Horridocactus

Origin. South America.

Description. Low single cacti with spherical or ovoid stems. Stems with a diameter of 10 - 30 cm, green, bluish-green, covered with numerous vertical ribs. The spines are long, often curved along the body of the cactus, and cover the plants very abundantly. Flowers with many long and narrow petals, in pastel colors - pink, white, yellow, funnel-shaped, appear at the tops of the stems.

Height. It grows slowly and often does not exceed 30 cm.

Home care

Temperature conditions

The dormant period of this cactus can occur at different times of the year, so focus on the behavior of your horridocactus. In the warm season, it can be kept at normal room temperature. During the dormant period, the temperature is lowered to 6 - 8 °C so that the plant survives the dormant period and does not stretch out due to insufficient lighting.

Lighting

Brightly lit location with access to direct sunlight in the morning and evening. Light shading may be necessary on hot summer days.

Care

It is quite difficult to grow this species on its own roots; grafted specimens are often found in culture.

Substrate

Sandy, porous, mineral-based soil for cacti and succulents. The root collar can be surrounded with coarse river sand or fine gravel for better water drainage.

Feeding

Feed monthly during the growing season with fertilizer for cacti and succulents (high potassium and low nitrogen) in half concentration.

Flowering time

Even young specimens can form buds. The exact time of flowering depends on the species, but it mostly occurs in the warm season. In indoor culture, it blooms quite rarely, but with good care, it can bloom again during the year.

Air humidity

Provide very good air movement around the plant, but keep it away from cold drafts. Almost all problems arise as a result of waterlogging and poor ventilation. In winter, the air should be dry.

Soil moisture

During the growing season, water abundantly; between waterings, the soil should dry out to about 1/4 of the depth. In autumn, the frequency of watering is reduced and in winter they are kept almost dry.

Transplant

In the spring, when the roots become too crowded. After transplantation, cacti are not watered for 7 to 10 days.

Reproduction

Horridocactus is propagated by seeds, which are lightly pressed into the soil surface in spring. The seedlings are kept warm under a glass or plastic cap. The cuttings are separated with a sharp sterile instrument and planted after drying the cut site for several days. Rooting is carried out in coarse-grained wet sand for 2-6 weeks.

Pests and diseases

When exposed to too cold temperatures, ugly scars form on the stem. The cactus rots with insufficient drainage and excess moisture, especially in the cold season.

Red mites, mealybugs, thrips and aphids sometimes appear.