| Description: |
A variable genus which may be upright or sprawling in growth and are usually strongly ribbed. |
| Environment: |
Suitable for the home or a greenhouse |
| Lighting Needs: |
Does best in full sunlight coming from the South/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:
2 parts garden soil, 2 parts coarse sand or perlite, 2 parts humus (leaf mold), 1 part clay 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 and water after sunset with warm water. |
| Fertilizer: |
Feed every two weeks during spring and summer with any cactus 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 and cuttings (let the cut end dry out first)
in the summer.
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 and cuttings 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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