Plant a cactus and enjoy its flowers all summer, more beautiful than roses

June has the longest daylight hours of the year, and the scorching sun and unsettled weather can easily harm your succulents, with wilting, rot, and black stem rot following one after another, or even wiping out the whole lot. That is why succulents have been branded with the curse of "certain death in summer," breaking many succulent lovers' hearts as soon as summer arrives.

Yet this same climate is very well suited to the growth of summer-growing succulents, and many varieties, especially quite a few species in the cactus family, basically bloom this month, opening in their most beautiful form. The good days have only just begun.

Gymnocalycium baldianum is a member of the cactus family and a typical summer-growing succulent. It loves light but can also tolerate ordinary shade, and being easy to grow is one of its traits. In addition, it can produce very beautiful flowers from May to November. In the hot summer, Gymnocalycium baldianum is particularly well suited to indoor or courtyard cultivation.

So what should you pay attention to when growing Gymnocalycium baldianum in summer?

1. Choice of potting soil. Gymnocalycium baldianum is not demanding about soil; ordinary river sand, bone meal, and garden soil mixed evenly with a little vermiculite will do. But for home cultivation, Gymnocalycium baldianum is more demanding about the pot, which must have good breathability. Generally, clay pots or tile pots are recommended.

2. Watering. Growing succulents in summer, improper watering can easily lead to their demise. Pinch the ribs of the Gymnocalycium baldianum with your hand; if the body feels soft, you can water it. During the flowering period, you can water a little more to keep the flowers bright. Tile pots are so breathable that succulents grown in them are not easy to plump up, so succulent lovers can use some special succulent nutrient solution, diluting it lightly with water every half month, then pour it in a circle around the edge of the pot; this can also encourage the Gymnocalycium baldianum to bloom, but be sure to dilute it well, and do not splash it on the succulent itself.

3. Light. If there is not enough light, Gymnocalycium baldianum easily becomes leggy and its appearance suffers. But in the height of summer it also cannot be exposed to the blazing sun; when the midday sun is fierce, it is best to use a shade net for moderate shading. Also pay special attention to protecting it from rain, as getting rained on once in this kind of weather can easily harm the succulent; in mild cases it rots, and in severe cases it turns black before your eyes.

Finally, pay attention to ventilation. Poor ventilation easily creates a stuffy, humid environment and can easily cause the plant to rot.