Brachycalycium

Family. Cactaceae.

Origin. South America.

Description. Brachycalycium is a low-growing spherical or even flattened cactus with spiny ribs covered with numerous tubercles. The stem of adult plants often takes a cylindrical shape, reaches a diameter of 30 - 40 cm and a height of 15 - 30 cm, sometimes even up to 90 cm, dull green or blue-green. There are 10 - 32 ribs, depending on the size of the plant, they are low and very wide, sometimes up to 4 cm. The areoles are located at a distance of 2 - 4 cm from each other, large, pubescent in young plants. The spines are quite rare - on young plants there are 8 to 10, on adults there are often 15 or more, each 3 - 4 cm long, yellowish-brown, reddish or even black, curved. There are 1 - 3 central spines, they are almost straight. There are 10 - 15 radial spines. The flowers are funnel-shaped, white or pale pinkish, with a reddish base, up to 3 - 4 cm long, 2 - 3 cm in diameter, with a very short tube. Flowers appear en masse at the top of the stem, with difficulty passing through the dense mass of spines. The fruits are red, spherical.

Height. Usually about 30 cm, but reach 90 cm.

Brachycalycium - care at home

Temperature conditions

A very frost-resistant species, if kept dry it can tolerate down to -15° C for a short period of time.

Lighting

The plant tolerates bright sunlight, but on a summer day it is better to shade it a little.

Care

Very easy to grow, not demanding. It grows relatively quickly and blooms quite easily in good conditions.

Substrate

Likes a very porous cactus mix. Prefers low pH, avoid limestone-rich substrates; in this case, brachycalycium may stop growing.

Feeding

Potassium fertilizers during the period of active growth.

Purpose

An excellent cactus for indoor keeping, always looks good, small in size. 

Flowering time

Spring – summer, often repeatedly throughout the year.

Air humidity

No special requirements.

Soil moisture

Requires moderate watering in summer, keep dry in winter.

Transfer

Use a pot with large drainage holes and replant in spring. Mature plants can grow in the same soil for several years. 

Reproduction

Seeds, in spring, germination time - 7 - 14 days at a temperature of 21 - 27 ° C, under a plastic cap to maintain uniform humidity. Gradually increase the ventilation time as soon as the plants are well rooted (after 1 - 2 weeks). Seedlings should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Lateral shoots, which are broken off from an adult plant and dried for 2 weeks. Root in wet sand.

Pests and diseases

Root rot due to excessive watering.  Harmful insects appear mainly due to improper maintenance. These could be red spider mites or mealybugs.