Hatiora (Hatiora) is an indigenous inhabitant of Brazil, growing in 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 the gorges of rocks) cacti. When grown at home, these plants do not exceed 30-50 cm in height. But at home, this type of cactus can grow up to 1 meter.
Plants of this genus were named Hatiora by botanical scientists, who used maps compiled by the Englishman Thomas Harriott in their scientific expeditions. The surname of this particular scientist-cartographer became an anagram of the name of the genus of plants.
At the moment, I distinguish between two subgenus of this plant species, which differ in their structure and shape. Of all the known types of hatiors, only four are suitable for home cultivation.
Hatiora care at home
Location and lighting
This type of cactus does not like direct sunlight, but it does like light. The best option would be to organize diffused lighting. The flower can be placed on windows facing north, but this will affect flowering. In warm weather, the hatiora can be placed on the balcony, taking care of the correct lighting.
Temperature
The temperature regime of the hatiora should be monitored very carefully. This type of cactus painfully tolerates sharp temperature fluctuations. For each season, you should create your own conditions. In the summer, the temperature should be maintained at 22-27 degrees, in the winter from 7 to 13 degrees.
The dormant period for the flower begins at the end of September-October. At this time, the temperature should be maintained in the range of 12 to 16 degrees with a complete refusal of watering.
Air humidity
Since the plant came to us from the humid tropics, the air humidity must also be kept high. The plant needs to be hydrated daily, especially during hot periods. Hatior also tolerates dry air well, but such a content will not be beneficial for the plant. In winter, spraying can be omitted. You need to be careful when spraying a cactus during a dormant period.
Watering
Hatiora is a fairly moisture-loving plant, therefore it requires constant attention in terms of watering. For abundant soil moisture, it is necessary to use warm boiled or settled water. But, most importantly, do not overdo it, otherwise the roots of the cactus will begin to rot. Watering should be increased in the summer, when the plant grows, and weakened in the autumn-winter period. The soil in the pot should be moist, but not "flooded".
The soil
Since the root system of this plant is poorly developed, small pots should be chosen for planting. It is necessary to take care of the drainage layer, which may consist of pebbles or expanded clay.The potting mix should be organic-rich and fairly breathable. For optimal growth and development of the hatiory, you can use the following soil mixture: leaf and drained soil, sand and humus in a certain ratio.
Top dressing and fertilizers
The frequency of feeding is influenced by the growth phase of the plant. During the growth and flowering period, fertilizer should be applied every two weeks. When the cactus grows, it is best to use a nitrogen-based feed. During the flowering period, it is better to use potassium-based fertilizers. During rest, fertilization of the soil should be abandoned altogether.
Transfer
For transplanting, use the time when the flower has already faded. In this case, it is imperative to clean the roots from the old soil. The frequency of transplanting depends on the age of the plant. Young shoots are planted every year, choosing looser pots. When a flower reaches the age of three, it is transplanted every 2-3 years, large specimens - every 4-5 years.
Hatiora bloom
The flowering of the hathior, as a rule, pleases the eye in winter, after the autumn dormancy. It is during dormancy that the growth of the plant stops and the laying of a flower bud begins. At this stage, the flower is kept in a cool place and any moisture is canceled. Then the cactus is returned to normal conditions and watering begins, which contributes to the appearance of buds.
Reproduction of the hatiora cactus
The main method of reproduction is vegetative (cuttings). After the end of flowering, a cutting of 2-3 segments is broken off. Then the place of scrapping must be dipped in charcoal and left to dry overnight. After that, the cuttings are immersed in light non-clay soil, where they take root rather quickly. It is possible to grow a hatiora from a seed, but this is a very lengthy and time-consuming process.
Diseases and pests
Most often, the plant is damaged by bacterial and fungal diseases.
With bacterial infections, moist spots appear on the plant, which gradually spread over all parts of the flower. In this case, the use of special antibacterial agents does not bring results. The best way to fight the disease is to remove the damaged part of the stem. If a large area of the cactus is infected, then it is better to break off the healthy part of the cutting and grow a new plant.
The most common fungal diseases in hatiora are late blight and fusarium.
Phytophthora can occur with abundant watering, when the root system of the flower begins to rot. The plant can also be damaged by this disease if it is planted in already infested soil. The infected cactus begins to wither and becomes pale in color. To combat this fungus, fungicidal preparations are used.
The plant becomes infected with Fusarium when the stem is mechanically damaged and through insect bites. For treatment, fungicidal medicines are also used.
When affected by pests such asscabbard, whitefly, spider mite and scale insects - segments can fall off, lose color and turn yellow. To combat them, special drugs are used.
Difficulties in caring for a hatiora
- Buds and segments are crumbled - it is necessary to increase watering, adjust the temperature regime in accordance with the life cycle of the plant.
- Lack of flowering or weak flowering - insufficiently mineralized soil, improper maintenance during the dormant period.
- If the soil is sufficiently moistened, the segments wrinkle and wither - low air humidity, the temperature regime is not observed.
Popular types of hatiora
Hatiora herminiae
Segmental epiphytic cactus up to 30 cm high. Plant stems have dark green or gray cylindrical segments from 2 to 5 cm long and no more than 0.5 cm in diameter. Small areoles with 1-2 bristles are placed laterally. From the apical areoles, crimson-pink flowers about 2-2.5 cm long develop.
Hatiora salicornioide
A bushy plant with profusely branching clavate drooping shoots. The plant grows up to 50 cm in height. The segments themselves are not large, up to 5 cm in length and 0.3 to 1 cm in diameter. Small bell-shaped flowers up to 1 cm long appear from the youngest areoles with small bristles. The main trunk gradually lignifies as it develops. For its unusual shape, this type of Hatiora was called "the cactus of dancing bones."
