Ortegocactus

Family. Cactaceae.

Origin. Mexico.

Description. Ortegocactus is a monotypic genus of small cacti with stems no more than 5 cm in diameter. The stems are light green, often branched at the base, covered with round or diamond-shaped tubercles, about 1 cm in diameter, arranged in a spiral. There are small areoles at the tops of the tubercles. The spines are straight, strong, black, but fade to light gray with age, up to 5 mm long. The flowers are bright yellow, funnel-shaped, up to 5 cm in diameter, appear at the top of the stem and open during the day.

Height. It grows slowly and reaches 15 cm with age.

Home care

Temperature conditions

In summer they are kept at room temperature, and in winter a cool rest period is desirable at a temperature of 12 - 15 ° C. 

Lighting

Provide the most sunny location possible in autumn and winter. Try to shade during the day in spring and summer.

Care

Not the easiest cactus to grow; easily susceptible to rot if overwatered or kept too cool.

Substrate

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 or perlite to improve drainage and small pieces of charcoal is suitable. You can use a ready-made substrate for cacti and succulents. Tolerates very nutrient-poor soils.

Feeding

Limited, feed once a month with water-soluble fertilizers specially designed for cacti in half concentration. 

Purpose

Highly prized by collectors.

Flowering time

Summer.

Air humidity

Ortegocactus needs good air movement. In summer, shoots can be sprayed in the morning, in autumn and winter, the air around the plant should be dry.

Soil moisture

Water in spring and summer until the earthen ball is completely soaked; be sure to remove excess water that has accumulated in the pan after watering. The soil should be completely dry between waterings. In the autumn-winter period, water extremely carefully - only to avoid drying out the earthen clod.

Transfer

For planting, use shallow pots with good drainage. Transplantation is carried out in the spring, approximately every 3 years. 

Reproduction

Seeds are sown in the spring, but this process is very slow. Can be propagated by grafting. Lateral processes, which are separated with a sharp sterile instrument. The cut area is dried for several days before planting.

Pests and diseases

Sunburn in the absence of shading during the daytime. During a cold winter, brown spots appear on the cactus and the plant may die. When overfed, ortegocactus takes on an unsightly, misshapen shape. If there is stagnation of moisture and too frequent watering, cacti rot, the epidermis may not withstand excess moisture and crack, after which scars remain. 

Red mites, mealybugs, thrips and aphids sometimes appear.