All about hatiora breeding: the secrets of growing a tropical plant

This succulent cactus family for its extraordinary appearance has many names and nicknames.

It is called Dancing Skeleton, Dream of a Drunkard, Dancing Bones Cactus, Coral Cactus. Originally from tropical Brazil, the flower propagates easily and takes root at home.

Hatiora is a native of Brazil, native to its rainforests. This small succulent shrub is a relative of the familiar cactus. Hatiora belongs to the genus epiphytic (develop on trees), and less often lithophytic (grow in gorges of rocks) cacti.

When is the best time to propagate this plant?

In the natural conditions of the tropics, the bloom of the hatiora occurs in the summer, in our areas the succulent blooms in the winter after autumn dormancy.

It is recommended to propagate the flower after flowering, at the end of winter or early spring, during the same period bushes should be replanted and pruned.

Pot preparation

The hator is transplanted into the pot 2 cm more in diameter than the previous container.

When choosing a pot, you should measure the volume of the container with the size of the root. For roots, there should be up to 1 cm of free space.

The pot can be used plastic, opaque or ceramic, clay.

At the bottom there must be holes for the outflow of excess water during irrigation.

You can grow a flower in hanging pots, like an ampel plant. Many flower growers recommend using low flat containers of any material.

Land preparation

The composition of the earth. You can use the finished mixture for succulents and cacti. You can prepare the substrate yourself. The soil should be light, nutritious, permeable, slightly acidic. For drainage, crumb brick and peat are mixed in equal proportions. You can use pebbles and medium-sized pieces of expanded clay.

Soil composition:

• Sod land - 1 h.
• Leaf land - 2 hours
• Coarse sand - 1 hour.
• Humus - 1 hour
• Peat - 0.5 hours
• Drainage.

To preserve moisture, perlite is added to the substrate where the hator grows.

How does it breed?

Seeds

This method in residential conditions is used very rarely. The process is long, requires greenhouse conditions for growing seedlings. Small seeds are collected immediately after flowering. Immediately before sowing, the seeds can be soaked for 40 minutes. into a weak solution of manganese for disinfection. For sowing, spacious, low plastic containers are used. The substrate for sowing is a mixture of sand and peat.

How to propagate a plant with seeds:

1. A drainage layer of 1.5 - 2 cm is poured into the container.
2. The soil mixture is placed on top.
3. The substrate is moistened from a fine spray.
4. Seeds are sown evenly over the entire surface.
5. Sowing does not require deepening.
6. Sowing is covered with a film or glass.
7. Seedlings are aired daily.
8. Moisturize the crop regularly.
9. Air temperature - 18 - 20 ° С.
10. After 7 to 9 days, seedlings appear.
11. The film is removed.

Cuttings

Cuttings - the most convenient and fastest way to breed hatiora. The procedure is performed after flowering in the spring.

Cuttings must be broken off, twisting fragments of the stem.

Each stalk should contain 2 - 3 segments. Before rooting cuttings should be well dried for 1-2 days. Hatiora cuttings, like all succulents, are juicy, without withering, there is a risk of rotting of seedlings.

For the same reasons rooting cuttings in water is not recommended. For cuttings, you can use a large twig, up to 10 - 12 cm. Such seedlings immediately form a decorative bush.

Large processes are dried for at least 7 to 9 days.

The scheme of rooting cuttings:

1. Holes are made at the bottom of a shallow pot.
2. A layer of fine expanded clay and gravel is poured to the bottom, up to 2 cm.
3. The pot is filled with a special mixture.
4. Cuttings are buried in the soil by 1 cm.
5. Seedlings are watered.
6. Seedlings are determined in a cool place with diffused lighting.
7. Watering regular, in small doses.
8. Hatoria cuttings root within 3-4 weeks.

There is an easier way of rooting - cuttings are simply laid out next to the mother plant without deepening. After rooting, the seedlings are transplanted by transshipment into separate pots. Adult bushes, which became crowded in a pot, in the spring are divided into 2 to 3 bushes. Separated parts are also rooted quickly and painlessly.

Features of outdoor cultivation

In the warmer months, it is advisable to place the flower in the garden or on the balcony. Hatiora looks good in compositional flower beds, on multi-tiered flower beds with ferns and other succulents.

The main condition for keeping outdoors is diffused bright light. Direct sunlight can damage the flower. When heat is established, the flower tolerates spring and summer diurnal changes well.

Such a climate is close to the natural habitat of the hatior. The content of the flower in the open air contributes to abundant flowering, good young growth.

Hatiora cannot stand cold gusts of wind. The stems from this turn yellow, the tops dry.

Care

• Immediately after planting, the hatoru is not watered for 3 to 4 days. Then the flower requires moderate but regular watering. For watering, use warm, clean water. You can use rainwater. Watering decreases in the fall and practically stops in the winter months.
• It is advisable to sprinkle the topsoil with a mixture of gravel and expanded clay.
• Immediately after planting, the flower should be gradually accustomed to bright light. The best place for the hator is western and eastern windows. Direct rays should obscure the windows with a light curtain.
• In summer, the cactus can tolerate high temperatures up to 25 - 27 ° C. It is unacceptable to lower the temperature in winter to 7 ° C. Hatiora does not tolerate severe hypothermia.
• A tropical flower requires sufficient humidity. On hot days, spray bushes from a fine sprayer should be sprayed. Spray water should be at room temperature. The procedure is carried out 2 times a week, in the early morning. In winter and autumn, spraying the flower is not required. Ventilate the room at any time of the year to avoid stale air.
• Hatiora loves fertile soil. During the period of development and flowering, the flower should be fertilized 1 time in 10-14 days. Fertilizers are used special for cacti. At the end of winter, the flower should be fed with nitrogen fertilizers that contribute to the growth of stems.To support flowering, the formation of buds, it is necessary to use potash and phosphorus fertilizers. During the rest period, top dressing stops.

We talked more about the rules for care and reproduction of hatiora at home here.

What to do if the plant does not take root?

1. If the joints dry out, the flower drops buds, water the flower, add spraying, and clean the stems from dust.
2. With heavy, poor soil composition, flowering may not occur. It is necessary to change the substrate, feed the flower.
3. If the stems become sluggish, wrinkle, the air is dry. Humidify the air by spraying the bush. You can install pots on wet pebbles or place open containers of water next to the pots.
4. Dry brown spots from an overdry of an earthen coma may appear on the segments. It is necessary to strengthen watering.
5. From regular overflow, dampness of the soil, the base of the stem and roots can rot. The flower will be saved by an urgent transplant, substitution of a substrate, pruning of diseased segments.
6. From an overabundance of organic fertilizers and nitrogen fertilizing, the root system rots. The regime and proportions of fertilizers should be strictly observed, given the life cycle of the plant.
7. From the drafts, the tops of the stems turn yellow and dry. It is necessary to rearrange the pots in a protected place.
8. Often from improper watering and cold, the flower is affected by fungal infections. From fusarium stems become pale, drooping. The treatment of the substrate and the bush with fungicides (Bordeaux liquid, foundationazole) will be required. Processing should be repeated after 7 days.
9. It’s much harder to get rid of bacterial viral infections. Signs of the disease: moist, slippery spots appear on the stems. Antibacterial agents are most often ineffective. It is recommended to root a healthy branch of the hatori. Infected plants are discarded.
10. If flowers are taken out to the garden for the summer, there is a high probability of the appearance of a scab, a spider mite, a mealybug. Pests are collected manually. The flower should be bathed in a hot shower. Then the bush is treated with soapy water. You can use chemicals (actellik, actara, etc.)

For the prevention of diseases, viruses and pests, you need to treat the substrate with insecticides once a month.

Hatiora - completely unpretentious indoor cactus. Providing proper care, the flower multiplies easily, grows rapidly, turning into a sprawling lush bush over several years.

Watch the video: How To Propagate Christmas Cactus Cuttings! SIMPLE AND EASY! (December 2024).