| Description: |
Globose cacti with prominent ribs. |
| Origin: |
Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay |
| Environment: |
Suitable for the home or a greenhouse |
| Growing Ease: |
Requires a little extra care |
| Lighting Needs: |
Does best in full sunlight coming from the South/East/West |
| Soil Type: |
Never use ordinary potting compost or garden soil, there are general purpose cactus mixes available. If you want to mix your own take:
3 parts coarse sand or perlite, 2 parts garden soil, 1 part humus (leaf mold) and 1 part crushed rock.
Always use a pot with a hole.
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| Watering: |
Drench the soil and let it become barely moist between waterings. Reduce watering during the winter. If you use rainwater, be careful as it could be acidic. |
| Fertilizer: |
Feed once a year in the spring with a water soluble, nitrate-free fertilizer. |
| Plant Pests: |
Prone to mealy bugs, spider mites and scale. Always inspect any new plant for pests before introducing it to your home or greenhouse. |
| Propagation: |
Seeds/ offsets
in the spring.
Plant seeds evenly about in their normal growing medium, pat it down and cover with a fine layer of sand. Saturate the soil and cover with a piece of cardboard, treat with a fungicide when leaves appear and move it to a sunny location. Offsets should be planted in barely moist soil or sand, kept in the shade and misted lightly. Water very little until you're sure they've rooted.
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| Gardening Tips & Care: |
" Keep cool in the winter and cover the last 1"" (2.5cm) of soil with gravel to avoid stem rot. Be careful not to over-water."
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