Parodia

Family. Cactaceae.

Origin. Argentina, Brazil.

Description. Parodias are small, neat cacti with rounded stems with a diameter of 7 to 15 cm. Sometimes, with age, the stems take on a cylindrical shape and form lateral shoots at the base of the plant, while the top remains slightly flattened. Depending on the species, the stems may be covered with frequent and low ridges arranged vertically or spirally, while other cacti will have more pronounced tubercles. The spines are often straight, 1 - 2 cm long, densely spaced and often completely hide the plant stem. In spring or summer, large, up to 6 cm in diameter, spectacular flowers of pink, red, orange or yellow appear on the tops of the stems, the petals of which have a glossy silky sheen.

Height. Up to 35 cm, grows relatively quickly.

Care

Temperature conditions

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 8 - 10 ° C. Do not expose the parodia to temperatures below 7 ° C.

Lighting

Provide the most illuminated location, avoiding direct sunlight on hot summer days. If there is a sudden change in illumination, the stem may get burned - acclimatize the cactus gradually.

Care

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

Substrate

The soil should easily allow water and air to pass through, the pH should be slightly acidic - from 4.5 to 6.0. 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, as well as a small amount of organic matter in the form of peat or leaf humus, is suitable. You can use a ready-made substrate for cacti and succulents. 

Feeding

After transplanting into fresh soil, the plant 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. 

Purpose

Parodias are very popular in indoor culture due to their undemanding conditions. These cacti bloom readily when grown indoors.

Flowering time

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

Air humidity

Does not require spraying if kept at normal room temperature. In summer, if daytime temperatures exceed 25 - 27 °C, you can spray lightly in the morning so that the stem dries before dark. In autumn and winter, when the cool dormant period begins, the air around should be dry. Provide a place with good air circulation.

Soil moisture

In winter, just 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. 

Transfer

Adult specimens need to be replanted every 3 years, in spring. For planting, use deep pots with large drainage holes. Trim diseased and dead roots with sharp, sterile pruning shears. After replanting, stop watering for about a week.

Reproduction

Parodia is relatively easily propagated by seeds, which 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. The cuttings are dried on a paper towel for several days. 

Pests and diseases

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

Red mites, mealybugs, thrips and aphids sometimes appear.