Notocactus

Family. Cactaceae.

Origin. Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.

Description. Notocactus is a spherical cactus that can take on a cylindrical shape with age. The stems are dark green, blue-green, 8 - 12 cm in diameter, with pronounced vertical ribs and large areoles. The spines are long, often brownish-golden. Flowers appear in the upper part of the plant, mostly yellow, but there are also red ones, with shiny, silky petals, 5 - 6 cm in diameter, appear on mature plants that are more than 5 years old. There are cristate forms of this cactus, but in most cases they are grafted onto rootstocks.

Height. Depends on the specific species - from 10 cm to 1 m in height, grows relatively quickly.

Caring at home 

When it blooms

Spring – summer, blooms readily and often repeatedly throughout the year.

Watering notocactus 

In winter, try not to dry out the earthen ball, and as growth begins, watering is gradually increased. The top layer of soil, about 5 cm thick, should dry out between waterings. Excess water accumulated in the pan after watering is drained immediately.

How to care 

A fairly unpretentious plant that does not require a lot of time and labor, however, it should be accustomed to changes in temperature and light gradually. 

Diseases and pests 

The cactus may lose roots if the soil remains dry or too wet for too long.

Spider mites, mealybugs, and scale insects may attack the flower.

Reproduction

Seeds that are sown on the surface of the soil in the spring, lightly pressing them with fingertips. Sometimes children are separated if they appear near the mother plant or side shoots are used as cuttings, but they appear quite rarely. 

Containment temperature

A heat-loving cactus that can easily tolerate even extreme heat with adequate watering. During the winter it is dormant and should be moved to a cool place - about 12° C.

Lighting

Provide the notocactus with maximum light, avoiding direct sunlight on hot summer days.

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

After transplanting into fresh soil, the cactus does not need to be fed at all during the first season. Feed only during the period of active growth with fertilizers for cacti and succulents with a high content of calcium and phosphorus monthly, diluting the fertilizer to half the recommended dose. In winter, feeding is stopped. 

Air humidity

Notocactus does not require spraying if kept at normal room temperature. In summer, if the daytime temperature exceeds 25 - 27 °C, you can lightly spray in the morning so that the stem has time to dry before dusk.

Transfer

Adult specimens need to be replanted every 2-3 years, in spring. For planting, use pots with large drainage holes.