place it in a cool place - 10 - 15 ° C.

When blooms

Flowering time is  summer. 

Lighting

Provide your cleistocactus with as much light as possible.

How to water

During the period of active growth, water moderately, so as to completely wet the soil lump. Before each subsequent watering, the top 3 cm layer of the substrate should dry out. During the winter dormancy period, simply protect the soil from drying out completely.

Soil

The soil should easily pass water and air, pH not higher than 6.5. A mixture of leaf humus, turf soil with a large amount of coarse river sand - at least 30 percent or perlite to improve drainage and small pieces of charcoal - is suitable. You can use ready-made substrate for cacti and succulents to grow cleistocactus. The root collar can be surrounded with a layer of coarse sand. 

Reproduction

When cutting stems, the cut site should be dried for several days. Rooting is done in wet sand, this takes 3 - 8 weeks. Seeds, which are lightly pressed into the substrate in the spring. The seedlings are covered with glass and placed in a warm place - about 25 ° C. Germination time is from 5 to 180 days.

Feeding

Feed monthly with cactus and succulent fertilizers high in potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. Dilute the fertilizer to half the recommended dose and apply in spring and summer. Do not feed during the dormant period.

Pests and diseases

Rotting in the absence of good drainage. When kept warm all year round, the cactus continues to grow during the winter, and since the weather is cloudy at this time, it lacks light and the stem becomes thinner. Cleistocactus need to be given several hours of direct sunlight per day to bloom.

Of the harmful insects for the plant, the main danger can be spider mites and mealybugs.  

Air humidity

It can grow in rooms with dry air, but it is better to spray the plant a little in the evening to bring the indoor conditions closer to those in the natural environment. No need to spray. In the autumn-winter period, the air in the room should be dry. The flower likes well-ventilated rooms with good air circulation, but without cold drafts.

Transfer

It grows quite quickly and requires annual replanting in spring into a larger pot. When planting, do not bury the root collar in the ground.