Parodia LAUI L322

Parodia LAUI L322 - Lau's parodia.

Parodia is a genus of plants in the cactus family (Cactaceae), including about 50 species. These are plants with a globose or short-cylindrical ribbed stem bearing spirally arranged tubercles. The tubercles are equipped with woolly areoles.

The spines are of various colors, often with hooked tips. They can be either short and hair-like or long, up to 4 cm (1.6 in).

The plant begins to bloom at a young age. The flower tube is a scaly, hairy tube of short length. The multi-petaled flowers, arranged in small clusters in the upper part of the cactus, have a funnel shape, predominantly in yellow and red color ranges. They open singly or in numbers of up to 10. Localization - apex of the stem. Over time, fairly small dry fruits form. On the surface of both the fruits and floral tubes, there is a layer of not very large spines and hairs. It blooms in spring or summer.

Lau's parodia is a cactus with a prominent stem. Fine spines completely cover the plant. The flowers are small, of a red shade.

Seeds are sown on the surface, moistened with a spray bottle, covered with film, and germinated in the light but not in direct sun at a temperature of 20-25 °C (68-77 °F). Seedlings need ventilation. Excessive moisture and drying out of the sowings must be avoided. The seeds germinate literally a few days after planting and begin to grow slowly.

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This plant needs to be cared for in practically the same way as other representatives of the cactus family. It is undemanding in care and not finicky. It loves light and tolerates direct sun rays well. It is recommended to place this cactus on a south-facing windowsill. In autumn and winter, good lighting is needed, so the plant must be provided with supplemental lighting. Thus, the day length should be 10 hours. How good the lighting is during this period determines the abundance of future flowering.

In summer, it is desirable for the temperature to stay between 22 and 25 °C (72-77 °F). In the autumn-winter period, a dormancy period is observed, which begins in October or November and ends in March. For this period, the cactus should be moved to a cool place at 10 to 12 °C (50-54 °F). It should be noted that the room temperature must not drop below 7 °C (45 °F), because in that case the plant may freeze and die. It is recommended to systematically ventilate the room where the cactus is located.

During intensive growth, watering must definitely be regular. Watering is usually done only after the top layer of substrate has dried out thoroughly. Overwatering should not be permitted, as this leads to rot on the stem and roots, which can cause the death of the parodia. In winter under cold conditions, the cactus should be watered several times less. However, the soil should not be allowed to lose all moisture. It feels great at low humidity in city apartments.

Suitable soil should be loose, enriched with nutrients, and freely draining. To prepare the soil mix independently, combine leaf soil, turf soil, and peat soil, crushed brick (which can be replaced with crushed expanded clay), and coarse sand taken in equal proportions. You can purchase a ready-made soil mix for cacti at a specialty store. Do not forget to make a good drainage layer, which will help avoid water stagnation in the substrate.

During intensive growth, feeding is done twice a month. For this, fertilizers intended for succulents and cacti are used, taking only 1/2 of the dose recommended on the package. This cactus grows quite slowly, so repotting is carried out only when necessary, for example, if the flower pot becomes cramped for it. It can be repotted in springtime before the period of intensive growth begins, or in autumn when flowering ends.