Cactus (Ball Cactus), commonly known as the grass ball: medicinal value and cultivation methods explained
The cactus, commonly known as the grass ball, also known as foreign ghost star fruit, winged ball, snowball, cactus head, stick hammer, swan egg, mint-wrapped pad, cactus fist, is a perennial succulent herbaceous plant of the Cactaceae family. The stem is spherical or oval, green, and flowers grow among the spines along the vertical ribs. Cactus flowers generally bloom in the early morning or evening, lasting from a few hours to one day. The cactus is a plant whose stem, leaves and flowers all have high ornamental value, and it is an artistic masterpiece among hydroponic flowers. It generally grows in dry, low-rainfall desert areas. The cactus is a natural air freshener, can also absorb ultraviolet rays, and has the effect of adsorbing dust and purifying the air. Moreover, the cactus releases carbon dioxide during the day and absorbs carbon dioxide at night, releasing oxygen, which helps people sleep. So what are the medicinal values of the cactus? How is it cultivated?
I. What are the medicinal values of the cactus?
[Medicinal nature and flavor] Neutral, sweet
[Meridian tropism] Lung; Stomach meridians
[Efficacy] Clears heat and relieves cough; cools blood and detoxifies; reduces swelling and relieves pain
[Indications] Mainly treats lung-heat cough; blood-streaked phlegm; epistaxis; hematemesis; gastric ulcer; carbuncle and swelling; scalds; snake and insect bites
[Usage and dosage] Internal use: decocted in soup, 9-30g. External use: appropriate amount, pounded and applied fresh, or pounded into juice and smeared on.
II. How is the cactus cultivated?
1. Temperature:
The cactus likes high temperatures and dry environments. In winter, the room temperature should be kept above 20°C during the day and not lower than 10°C at night. Too low a temperature easily causes root rot, but too high a temperature makes it prone to scale insect damage. [3]
2. Light
The cactus requires plenty of sunlight, but in summer it must not be exposed to strong direct sunlight and needs appropriate shading. For indoor cultivation, light can be used to irradiate it, so that it grows robustly.
3. Soil
The cactus is suitable for growing in well-drained sandy loam soil. For indoor cultivation, artificial culture soil is mostly used, usually prepared by mixing half peat soil and half fine sand; pulverized pine needles mixed with fine sand can also be used as the culture soil for planting.
4. Watering
The cactus requires a dry environment and is afraid of water accumulating in the pot soil, so the pot soil should generally be kept “dry when it should be dry and wet when it should be wet”. It is best to use water that has been left to stand for watering. In spring and summer, water once a month; in winter, water once every 2-3 months. Be sure to water thoroughly each time.
5. Fertilizing
When changing the pot soil for the cactus, apply a small amount of base fertilizer at the bottom of the pot, such as horse hoof slices, bean cake or sesame paste residue. During the growing period, water once every half month with fermented organic liquid fertilizer (a concentration of 20% is appropriate). Be sure not to use too high a fertilizer concentration.
6. Propagation
The cactus can be propagated by grafting, generally using the flat grafting method. The rootstock can be three-ribbed arrow (a type of cactus) or a robust pad. The specific method: first cut off the top of the rootstock, make a horizontal cut at the base of the scion, join the two together, and then tie them with string. After two weeks, remove the string.
The aging of the cactus starts from the bottom. When yellowing due to aging appears, use a brush to apply undiluted Yunda 120 to the ball several times to make the yellow fade and make the cactus rejuvenate. This is my experience. Yunda 120 is a plant growth regulator containing hormones, and it is harmless to the ball even at high concentrations. It has fewer side effects than other plant growth regulators.