Parodia TREDECIMCOSTATA

Parodia TREDECIMCOSTATA - Parodia tredecimcostata.

Parodia, which is also called Eriocactus, is a genus of the family Cactaceae. This genus unites 50 species of various cacti. Most cacti of this genus are foothill plants. Their natural habitat is rocky soils at 2,000-3,000 m (6,560-9,840 ft) above sea level. They can often be found in Uruguay, Central and Southern Bolivia, Paraguay, and Northern Argentina.

Initially, just over 60 species were attributed to the genus, and then other representatives of the cactus family were added to the list. All of these species have a short stem, soft and fleshy, cylindrical or spherical in shape, on which clearly distinguishable spiral ribs are located. A division into 13-26 ribs is characteristic. On them are not very high tubercles with areoles that have dense pubescence. From 1 to 5 central spines emerge from each areole, reaching up to 4 cm (1.6 in) in length, and sometimes one of them has a hooked tip, as well as 10-40 short spines reaching 0.5-1.5 cm (0.2-0.6 in) in length. The shape and coloration of the spines depend on the variety.

The plant begins to bloom at a young age. The flower stem is a scaly, hairy tube of short length. The multi-petaled flowers, arranged in small groups at the top of the cactus, are funnel-shaped, predominantly in yellow and red color palettes. They open singly or in numbers of up to 10. Localization - top of the stem. Over time, fairly small dry fruits form. On the surface of both fruits and flower tubes, there is a layer of small spines and hairs. It blooms in spring or summer.

Parodia tredecimcostata is a cactus with a large stem. Small spines completely cover the plant. The flowers are small, with a red tint.

Seeds are sown superficially, moistened from 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. Overwatering and desiccation of crops must be avoided. The seeds germinate in literally a few days after planting and begin to grow slowly.

© Greeniverse. All rights reserved.

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 sunlight well. Placing this cactus on the windowsill of a south-facing window is recommended. In autumn and winter, good lighting is needed, so supplementary lighting should be provided for the plant. Thus, the duration of daylight hours should be 10 hours. The abundance of future flowering depends on how good the lighting will be during this period.

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

During intensive growth, watering must be regular. Watering, as a rule, is carried out only after the upper layer of the substrate has dried out thoroughly. Overwatering should not be allowed, as this results in rot appearing on the stem and roots, which can lead to the death of the parodia. In winter, during cool keeping, the cactus should be watered significantly less. However, the soil should not be allowed to lose turgor. It feels great at low humidity in city apartments.

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

During intensive growth, fertilization is carried out 2 times 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 fairly slowly, so its repotting is carried out only if necessary, for example, if the flower pot becomes cramped for it. It can be repotted in spring, before the period of intensive growth begins, or in autumn, when flowering ends.