Care of the cactus Gymnocalycium pflanzii or Echinocactus pflanzii |
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The genus Gymnocalycium, family Cactaceae, comprises 60 species of cacti native to South America. Some species are: Gymnocalycium pflanzii, Gymnocalycium saglionis, Gymnocalycium damsii, Gymnocalycium baldianum, Gymnocalycium mostii, Gymnocalycium denudatum, Gymnocalycium mihanovichii, Gymnocalycium andreae, Gymnocalycium platense. Scientific synonyms: Echinocactus pflanzii, Gymnocalycium comarapense, Gymnocalycium marquezii. This species is native to Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. They are green cacti with a globose body depressed at the apex that reach 15 cm (5.9") in diameter; they tend to produce suckers. The ribs (8-12) have tubercles and large woolly areoles. The radial spines are 2.5 cm (0.98") long and can be 5-9; they only have 1-2 longer central spines. The flowers are pinkish-white or orange and appear on the top of the cactus. They are used in pots and planters due to their small size. Gymnocalycium pflanzii can grow in full sun or semi-shade exposure and in climates with frost-free winters. The temperature should not be less than 3 ºC (37.4 ºF). The soil can be a mixture, in the same proportions, of coarse siliceous sand and volcanic earth or a commercial substrate for cacti with 20% gravel. In spring and summer water regularly waiting for the substrate to dry completely. In autumn water once a month and in winter do not water. Fertilize with mineral cactus fertilizer in mid-spring. They do not need pruning. They are resistant to pests but sensitive to fungal diseases caused by excess moisture. They propagate easily by rooting suckers or by seeds sown in spring in a seedbed with sandy substrate. |
Images of the cactus Gymnocalycium pflanzii or Echinocactus pflanzii |
 Gymnocalycium pflanzii  Gymnocalycium pflanzii  Gymnocalycium pflanzii |