Hatiora

Cactus family. Homeland - Brazil. It is a close relative of the Schlumberger. There are only 4 species of these succulent epiphytes in nature. Hatior is often confused with the Decembrist (schlumberger). However, it is easily distinguished by the structure of the flower - it has a radially symmetrical shape with a short and non-curved flower tube. In schlumberger, the flower is zygomorphic, with a curved flower tube. In addition, the chatiora segments are more rounded and often have a reddish tint.

Gärtner's Hatiora gaertneri blooms in bright red flowers, Hatiora Graser's Hatiora graeseri - red on the outside and pink on the inside flowers, Hatiora pink Hatiora rosea - can have flowers of various shades from pink to purple.

Hatiora salicorniform Hatiora salicornioides - completely unlike other species, it consists of numerous branches, drooping over time, with club-shaped segments about 0.5-1 cm thick and up to 3 cm long. It seems that the plant consists of small sticks. Flowering can be very abundant, at this time the plant is covered with dozens of small yellow flowers formed at the ends of shoots. The plant may need support over the years, to give the shape of a tree, the stems become woody with age, and are slightly exposed in the lower part.

Zatiora care

Temperature: In summer, optimally about 22-24 ° C, on hot days the pot with chatiora needs to be rearranged in a shaded place. In winter, the rest period at a temperature not higher than 15 ° C, and at a completely dry content. After flowering, the chatiore also needs a dormant period, which lasts until the end of May, while watering is limited and the content is cool. Winter minimum 10 ° C.

Lighting: Hatiora prefers a bright place, light partial shade, i.e. she definitely needs shading from direct sunlight in the midday hours. It grows well on the northwest and east windows.

Watering: With the advent of buds, they water quite abundantly until the end of flowering - after drying out the top layer of the earth (about half the depth of the pot). In winter, they water rarely and carefully, after completely drying the ground in a pot.

Fertilizer: Plants are fed three to four weeks after transplantation (in early summer, after flowering) with a special complex fertilizer for cacti, not fed during rest.

Air humidity: Periodic spraying for hygienic purposes (wash off dust). Forest cacti are resistant to dry air.

Transplant: The chatiora is transplanted after flowering - at the end of February. The seating capacity is spacious - wide but not deep. The soil is the 1 part of the sod, the 1 part of the sheet, the 1 part of the sand and brick crumbs or very small ceramics. Good drainage is mandatory. You can use a purchased soil mixture for cacti.

Reproduction: Cuttings having 2-3 segments. After cutting, the cuttings are slightly dried and placed without deepening on moist soil. You can close the top with a glass jar, not forgetting to periodically ventilate.

Problems growing chatiora:

Hatiora does not tolerate excessive watering: the leaves pale, become lethargic. Sometimes a massive leaf fall begins - segments fall off.

He does not like the chatior of bright sunlight, this is a forest cactus, grows in light (openwork) partial shade - from excess light, the segments of the leaves turn red, become soft, burns may form - dry gray-brown spots in the center of the leaf.

Hatiora needs a period of rest in winter at 16-18 ° C. With normal maintenance, it will not die, but does not bloom, or blooms very weakly. If it is dark and hot in winter, the stems are exposed from below, an ugly sampling appears, and the decorative appearance is lost.