Toumeya
Family. Cactaceae.
Origin. South America.
Description. Toumeya are solitary cacti, rarely forming lateral shoots, with dark green club-shaped stems. The stems are covered with rounded, high tubercles. Representatives of the species are distinguished by long, 2–4 cm, curved in different directions spines, which cover the plants so densely that they practically hide the stems. Flowers are pastel-colored - yellow, pink or white, up to 2.5 cm in diameter.
Height. 10 - 20 cm.
Care at home
Temperature conditions
Likes to enjoy the summer heat, the rest period should take place at a temperature of about 10 - 12 ° C.
Lighting
The plant prefers bright sunlight with light shade on hot summer days. In autumn and winter it should receive maximum light. Good lighting stimulates the formation of buds. If there is a lack of natural light, you can use fluorescent lamps for additional lighting.
Care
A very difficult to care for and capricious species that only experienced cactus growers can handle. When grown on its own roots, it is especially fastidious.
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.
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.
Purpose
Rarely found in cultivation and valued by lovers of rare plants. The miniature size allows you to place the entire collection on a small windowsill. Often grafted onto more resistant rootstocks.
Flowering time
Spring.
Air humidity
Toumeya requires good air movement without cold drafts. It does not require spraying; during the rest period, the air in the room should be especially dry.
Soil moisture
Water until the soil is completely saturated, but dry it to at least half the depth before each subsequent watering. In winter, keep watering to a minimum; the toumeya will need watering if its stem begins to shrink. In their natural environment, during periods of drought, these cacti shrink so much in size that they can completely disappear under the surface of the soil.
Transfer
Replant as needed, approximately every 2 to 3 years. After planting, stop watering for 7 - 10 days. Use pots with large drainage holes.
Reproduction
Often, toumeya is grafted onto more unpretentious rootstocks. It is not easy to propagate these cacti by seeds - they germinate with difficulty, and the germination rate leaves much to be desired. Sometimes they are propagated by separating lateral shoots, which are rare, but still formed at the base of the cactus.
Pests and diseases
Root rot at the slightest excess of moisture or poor drainage.
Red mites, mealybugs, thrips and aphids sometimes appear.