Consolea

Family. Cactaceae.

Origin. Caribbean Islands.

Description. Consolea is a fairly large and very attractive cactus. It has flat green segments up to 30 cm long, covered with long light brown spines 1 - 4 cm long. Young segments appear on top of old ones and have more rounded outlines. Sometimes the stem segments have symmetrically located tubercles. With age, the plant forms a woody stem up to 15 cm in diameter. The flowers are solitary, located in the upper part of the segments, yellow, crimson or red, with many petals, 2 - 5 cm in diameter, opening during the day.

Height. Up to 2.4 meters in height.

Temperature conditions

A heat-loving plant that is kept year-round at a temperature of about 20 ° C. Do not expose the consolea to temperatures below 10 ° C.

Lighting

The consolea should receive direct sunlight in the morning and evening, shade on summer days. In autumn, move the cactus to the brightest place.

Substrate

Adapts well to most soil types as long as they have good drainage. 

Feeding

Feed monthly with fertilizers for cacti and succulents high in potassium, calcium and phosphorus. The fertilizer is diluted to half the recommended dose and applied in spring and summer. During the dormant period, cacti are not fed.

Flowering time

Spring Summer.

Air humidity

It tolerates the dry air of heated rooms well and does not require spraying.

Soil moisture

Mature specimens are very drought-tolerant, but they also prefer regular watering. In summer, the topsoil should dry out between waterings; in winter, try not to let the soil dry out completely. Avoid watering on cloudy, rainy days.

Transplant

Repot in spring as it grows. After planting, do not water the consolea for a week.

Reproduction

Propagated by cuttings of segments, after drying the cut site. Seeds.

Pests and diseases

Cacti rot when exposed to excess moisture. 

Red mites, mealybugs, thrips and aphids sometimes appear. 

Note

The consolea has long, sharp thorns - be careful when working with the plant.