| Description: |
Branching near the base to make large clumps, about 10 low vertical ribs are covered with interlacing spines. |
| 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 barely fibrous garden soil, 1 part coarse sand or prelate, 1 part fine gravel
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 or dormant season. If you use rainwater, be careful as it could be acidic and water after sunset with warm water. |
| Fertilizer: |
Feed once a year during the spring with a water soluble fertilizer. |
| Plant Pests: |
Prone to scale but very rarely . 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 spring through 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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