Rebutia muscula or White-haired Crown

Care of the cactus Rebutia muscula or White-haired Crown

The genus Rebutia, family Cactaceae, includes 40 species of cactus native to Bolivia, Peru and Argentina. Some species are: Rebutia muscula, Rebutia minuscula, Rebutia krainziana, Rebutia heliosa, Rebutia deminuta, Rebutia cv Sunrise (cultivar), Rebutia canigueralii, Rebutia arenacea, Rebutia albiflora, Rebutia perplexa.

Common names: White-haired Crown, Little Mouse, Orange Snowball. Scientific synonyms: Rebutia fiebrigii, Echinocactus fiebrigii, Aylostera muscula. This species is native to Bolivia.

They are small cacti of cespitose bearing and globular body in their youth that reach 6 cm (2.36") in height. The ribs are not very marked and have tubercles. The areolas have white woollyness and up to 50 silky white spines 2.5 cm (0.98") in length. The flowers are very attractive, numerous and bright orange in color. They bloom in spring.

This easy-to-grow cactus is used in rockeries and in flowerpots and window boxes, balconies and terraces.

Rebutia muscula prefers light shade exposure but also grows in full sun. The winter safety temperature is 4 ºC (39.2 ºF).

The soil can be a commercial substrate for cacti and succulents; good drainage is important.

Water moderately, waiting for the substrate to have dried at the rate of a weekly watering in summer, every 15 days in spring and autumn and do not water in winter; If White-haired Crown is grown indoors, water every 40 days in winter.

Fertilize once with mineral cactus fertilizer in spring.

Orange Snowball does not need pruning.

Rebutia muscula is a resistant plant to the habitual plagues but sensitive to the excess of irrigation.

The propagation by seeds is not easy since it's self-sterile; it's easier to propagate it by separation of suckers.