Cacti with colored needles and stems: pink, yellow, blue, purple, white, orange spines, their photos and names of species, as well as how to care and propagate?

Colored cacti are truly wonderful plants that can love a person at first sight.

The brightness and variegation of colors diversify even the most austere interior. Fireworks of flowers will maintain a fun atmosphere in the house and delight the owner of extraordinary beauty. Read more about the features of care, reproduction and possible pests, read in our article.

Are there such succulents?

Despite the apparent artificiality, colored cacti still exist in nature, but they are few in number. The source of their color is gene mutations, which are difficult to cause, but simply impossible at home. In addition, colored cacti are considered plants with heterogeneous colors, the stems and processes of which are devoid of chlorophyll.

Unfortunately, such succulents require reverent care, and their varieties can easily be counted on the fingers. For these reasons, you are more likely to see colored cacti on store shelves.

About staining

At the sight of colored cacti, the question involuntarily arises: “Why paint them?” The thing is that most people are not able to appreciate the natural beauty of succulents. They rarely bloom, a gloomy green color often repels lovers of delicate shades. Sellers deftly use this and, in order to increase the demand for cacti, paint them in different colors. It is not surprising that hardly anyone will pass by such beauty.

The staining procedure is completely harmless to the plant. The main thing is to use a safe dye, and then the succulent will not notice the introduction of a foreign substance. In a few months, a slight shade will appear.

Important! The plant does not need tinting, so it is worth remembering that it takes years to get a bright color.

Below you can see a description and photos of cacti with colored and natural colored needles, stems and bright flowers.

Painted stems

They try to paint the plant in poisonous (acid) colors. Firstly, it will attract the attention of the buyer more strongly, and secondly, strong pigment is always absorbed much faster and is better manifested. However, it all depends on desire. Yellow, pink and purple shades will give the cactus tenderness and cover the "menacing" needles.

Nature has endowed many plants with blue, azure, blue and sapphire shades. But, unfortunately, the same cannot be said for cacti. Not only the stem, but also the flowers of the "prickly friend" do not differ in the palette of these amazing colors. In this regard, a person decided to get rid of generally accepted conventions. More and more blue cacti appear on store shelves. Moreover, this color, along with purple and red, is well absorbed by the plant.

Needles

Orange

Most often, the needles are painted in neutral colors. This gives the plant a natural effect, despite the unusual coloring of the stem. One of these is orange. This color will look great with:

blue
in blue;
lilac;
purple cactus.

Names of species with white spines

This color can easily be called natural. This is because there are many types of succulents with white needles.

Chametereus Sylvester

The peculiarity of this plant is that it has finger-shaped stems that multiply rapidly. Small, but numerous red flowers often appear on Chametzerius.

Kleistocactus Strauss

Attractive succulent, having a slender columnar stalk with numerous ribs. Thanks to white hairs and spikes, Strauss's Cleistocactus looks silvery.

About species of the genus Kleistocactus read in this material.

Tiny baby

Small balls 5 cm in diameter, blooming in early summer with orange and pink flowers.

You can read about the cacti of the Rebucius genus here, about the cacti of Rebucius with different colors in here.

Yellow

Often cactus needles are painted in another natural color - yellow. We are used to seeing brown thorns on the plant, but there is an unusual genus of plant called Echinocactus Gruzoni (read about this echinocactus in this material).

This is a spherical cactus having a ribbed stem. On its top is a golden crown of woolly hairs, and yellow spines flaunt along the ribs. Its bright yellow single flowers captivate with its charm. But, unfortunately, the "barrel" is extremely rare, especially at home.

Purple

If it is customary to paint needles in neutral colors, this does not mean that fantasy cannot be used. The violet color is perfect - the color of calm, elegance. It harmonizes well with:

yellow;
in red;
in blue;
white
green shades.

Multi-colored

But what to do when solid colors quickly get bored? The answer is simple: you can color the thorns in all the colors of the rainbow! You will get a delightful “disco ball”, shimmering in all kinds of shades. It will fit perfectly into any, even the darkest room, and will give the household a sense of celebration.

Other

You should not follow generally accepted rules, especially in such an individual matter. Everyone has their own taste and opinion. Choose any color you like and don't be afraid to experiment!

What are succulents with bright flowers called?

Opponents of artificial beauty who oppose staining find the beauty of the “children of the sun" in colors, which are as if mesmerized by its fleeting beauty.

Below will be presented the five most famous and least whimsical cacti.

Gymnocalycium (Gymnocalycium)

The flowers of this cactus appear for 2-3 years of life. The size is small, white, yellow, red shades (sometimes the color of pink fuchsia). Funnel-shaped petals, curved, protruding in different directions.

Note! Among this type of plants, succulents with a red and yellow color of the stem are found.

Echinopsis (Echinopsis)

It is considered the most common home cactus. Echinopsis perfectly survives in any climate, does not require special care. It has fragrant white flowers with a pleasant faint odor. Due to the fluffy tube, it is up to 15 cm long (read more about fluffy cacti in this material).

Rebutia (Rebucia)

Rebutia flowers (~ 4cm in diameter), like a bright sun, amaze with their luxury. Blooms profusely in spring and early summer. Red, fiery, pink and purple colors are inherent in this papillary cactus family.

Mammillaria (Mammillaria)

The succulent Mammillaria can truly be called the Queen. Its variegated flowers (white, poisonous pink, raspberry, cream), reaching from 2 to 5 cm in diameter, form a crown around the upper part of the stem. At the ends, the petals are pointed, form a funnel.

Epiphyllum (Epiphyllum)

Epiphyllum petals are large, snow-white and form a funnel. Due to the fact that the stems of the succulent are drooping, the flowers grow long (up to 40 cm). In most species of Epiphyllum, the flowers do not close at night.

Note! Cactus does not like direct sunlight. Bright diffused light is perfect.

Care Features

There are no significant differences in how to care for colored cacti.

Water every 8-10 days (in spring and summer). In the fall, watering is reduced, and in winter, once a month is enough.
Colored cacti, unlike others, are sensitive to an overabundance of water. Be careful!
It is recommended that from time to time give the cactus top dressing from an ash-water solution (ratio ~ 1: 3).

No need to spray colored cacti at the time of staining and after. Despite the fact that the plant absorbs food coloring, there is still a risk of losing the hue that has just appeared.

Breeding

Colored cacti propagate in the same way as ordinary ones - with the help of lateral shoots (“children”), which are similarly planted in a mixture of soil and food coloring.

Diseases and Pests

The most dangerous pest for colored cacti is the root nematode. This is such a threadlike worm, which is almost impossible to see with the naked eye. It penetrates through the roots into the plant and affects the cells, sucking their contents. At the tips of the roots, growths appear, the development of the plant slows down, the growth of the stem stops.
There is only one way to get rid of the disease:
1. Remove the affected areas of the root system with a knife.
2. Place the roots in a container of warm water for 10 minutes.
3. Sprinkle the treated roots with crushed charcoal.
  Important! Avoid getting water on the root neck of the succulent.
4. Transplant the cactus into a sterile earthen mixture.
Root rot is another common disease caused by human negligence. It appears due to excessive watering of the succulent.
The main signs are the cessation of growth, drying of the stem, the appearance of yellowness at the base. If the symptoms of the disease are detected in time, then the cactus needs only a transplant in dry soil. Otherwise, you should:
1. repeat the above steps (root nematode p. 1-2);
2. trim the affected areas of the root system;
3. treat with activated carbon and transplant.

It turns out that colored cacti, despite the unusual colors, are absolutely identical to natural cacti: they do not require special care, frequent watering and regular feeding. The palette of bright colors, no doubt, will give the "thorn" originality and originality. Real connoisseurs of cacti will not remain indifferent at the sight of such a wonder!