Care of the cactus Rebutia krainziana or Rebutia marsoneri |
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The genus Rebutia, family Cactaceae, includes 40 species of cactus native to Bolivia, Peru and Argentina. Some species are: Rebutia krainziana, Rebutia heliosa, Rebutia deminuta, Rebutia cv Sunrise (cultivar), Rebutia canigueralii, Rebutia muscula, Rebutia albiflora, Rebutia arenacea, Rebutia minuscula, Rebutia perplexa. Scientific synonyms: Rebutia marsoneri. They are small cacti with a globular body and light green color that reach 5 cm (1.96") in height and tend to produce many suckers at the base. The tubers are small and on the white areolas they have 8-12 fine, short (up to 2 mm/0.07") white spines. The flowers are very showy due to their large size in relation to the plant (4 cm/1.57" in diameter) and their orange-red color. They bloom in spring and can do so with 2 years of life. They are self-sterile so they need other specimens to produce fruits. Rebutia marsoneri are used in pots and planters due to its small size and easy cultivation. Rebutia krainziana grows in full sun exposure but prefers light shade. It's better not to expose it to less than 3 ºC (37.4 ºF). The soil can be a commercial cactus substrate or a mixture of 50% leaf mulch and 50% coarse sand. The transplant is done in early spring. Water moderately at the rate of once a week in summer, every 12 days in spring, every 15-18 days in autumn and once a month, at most, in winter. Rebutia krainziana does not need fertilizers or pruning. Rebutia marsoneri is a sensitive plant to excess watering that can rot the plant. Rebutia krainziana is propagated from the suckers that the mother plant produces. |
Images of the cactus Rebutia krainziana or Rebutia marsoneri |
 Rebutia krainziana  Rebutia krainziana  Rebutia krainziana |