Smooth North American lophophore Williams cacti, also known as peyote, grow in the mountains of the USA, Mexico and can be grown at home. These plants have long been used in shamanistic practices of Indian tribes. They are distinguished by the presence in their juice of alkaloids, which have an invigorating, healing, and in large quantities, hallucinogenic effects. The main active ingredient is mescaline, which is banned in a number of countries, but due to its insignificant amount in cacti grown indoors, as well as a long period of plant growth, the legislation of the Russian Federation allows up to 2 copies of lophophores.
What does lofophore Williams look like to which family
Among the botanical communities, there is no unity in how many species the Lofofora family of cacti has, according to various sources, their number is from 2 to 5. The most famous of them is Lophophora Williamsii, which has the highest mescaline content.
Lofofora cactus at home
Also in the genus, such species were identified as:
- Lophophora Diffusa;
- Lophophora Alberto-vojtechii;
- Lophophora Koehresii;
- Lophophora fricii.
Lofofora Williams externally is an oblong spherical and velvety to the touch stem of blue-green color, reaching up to 12-15 cm in diameter and up to 7 cm in height.
A cactus can have a comb, deceptive, shrubs, as well as a convex five and multi-ribbed shape. Areoles can produce bunches with different, depending on the specimen and plant age, the number of straw hairs. The volumetric root-shaped root has a diameter identical to the stem (taking into account all young superficial processes), and grows longer than the length of the trunk.
Additional Information! During the dry period, the roots of plants of the species Lophophora Williamsii shrink, due to which the aerial part of the cactus loses turgor and partially leaves into the soil.
Features of home care
Lophophore cactus can be grown without difficulty in a home environment, and the provision of conditions necessary for healthy growth will not require unnecessary costs and close attention. The species of lophophore Williams gains from 5 to 10 mm of growth per year. Given that only cacti grown in the natural habitat can be of interest to law enforcement, cultivation of this plant is quite acceptable. This cactus is quite interesting for collectors.
Attention! Plants under 3 years old are transplanted annually.
Temperature
In the summer, for this variety of cacti, temperatures quite normal in this season in the middle band are enough. The limit of permissible values is 40 ° C.
During the growing season of lophophore Williams, the temperatures of the middle band are suitable
In winter, Cactus Lophophora Williamsii begins to rest. At this time, the necessary temperature is considered to be a thermometer from 10 to 12 ° C.
Lighting
It is not recommended to allow direct sunlight to hit the cactus with the exception of the springtime, in other seasons it needs good diffused lighting.
In the spring, the plant adapts to increasing solar activity, and pots can be exposed directly under the sun only after significant spring swelling of the cactus surface.
Note! If the surface of the lophophores began to acquire a red tint, this indicates a sunburn. In this case, you should immediately reduce the illumination in the daytime.
Watering
The frequency and abundance of watering is determined by the season, soil condition and temperature.
- From the end of September to the collection of turgor in late March, the plant can not be watered, otherwise the lophophore begins to rot.
- In summer, relatively frequent watering is carried out, sufficient to prevent drying out of the soil.
- The rest of the time, the cactus should be watered not before significant drying of the substrate, this is approximately every 2 weeks.
Spraying
Lofofora Williams is sprayed with warm water. To preserve the areola cover, it is recommended to refrain from spraying; in a hot period, moisture can be periodically sprayed onto a plant without accumulating liquid in parts of its aerial parts.
Humidity
The cactus has enough home environment, for its natural and healthy growth does not require special measures to ensure humidity.
Priming
The plant is planted in a loose substrate with good cross and acidity of 6-7 pH. Soil should 1/3 consist of a mixture of soil with nutritious organic matter and 2/3 of the drainage additives. As the first component, selectively apply:
- turf soil;
- black earth with compost;
- chernozem with deciduous humus.
Lofofora Williams in natural soil
For loosening components of the substrate are suitable:
- marble chips;
- brick chips;
- coarse sand;
- perlite.
Top dressing
From April to September, the plant is monthly fertilized with liquid feeding for cacti. During these months, the lophophore undergoes a growing season, and outside of it, fertilizing is not recommended.
Features of care in the winter and at rest
Before and after the growing season, this cactus does not need to be cared for besides providing diffused light in a room with a temperature of 10-12 ° C from the beginning of winter.
When and how it blooms
In mature individuals of the Williams lophophore, most hairs grow in the upper part of the stem. In the same area, new segments of the plant form, and in spring, flower buds form there.
Flowering time begins in the summer, continuing until early autumn. On the lophophore, semi-double tubular-type flowers with many petals appear. Their size is about 2 cm, the plant blooms in tones ranging from red to white.
Additional Information! Old cacti can produce several flowers at the same time.
How lophophore Williams propagates
The plant is mainly bred with the help of seeds, propagation by lateral shoots is also used.
In place of the bloomed flowers, pink-red berries of identical size are formed, each containing on average 5 to 10 black seeds that can be sown year round.
When buying seeds, special instructions can be attached to them, in other cases they are soaked for a couple of hours in distilled water, dried with a paper towel and evenly distributed on a moistened substrate from a fraction of vermiculite, two parts of humus and one charcoal charcoal at a distance of at least 15 mm from the border capacities.
Germination will take from 3 to 7 days, and the necessary conditions include:
- good diffused lighting;
- covering with a plastic bag.
- temperature from 23 to 25 ° C;
- ventilation every day;
- absolute humidity.
Note! The earthen mixture for seedlings before the 2nd pick should be sterilized.
Within 2-3 weeks after the emergence of sprouts, a pick is carried out with a distance interval of 2-3 mm, pulling on the package capacity at night and watering sufficient to prevent the soil from drying out.
The second pick is performed already in the soil for adult cacti by closing seedlings. Watering is reduced until the earth dries. When plants gain 1.5-2 cm in diameter, they are seated separately.
During vegetative propagation in autumn, grown cuttings are carefully cut from the main stem; the trunk section must be dried in air for 24 hours. Young shoots are placed on perlite without watering and contain lophophore under identical conditions for adults during the rest period. By spring, they release roots, after which they are seated in pots.
Transfer
For these cacti, high-breasted containers are suitable for massive and deeply germinating roots. Pots should be well drained, bone flour can also be added to the substrate in a proportion of 10 g per 10 l volume.
How the root grows at lophophora Williams
After planting, the soil is covered with thin layers of fine gravel, it also covers the basal part of the lophophore.
In the first three years, a houseplant is replanted every spring. Then the frequency should be gradually reduced, replanting the lophophore once 2-3 years.
Possible problems in growing and disease
Cacti of the species of lophophore Williams almost do not get sick and are extremely rarely exposed to parasites. Growth deviations in most cases are caused by improper care.
Pests
If a spider mite, scutellum or mealybug is found on the plant, it is necessary to check the conditions of the cactus, the parasites are removed by standard means.
Growth abnormalities
If the plant looks wilted, soft rotting areas appear on the stem or at its roots, this indicates an excess of moisture or watering during the dormant period. In this case, vaccinations are used.
Slow or stopped growth, as well as the absence of young shoots indicate winter watering or a lack of moisture obtained in the summer.
Lack of lighting during the growing season and temperatures higher than those recommended in winter distort the shape of the stem of the lophophore.
This exotic inhabitant of the foothills of Mexico and the south of the United States is extremely undemanding in care. Lofofora Williams is easy to grow and to breed. Subject to the simplest conditions of detention, this plant will be able to become a decoration for any collection of cacti, a home greenhouse for many years and just look good on the windowsill.
