Meet a Mexican guest - Corifanta Cactus

It is precisely the flower on the top that can be easily distinguished from other similar cacti. The ability to dissolve flowers only on the crown is due to Corifanta and its name "flower on top". Varietal varieties of decorative cactus Corifantum are perfectly adapted for growing at home.

It is necessary to adhere to simple rules for caring for a flower, providing it with a climate close to natural conditions. Consider the types of Corifant, and also learn how to properly care for them.

Botanical Description and Common Names

Coryphantha (Coryphantha) - a large genus of succulent plants of the cactus family. The cactus is similar in its characteristics to the genus Mamillaria (Mammillaria). Coryphanthus flowers are located at the very top of the stem.

Seeds are streaked with a grid pattern. Furrows located on each tubercle densely pubescent. Nectaries are formed in the grooves with age - glands that produce sweet nectar that attracts insects.

History of appearance, description of appearance and geography of habitat

The genus includes more than 60 species. The birthplace of growth is considered Mexico, the southwestern regions of America, Canada. Under natural conditions, these cacti live in fissures of calcareous rocks, in rocky areas, at the foot of stunted trees and shrubs. In the 20th century. the numerous genus of corifant is divided into 2 subgroups:

• Neocoryphantha.
• Coryphantha.

According to Beckenberg’s classification, the coryphanthus is a representative of the Cereus subfamily (Cereoideae), part of a huge cactus family (read about Cereus here).

The stem is spherical, can stretch over time, acquiring a cylindrical shape. The tops of the stem are densely pubescent. The height of the stem varies from 3 to 25 cm, depending on the variety. Most often, the stem is solitary, there are varieties growing in groups.

There are no ribs at the coryphanthus, the tubercles are arranged in a spiral twisted clockwise. The flowers are medium in size, up to 3 - 6 cm in diameter, most often yellow. There are red and purple colors of the petals (read about different red cacti here).

Important: plants aged 5 to 6 years are blooming.

Fruits are large, oblong, green or brown, develop inside the stem. Seeds have a thin shell, small, up to 2 mm in length. The roots of corianders are repetitive.

Popular types and varieties of Coryphantha with photo

Elephant-like (Elephantidens)

The stem is spherical, grows up to 15 - 18 cm in diameter. The height of the cactus is 13 - 15 cm. It has 20 - 30 tubercles rounded at the apex and branched to the base. The sinuses between the tubercles are covered with whitish hairs. The thorns are dense, slightly curved, yellow. 6 - 8 cm in length. The flowers are pale pink, up to 7-8 cm in diameter (you can learn more about pink cacti here).

Compact (Compacta)

The stem is small, up to 5 cm in diameter. The top is slightly pubescent. The tubercles are small. Spines are located at the very top of the tubercles. The number of white spines is up to 14 pieces. The flowers are miniature, up to 2 - 2.5 cm in diameter, yellow.

Palmeri

The stem is spherical, may be cylindrical in shape, light green. The height of the flower reaches 7 - 9 cm in height, the diameter of the stem is up to 4 cm. The tubercles are small, densely arranged in 13 rows, twisted in a spiral. Radial spines 11 - 13 pieces. The thorns are pale yellow, black at the ends, slightly curved towards the stem. The length of the spines is up to 1 cm. The central spine is dense, hook-shaped, grows downward, to 1 - 1.5 cm in length. The flowers are pale yellow, up to 3 cm in diameter.

Beam (Radians)

The stem is green, has the shape of a ball. There are varieties with a slightly elongated stem. The diameter of an adult plant is up to 6 - 7 cm. The thorns are numerous, stiff, located densely to the stem, white or yellowish in color. The tops of the thorns are brown (are there cacti without thorns?). The flowers themselves are medium in size, up to 6 - 7 cm in diameter, pale yellow in color.

Greenwood (Greenwoodii)

The stem is green with an olive shade, spherical, slightly flattened. The height of an adult cactus is up to 6 cm, diameter -8 - 9 cm. The top is downy. The tubercles are large, distinct, up to 2 cm in length. Radial spines up to 8 pieces. Spines are straight, may be slightly curved, yellow with a brown tint. Central spines are not expressed, most often absent. The flowers are medium sized, up to 5 cm in diameter. The color of the flowers is yellow with a reddish strip on the petals.

Andrea

The height of an adult plant reaches 10 cm. The diameter of the stem is up to 8 cm. The tubercles are shiny, large, densely pubescent. The thorns are powerful, curved, arched. The flowers are funnel-shaped, wide open, in diameter up to 5 - 6 cm. Petals are numerous, narrow, bright yellow in color.

How to care at home?

Temperature

In spring and summer, the optimum air temperature for the corifant is 22 - 24 ° C. Desert coryphants can withstand temperatures up to 27 - 28 ° C (you can find out about desert cacti here). In autumn, the temperature of the content should be reduced, the flower is preparing for winter holidays.

Watering

In spring and summer, watering is moderate. In the fall, watering is reduced. Watering is recommended through a pallet or by immersion. After watering, the remaining water must be drained immediately, excessive wetting of the roots is unacceptable. Water for irrigation should be soft, clean, room temperature.

Important: desert varieties require almost dry content even in summer; the soil between irrigations should dry well to a depth of 1 - 2 cm. Additional humidification of the air, spraying with flowers is not required.

Shine

To stimulate flowering, corifants require bright lighting all year round. Pots should be placed on the southern, eastern windows. Young or newly transplanted plants from the scorching sun should be shaded with a light curtain, especially at noon.

Priming

The soil composition for the coryphanthus with more powerful and thicker spines should be rocky, nutritious, without humus additives. The soil must be mulched around the root neck with pebbles or small gravel. Clay impurities can be added to the composition of the soil mixture. For steppe species, the soil should be porous, light, drained, with the addition of humus and other nutrients.

Soil composition:

• Leaf humus - 1 h.
• Sod land - 1 h.
• Coarse sand - 1 hour.
• Gravel (drainage) - 1 hour.

Pruning

Pruning is carried out in the spring during transplantation. Cropping Pattern:

1. Side stems are separated - children for reproduction.
2. Rotted and infected root processes during transplantation are cut off.
3. The processes of the stem infected with pathogenic infections are cut out.

Important: after pruning, the plant is dried in partial shade, the places of the slices are dusted with crushed charcoal.

Top dressing

He does not need frequent feeding of the corifant. Fertilizes the soil when planting with organic fertilizing - humus, humus. In spring and summer, flowers should be fed with special mineral fertilizers for cacti and succulents. Fertilizers are applied through irrigation once a month.

Pot

Due to the powerful root system, the corinfant pot is selected larger than for other cacti. In a cramped pot, the flower begins to hurt, flowering is delayed. For each transplant, use a pot 2-3 cm larger in diameter than the previous one. Ceramic containers are recommended. Ceramic pots well regulate the temperature of the soil, preventing the roots from overheating. At the bottom of the tank, drainage holes are obligatory for the outflow of excess moisture.

Transfer

Transplantation is carried out in the spring, every 3 years, as the root grows. Plants infected with rot are transplanted. The capacity is selected more than 2 times the volume of the root. The soil is pre-disinfected, pieces of charcoal can be added to the mixture.

Transplantation scheme:

1. Gently, so as not to damage the thorns, a flower is removed from the pot.
2. Damaged roots are cut, slices are processed with crushed coal.
3. 1 - 2 days, the roots should dry.
4. A layer of drainage spills out to the bottom of the pot. 4 - 5 cm.
5. The flower is carried along with an earthen lump.
6. It deepens to the level of the root neck.
7. Above, the soil is mulched by gravel.
8. Watering is carried out in 3 - 4 days.

Wintering

In winter, the pots are transferred to a dry, bright room. Temperature frames - 10 - 12 ° С.

Lowering the temperature below 10 ° C is detrimental to the corinth.

Watering and top dressing in the winter are stopped, the flower needs rest. After a winter holiday, flowers are accustomed to bright light gradually.

Important: after wintering, watering resumes a little later. The coryphanthus enters the active phase of growth later than other cacti.

Features of outdoor care

The Corifantha loves fresh air. At home, it is necessary to ventilate the room. With the onset of heat, the pots should be taken out onto an open loggia, balcony. Can be placed in the garden under a canopy, protecting from rain. Pots can be placed on a decorative flower bed among stones, under the canopy of undersized shrubs. The Corifantha is afraid of the cold; in autumn, pots need to be brought into the house.

Breeding

Seeds

Sowing seeds is carried out at the end of winter. For growing seedlings, flat, spacious containers are used. Seed germination - 80 - 90%. Seed pretreatment is not needed. For disinfection, the seeds are soaked before sowing in a solution of manganese or zircon.

Sand, perlite and pieces of charcoal are added to the soil. Landing procedure:

1. Seeds are evenly distributed on a slightly moistened soil surface.
2. Seeds are shallow pressed into the ground.
3. The seed tank is covered with glass or film.
4. The lighting is bright.
5. The temperature of the seedlings is up to 26 - 28 ° C.
6. Seedlings germinate within 2 weeks.
7. Sowing is aired daily.
8. After 3 weeks, the film is removed.
9. Within 10 months, seedlings grow.

Important: large nighttime temperature drops when growing seedlings are unacceptable.

Shoots

Some varieties form lateral stems. They are separated in the spring.

Division scheme:

1. The side stem is carefully trimmed.
2. The shoot is dried for 2 days.
3. A separated stem is placed in a small pot with drained substrate.
4. Watering in 3 - 4 days, by immersion.
5. Rooting takes place within 2-3 weeks.

The processes that have independent roots are separated.

Features of breeding in open ground

In a temperate climate, the coryphanthus does not land in open ground. Sowing seeds is carried out in greenhouses and special greenhouses. Dew, rainfall, nighttime temperature drops, soil water are contraindicated in seedlings.

Briefly about diseases and pests

• From waterlogging of the soil, the stem becomes watery, spines lose their density, mold appears on the soil. An urgent transplant, soil replacement is required.
• The stalk wrinkled, began to stretch - it is necessary to water the plant.
• From the bright sun the corifant drops thorns, spots appear on the trunk - burns. It is necessary to pritenit flowers.
• The shield is removed manually. Previously, insects are treated with alcohol or vinegar.
• From a spider mite, a mealybug, spraying with soapy water or treating the stem with a phytoderm will help.

Similar flowers

1. Corifanta bent. The stem is spherical, grows in groups, branches at the base. Yellow spines grow with a comb. The flowers are yellow with a lemon tint, in diameter up to 3-4 cm.
2. Hifton Corinthian has a branching stalk 15 cm high. The tubercles are large, spines light, long. The flowers are yellow, medium size, up to 4 cm in diameter.
3. Hinton Corifanta grade "Jeffrey". The stem is miniature, up to 2 cm high, hemispherical shape. The tubercles and spines are small.
4. Corifant Wallschlager. The stem is dark green, elongated, the height of an adult cactus is up to 10 - 11 cm. The flowers are large, orange with a salmon tint.
5. Corphantine Vogtera. The stem is spherical, diameter 6 - 7 cm. The tubercles are thick, spines light with a dark top, dense. The flowers are voluminous, bright yellow.

Proper care, careful watering, timely top dressing, compliance with the plant's life cycle are the key to good growth and the development of corinfant.