Aporocactus or Disocactus is an ampel plant native to the tropical part of America. Under natural conditions, the most common in the rocky terrain of Mexico, at an altitude of 1.8-2.4 km above sea level. At room content, the flower is often grafted to other species. Belongs to the Cactus family.
Aporocactus Description
Long, up to 5 meters ribbed stems, densely covered with thorns of different shades, easily cling to rocks, ledges and other plants, including trees. Cactus can grow to full thickets. It blooms, forming buds up to 10 cm in length of different colors, depending on the variety: red, pink, orange. Fruits - red berries of small diameter.
Types of Aporocactus for Home Breeding
| View | The stalks | Flowers |
| Ackerman | Flat, with ribbed edges, trihedral. In the center is a strip. Branched, length up to 40-50 cm. | Large, diameter 10 cm, red color. |
| Mallison | With zigzag ribs, thin radial spikes. | Up to 8 cm, red-pink or purple. |
| Orange queen | Trihedral, with few thorns. | Medium, dull orange hue (up to 5 cm). |
| Concatti | Thick, up to 2 cm in diameter, bright green. | Up to 10 cm long, fiery. |
| Whiplash | Emerald, up to 100 cm, fall from 1 year of life. | Bright, raspberry-carmine, 7-9 cm. |
| Martius | Without pronounced ribbing, with often located light gray spines. | Dark pink, up to 9-10 cm. |
Caring for apococactus at home
| Factor | Spring Summer | Autumn winter |
| Location / Lighting | North window. | East or west window. It is necessary to clarify. |
| Temperature | + 22 ... +25 ° C | + 8 ... +18 ° C |
| Humidity | Anyone recommended to leave in a warm shower once a month. | Any. |
| Watering | Permanent, the substrate must be moist. | As the topsoil dries up. During flowering - like in summer. |
| Top dressing | Before the inflorescences die, add every week, for 2 months after - once every 15 days. | Not required. Since the end of winter - once every 7 days. |
Planting, transplanting and reproduction
The substrate is humus, turfy earth and wood ash in a ratio of 2: 2: 1. The soil is calcined in the oven at t +220 ° C. Prepare the pot wide and flat, with expanded clay drainage. A transplant during home care should be carried out annually in the first 4 years of flower development, every 3 years thereafter.
Reproduction by cuttings:
- Divide the stalk into parts 6 cm, dry, cut the sections with ash.
- Put a few pieces in a calcined river sand in one pot, pour plenty of water. Cover with a bag or glass cap until new branches appear.
- Take off the bag gradually. First, keep the pot open 30 minutes a day, increasing the time by half an hour every day.
- Seedlings 3-5 shoots in standard soil.
Pests and diseases attacking aporocactus
If the stems soften or blacken, the plant is affected by root rot. Watering temporarily cease, cut off the affected shoots, sprinkle slices with ash. Change the soil, calcine the new substrate in the oven, disinfect the pot.
In case of damage with a scab or a spider mite, leave under a warm shower. If this does not help, treat with Fitoverm.
