Description of the cactus genus Astrophytum
The cactus genus Astrophytum belongs to the Cactaceae family, which are distinguished by their spherical shape. Under natural conditions, crops are found in the hot areas of Mexico and Texas. Visually, the plant closely resembles a star, as it has attractive ray-like ribs.
Astrophytum in nature
The main feature of this culture is felt specks in light shades, which are evenly distributed on the cactus. These “dots” perfectly absorb water. There are varieties of Astrophytum with large spines on the surface.
If you want to grow an Astrophytum plant, you should take into account that the crops develop rather slowly. Their flowering begins in early spring and continues until late autumn. The flowers are usually large in size, yellow in color with a reddish throat on top. Flowers are attached to the stem apex. Having blossomed, they will delight you with their beauty for 2-3 days, after which they will fade.
You can see the incredible shapes and colors of cultivars of the genus Astrophytum and enjoy their flowering by watching this video.
Reproduction
This genus of cacti does not produce children, so it can only be propagated by seeds. If you buy them in a store, then it is better to choose the “Mix” series - several types of flowers will grow at once. The shelf life of seeds is no more than 2 years.
Sowing algorithm:
- In spring, low bowls are prepared, they need to be washed and steamed;
- the substrate is mixed from 5 parts of river sand, 1 part of leaf soil and 0.25 parts of crushed charcoal;
- the seeds are immersed in clean warm water for half an hour, then in a pink solution of potassium permanganate for 10 minutes and dried;
- The seeds are distributed over a flat surface of the substrate, lightly pressing into the soil, over 15 square meters. cm of area you can place up to 50 seeds;
- lightly sprinkle with earth;
- put a transparent bag on the container;
- until germination, keep in a bright place at a temperature of 22 degrees, not forgetting to ventilate daily;
- moisten the soil if necessary with warm water from a spray bottle;
- after germination, the package is removed, the temperature is left the same;
- When the seedlings acquire balls, it’s time to separate them into separate containers.
Astrophytums germinate quickly, expenses can appear within a week.
Advice ! If you provide bottom heating of the soil - a temperature of about 25 degrees, costs will be more reasonable.
Caring for Astophytum at home
As a representative of the Cactaceae, Astrophytum has similar care needs as other cacti, apart from a few nuances. Let's tell you in more detail about growing this wonderful plant.
What soil is suitable for a cactus
Like most cacti, Astrophytum prefers rocky and sandy soils. Remember that the Astrophytum plant practically does not tolerate acidic types of soil. The optimal reaction is close to neutral or slightly acidic.
Collection of Astrophytums in a greenhouse
You can use ready-made cactus soil or mix your own mixture. Mix parts of regular houseplant soil, pumice (or perlite) and coarse sand. Make sure the final mixture is suitable by wetting and squeezing it. A crumbly lump of soil is exactly what you need.
Location of the cactus
When choosing a location for this cactus, give preference to well-lit areas. It is best to plant the bush on windows facing south. Sometimes in the summer it will be necessary to shade the crop to protect it from scorching rays.
Lighting
Astrophytum loves a lot of sunlight - at least 6 hours a day if it is outdoors. In the home, it is great for windows that receive direct sunlight or intense indirect light.
Temperature and humidity
Optimal temperatures for growing are within +20...+25°C. It is recommended to ensure a difference between day and night indicators. To do this, the flower pot can be taken out to an open loggia or terrace, leaving it at night. Such a bush should overwinter in a room where the air temperature will be approximately +10°C.
Astrophytums feel great in the summer
Also, do not forget to regularly ventilate the room so that there is enough fresh air. High humidity is not recommended for these plants. Astrophytum does not need to be moistened additionally; it prefers dry air.
Watering
Proper watering for the Astrophytum cactus is the main and important point. Try to overdo it with water. Astrophytum is watered moderately in summer. The soil must be completely saturated with moisture. Then the substrate should dry well. During the growing season, cacti stop growing during the day. Active absorption of moisture begins with the onset of darkness. Therefore, water in the morning or evening after 18:00.
Gardeners often use bottom watering because the soil can become very compact and the roots can rot. From autumn to spring you rarely need to water. One or two waterings throughout the cold season will serve the plant just fine.
Fertilizer
To feed the flower, use complex mineral substances intended for cacti (reducing the dosage by half). A single fertilization per month is sufficient for optimal development of the cactus. In winter it is better not to fertilize.
How to replant Astrophytum
The Astrophytum plant does not respond well to transplants, so this procedure should be resorted to in rare cases - only after the clod of earth is completely entangled in roots. When replanting a plant, it is not recommended to deeply immerse the root collar in the soil, as this can cause rotting. The landing container is used more than it was before.
Expanded clay or broken bricks are placed at the bottom of the container, and the soil is decorated with beautiful decorative stones on top.
The soil
Manufacturers offer a large selection of soil mixtures for cacti and succulents. You can create your own mixture of turf, leaf soil, peat and coarse sand.
The proportions of the components are the same. The earth needs to be calcined in the oven. Sprinkle the sand with slightly diluted potassium permanganate and dry.
Don't forget about expanded clay drainage and a layer of small pebbles on top of the ground.
How to propagate Astrophytum cactus
This culture does not produce children, so only the seed method is used for propagation. To grow astrophytum from seeds, you must first prepare planting material. You need to hold the seeds in a manganese solution, leaving them there for 5-7 minutes. Then they are sown in pre-created soil. The container must be covered with cling film so that future cacti receive a microclimate like in a greenhouse.
Astrophytum shoots
Every day, astrophytum seedlings need ventilation. As the soil dries out, it is moistened with water. The optimal temperature is +20°C. You can see the first shoots after 7 days. It is extremely important to monitor the condition of the soil; it should not be overly moist, as this can lead to the death of plants.
Features of astrophytum transplantation
These succulents do not need frequent replanting, especially for mature specimens. Usually they “move” only out of necessity, if their root system completely fills the pot and becomes crowded. It is worth paying attention to the following nuances:
- The reservoir is selected to be slightly larger than the previous one. In a container that is too spacious, the plant will grow slowly, taking a long time to colonize the soil. And besides, the soil in such containers often turns sour.
- The pot should be shallow and wide so that the superficial root system of the cactus has room to grow.
- It is best to use the transfer method, it is the least traumatic - the plant is carefully removed from the pot and transferred to a new container along with the old lump of earth. This method is suitable for healthy succulents that do not require cleaning and trimming the affected roots.
- When planting, the root collar should not be buried; it should remain at ground level, as it may rot.
Diseases and pests of Atrophytum
The cactus is often attacked by mealybugs, spider mites and scale insects.
Mealybugs
They usually appear as white tiny fuzzy dots, more like small cotton balls. They slowly suck out his juice. If a pest is detected, spray the plant with a stream of water. Alternatively, you can use rubbing alcohol and water. Use some cotton wool to apply diluted alcohol to the affected areas.
In addition to sucking sap, mealybugs can eat plant roots. Here you will notice that the plant becomes unhealthy even when everything is fine on the outside. In this case, you will have to pull the plant out of the soil and check the roots. If you notice tiny creatures, wash the roots well and replant them in a new pot (or wash the previous one thoroughly) using fresh potting mix.
Spider mites
They hide well, so you won't notice them until your plant is damaged. Brown spots on the surface are a sure sign of their presence.
To get rid of them, simply use the above method of spraying with water or wiping with alcohol mixed with water.
Shields
These pests usually have a tough outer covering. And they are not as easy to wash off as scale insects and mites. Mechanical cleaning is quite effective (manually remove the pest using a toothpick). After cleaning, treat the cactus with Aktara solution.
If you are interested in how to deal with pests of cacti and succulents, you can read our article.
How to avoid rotting Astrophytum roots
This is an obvious problem if the plant receives too much water or the soil mixture drains too slowly. Adjust the frequency of watering and monitor how the soil allows moisture to pass through.
Astrophytum growing from seeds
Astrophytum can only be propagated by seed. For this purpose, the seed material is soaked in a weak solution of manganese for seven minutes, after which it is sown in a previously prepared soil with a mixture of leaf turf, sand and charcoal in equal proportions. The top of the container is covered with film to create a greenhouse microclimate for future cacti.
The seedlings are ventilated and moistened daily as the soil dries. The temperature in the mini-greenhouse should be at least 20 degrees. The first shoots should be expected in about a week. It is very important to ensure that the soil is not waterlogged, otherwise the plants will die.
Cactus Astrophytum: common species of the genus
There are six main species of the genus Astrophytum and many artificially bred varieties - cultivars. We propose to consider the most popular varieties in more detail.
Astrophytum asterias cactus
This species is also called Astrophytum asterias. Very common among gardeners due to its ideal symmetrical shape. The stems do not have spines; they have 8 flat ribs.
Astrophytum stellata
Despite the slow development of the bush, it can reach up to 18 centimeters in diameter. The cactus blooms with yellow buds. For propagation, the seed method is used. The most popular variety is considered Super-Kabuto. Its peculiarity is that it can either be completely covered with specks or not have it at all.
Speckled astrophytum or myriostigma (Astrophytum myriostigma)
The cactus is also often called Astrophytum multistigma or thousand-speckled. The variety is considered the most unpretentious; it has almost no spines, but does have white felt specks.
Astrophytum polystigma (myriostigma or speckled)
There are usually no more than 5 large ribs, the flowers reach a diameter of up to 6 cm, they have a yellowish color, sometimes a reddish-orange throat can be found.
Astrophytum capricorne
Young bushes are usually round in shape; over time they turn into cylinders. The volume of the cactus is up to 0.15 m, height – no more than 0.25 meters. Usually there are up to 8 ribs.
Astrophytum capricornus
The cactus has such a strange name due to the presence of interesting curved spines, visually reminiscent of goat horns. The stem is dark green, with many light-colored specks. The flowers are yellowish in color.
Astrophytum ornatum (Astrophytum ornatum)
It is distinguished by a large number of spines, usually up to 2 meters in height. But when grown indoors, it does not exceed more than 0.1-0.2 meters.
Astrophytum ornatum or decorated
The surface is covered with felt strips (speckles), which create interesting patterns.
Astrophytum caput-medusae
Rare plant, endangered species. The appearance does not resemble other plants of the genus.
Instead, it has narrow cylindrical stems up to 17 cm long with yellow flowers. This species is rarely grown as a houseplant.
Astrophytum coahuilense
Another rare species, almost never grown in greenhouses. Very similar in appearance to A. myriostigma, with five ribs and a similar size, but its body is a softer gray color. It grows in northern Mexico, far from its “relatives”. Very demanding of intense sunlight and slow growth. The largest cactus of this species reaches up to 50 cm in height and 20 in diameter.
The stem of this species at a young age is spherical, over time it stretches into a columnar shape, there are no lateral shoots. The color of the stem is gray-green, and it is completely covered with a layer of grayish-white flake-like specks.
Astrophytum mottled myriostigma
It is distinguished by a smooth trunk with velvet spots. Usually it has 5 ribs, so it received another name “Bishop's miter”. Growing, its trunk can reach a circumference of 25 cm.
The flowers are bright yellow, pointed, with a brown border along the edge of the petals. Blooms in summer, but the flower lives only 2-4 days. The fruits are in the form of boxes, similar to star figures. Unpretentious.
Bloom
Astrophytum blooms from spring to autumn. The flowers are solitary, located at the top of the stem. The lifespan of one flower is from one to three days. Despite such a short lifespan of a flower, the cactus cannot remain without them: while one flower lasts, the next bud grows. This is how, in strict order, all the flowers bloom one by one. The color of the narrow and long petals varies from white to yellow. The throat of the flowers is red or orange.
