Forest cacti of the genus Hylocereus

• Description Of The Genus Hylocereus Cacti.
• How To Grow Hylocereus At Home.
• Problems In Сaring For Hylocereus.
• Reproduction Of Hylocereus.
• Common Types Of Cactus Hylocereus.

It is unlikely that a cactus connoisseur will bypass the Hylocereus cactus. Its amazing appearance, beautiful flowering and edible fruits will not leave anyone indifferent. We also will not pass by this bright representative of cacti and want to tell our readers about its features and growing the Hylocereus at home.

Description of the genus Hylocereus cacti

Hylocereus is a genus of American forest cacti. Nearly 20 species of Hylocereus grow in southern Mexico, throughout Central America and northern South America. These thorny plants grow mainly in the forested areas of their distribution range. It is worth noting that since 2017, due to molecular phylogenetic studies, the previously stated conclusion that all Hylocereus species belong to the genus Selenicereus has been confirmed, therefore all Hylocereus species have been transferred to Selenicereus. But the old name of these cacti is widely used both on the Internet and among cactus growers. Plant life span: 20 years or more.

All varieties of the genus Hylocereus grow like vines. Some species are epiphytes, but most species take root in the ground and climb trees from there. Plants can often branch and grow quite high, exceeding 10 meters, becoming quite massive. The stems are usually segmented, triangular, with wavy or broken margins and a few short spines when present.

Roots, usually aerial, always attach shoots to a vertical surface, grow from each stem segment and allow them to rise upwards.

Hylocereus flowers are the largest in the cactus family, the largest of which easily exceed 30 cm in length and diameter. The flower tubes are thick, with leafy scales, and lack spines, bristles, or hairs. The flowers are mostly white and fragrant and open at night. Remarkably, these massive flowers stay open for only a few hours per night. This combination of large size and short lifespan makes Hylocereus flower opening a real treat. Although well maintained plants in a favorable climate can produce many flowers over several nights.

Several types of Hylocereus, after flowering, form large edible fruits, better known as pitaya, pitahaya or "dragon fruit" (dragon pearl). These are large fruits with red skin accentuated by green scales. Some species (eg H. undatus) that have large fruits are grown on crop farms in other parts of the world, especially in tropical Asia.

Pitahayas (dragon fruits) are eaten raw, often chilled, and also served as juice, fruit sherbet, or mashed into syrup. Unopened flower buds can be cooked like a vegetable. Flowers can be eaten or used to make tea.

Although Hylocereus is not often grown in pots due to its large size, its rapid growth makes it a very popular flower for grafting other cacti, such as the popular bright red Gymnocalycium cultivars.

How to grow Hylocereus at home

If you decide to grow this amazing cactus at home, we will tell you what you need to know about the requirements of the plant so that your flower will please your appearance for a long time. Try to choose varieties with a small crown height.

Soil

It is desirable to use substrates for cacti that pass water well for Hylocereus,.

It is important that the substrate is light to the touch and does not tend to compact, as these cacti do not resist excess moisture. For this reason, a peat soil mixture mixed with perlite in equal parts is a good option.

Remember! Hylocereus grows in rainforests and not in the desert.

Lighting

The Hylocereus cactus requires 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day for its growth. The morning sun from a window facing east or the evening sun from a western window will be optimal. If your room has a south-facing window, the cactus may receive too much sunlight and possibly get burned, especially in hot summers. One option in this case is shading or rotating the plant 180 degrees at regular intervals so that it is evenly lit from all directions.

Temperature and Humidity

The optimal room temperature for Hylocereus is between 18 and 30°C. The plant does not tolerate heat above 38 ° C. The cactus should not be kept indoors, which gets too hot in summer. Hylocereus is not frost hardy. Keep it away from cold windows in winter.

For a forest cactus, indoor humidity should be between 30% and 50%. In winter, during the heating period, it is advisable to place a wide container of water next to Hylocereus, use a room humidifier or spray the plant from above. For the summer, it is desirable to take Hylocereus outside.

Watering

Water the cactus carefully, as it is very sensitive to waterlogging, but can withstand short-term drought, as its leafy branches retain moisture. During the active growing season in summer, water it when the topsoil becomes dry (once a week). In autumn and winter, reduce the frequency of watering when the dormant period occurs.

Fertilizer

Despite the fact that it is a tropical crop, Hylocereus grows only in summer. Fertilize it about once a month with complex fertilizer for cacti and succulents. But remember - too much nitrogen leads to excessive vegetative growth and should be avoided.

Pruning

The purpose of pruning Hylocereus is to form one or more thicker shoots as main stems. Also thin out small side branches. This not only improves air circulation, but also increases the quality and size of flowers and fruits.

Replanting Hylocereus

Replanting becomes necessary when the plant outgrows its pot. Depending on the original container size, this can happen as early as a year. Cactus roots are pubescent and small. Its repotting requires special care so as not to damage the root system of Hylocereus.

If you have the space and pot to allow the plant to grow to mature size, it is best to immediately transplant the plant into a container 25 to 40 liters in size and 50 to 60 cm deep to delay repotting.

Flowering of Hylocereus

As the plant matures, it begins to bloom several flowers a year, from late spring to early summer. While home-grown cacti will have a hard time blooming, Hylocereus grown under the optimal conditions described above are more likely to bud.

Remember! The flowering of most species of Hylocereus lasts only one night and only a few hours.

Why is my cactus not blooming?

If a ripe Hylocereus does not bloom in spring or summer, this is most likely due to improper care throughout the year. The lack of flowers is caused by immaturity or insufficient dormancy during the winter months. The specimens will only flower once they have reached maturity, which can take three to eight years from the moment the leaves are cut. Also, locations with nearly uniform temperatures year-round will prevent the plant from hibernating, resulting in poor spring growth.

To achieve bud development, position the plant in a location with a night temperature of around 12°C and less water. The combination of cooler temperatures and dry soil during the colder months will increase the chances of flowering next season.

Problems in сaring for Hylocereus

Root rot is a serious problem. You can detect the disease by symptoms such as yellowing of the lower leaves, slow or weakened growth, which is often accompanied by the destruction of the stem. Remove the plant from the pot and inspect its root system. Yellow roots mean they are healthy, but brown and mushy patches of damp soil are the result of overwatering. Remove damaged sections of roots and transplant the cactus into a new pot with fresh soil.

Brown rotten stem base is also another side effect of over watering. If most of the stem is rotten, stem stalks must be cut off to save the rest of the plant.

In smaller, compact Hylocereus in a 5 cm pot, yellowing of the central leaves or a bare base is the result of excess moisture remaining on the foliage. Although watering from above is acceptable, it is recommended to use the bottom-up method to reduce the chance of leaf rot. Remove yellowed or rotten residues immediately, as they are a source of both bacterial and fungal diseases that can spread to other parts of the plant.

Too much sunlight will cause the foliage turn red (burn). Although Hylocereus is best grown in places where the sun shines for several hours, extended periods on unacclimatized specimens can lead to sunburn. If you have a newly purchased plant, increase its resistance to bright rays by gradually increasing the amount of light received.

Always use warm water, and if you choose to use tap water, let it sit for at least 24 hours before applying. Tropical cacti tend to be quite sensitive to temperature changes, so using cold tap water will not only insulate your roots, but can even cause yellowing of the edges, sudden flower drop, and stunted growth.

Reproduction of Hylocereus

The most optimal methods are with seeds or cuttings. Let's describe the most common way.

Propagation by leaf or stem cuttings
• Choose which leaves to use - the ideal ones are those that show no signs of damage or disease and have small roots already attached. Cuttings that don't have roots will still survive, but they may take a little longer to propagate.
• Carefully cut a whole shoot or segment from the plant and cut into several parts.
• Prepare the pot and soil. A soil mix for cacti and succulents will provide a good balance of moisture retention and drainage. You can add some additional ingredients such as sand, perlite to loosen the soil. For cuttings, use shallow and wide pots.
• Place the cuttings in a dry place for a couple of days. Allowing the wounds to dry will start the rooting process and also prevent rotting.
• Lay the cuttings on top of damp soil for up to a week, spraying the soil and sprouts. Provide a bright, indirect location with a temperature above 18°C during this entire period.
• Next, place the cuttings in the soil, submerging their bottom third. Make sure you don't plant it too deep in the soil, as this can cause blackleg (bottom rot).
• Do not compact the surrounding soil to support the seedlings. The soil mixture must be loose and saturated with oxygen, so soil compaction will lead to suffocation of the roots and root rot. If support is needed, use a small stick or other support, but do not compact the ground.
• Keep the potting mix evenly moist by allowing the top half to dry out between waterings. The ideal location would be a warm, damp room a few meters from a window, but without direct light.

After a month or two, you can begin to care for young cacti, as with an ordinary houseplant.

Common types of cactus Hylocereus

Among the considerable variety of species, several varieties can be noted that can often be found among cactus lovers.

Hylocereus wavy or Hylocereus sinuous (Hylocereus undatus)

The native range of this species is unknown, since it has been cultivated for a long time. It is the most common species in the genus (including commercial cultivation) throughout the world in tropical regions. It is a sprawling or weaving, terrestrial or epiphytic cactus. Its stems are climbed by aerial roots and can reach a height of 10 meters or more, growing on rocks and trees. The stems are green, three-winged, from a few cm to 5 m long.

On the ridges of the stems there are 1 to 3 conical spines up to 1 cm long (but usually about 2-3 mm) growing from the areoles. The flowers of Hylocereus wavy are decorative, fragrant and very beautiful, 25-35 cm long and 30 cm across, white with green outer tepals and bracts. When pollinated, Hylocereus sinuous forms edible red fruits with white flesh up to 12 cm long.

Hylocereus trigonus (Hylocereus triangularis)

These are the representative of the flora of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Spreading or ampelous cactus with fleshy stems reaching up to 10 meters in length and up to 2 cm in width.

The white flowers are fragrant, bloom at night, up to 25 cm long. Fruits are oval, pink-violet, up to 15 cm in length.

Large-flowered Hylocereus (Hylocereus megalanthus)

This is an epiphytic cactus; it grows on trees and climbs the branches with its long stems. Aerial roots are used to extract water and nutrients from the soil.

The white flowers in nature can grow up to 35 cm and are among the largest flowers of any cactus. They are self-pollinating and each produces a spiky yellow fruit. In the West, its fruits are also called yellow pitahaya.

Costa Rican Hylocereus (Hylocereus costaricensis)

In its homeland, it is better known as the pitahaya of Costa Rica, although it also grows in Venezuela and Colombia. Its stems are triangular in shape and up to 10 cm thick.

The flowers are white, very fragrant, 22 to 30 cm in diameter. The fruit is an oval or globular purple berry with purple flesh.

Narrow-winged Hylocereus (Hylocereus stenopterus)

This species is common in Costa Rica. It grows well indoors and blooms often. It is the only cultivated Hylocereus with red flowers.

This is another ampelous cactus with trihedral stems. Flower 10-12 cm long, opens for one night, closes very early (completely closes at 9 am).