Gymnocalycium mihanovitchii
Basic Information
- Origin and Habitat: Chaco Boreal in Paraguay
- Habitat: Grows under bushes where it is only exposed to direct sunlight a few months out of the year.
Common Names include:
- ENGLISH: Chin Cactus, Plaid Cactus
Description: The plant is considered to be a miniature cactus. It usually only grows to be 4 cm high and has a 5-6 cm diameter. The not fully opening
flowers of this species have a silky appearance and range from pale green to
brownish-yellow. It has wider, lower ribs, in juvenile plants divided into
separate chins, in maturity every rib have flat surface and a pleat above each
areole.
Remaks: Gymnocalycium friedrichii and Gymnocalycium stenopleurum are sometimes
combined with Gymnocalycium mihanovichii, and sometimes kept as separate species. G. friedrichii and G. stenopleurum are quite
districted of from G. mihanovichii, but many intermediate forms are also known and nowadays it
is suggested that all should be combined into only one variable species
Cultivation
and Propagation: Gymnocalycium
mihanovichii is a summer grower species that is easy to cultivate.
Growth rate: It is a
relatively rapidly growing and easily flowering species.
Soils: It likes very
porous standard cactus mix soil. Prefer a low pH compost, avoid substrata rich
in limestone; otherwise growth will stop altogether.
Repotting: This plant
needs plenty of space for its roots, repotting should be done every other year
or when it has outgrown its pot. Use pot with good drainage.
Watering: Needs
moderate to copious watering in summer, but do not overwater (Rot prone), keep
dry in winter at a minimum temperature of 0°C.
Fertilization: Feed with a
high potassium fertilizer in summer.
Hardiness: Quite frost
resistant if kept dry -5° C (Temperature Zone USDA 9-10), but for safe
cultivation it is best to avoid freezing temperatures.
Exposition: The plant
tolerates extremely bright situations but enjoys filtered sunlight or afternoon
shade, inside it needs bright light, and some direct sun. Tends to bronze in
strong light, which encourages flowering and heavy spine production, but is
likely to suffer from sun scorch or stunted growth if over exposed to direct
sunlight during the hottest part of the day in summer.
Uses: It is an
excellent plant for container growing. It always looks good and stays small. It
look fine in a cold greenhouse and frame or outdoor in a rockery.
Pests & diseases: It may be attractive to a variety of
insects, but plants in good condition should be nearly pest-free, particularly
if they are grown in a mineral potting-mix, with good exposure and ventilation.
Nonetheless, there are several pests to watch for:
- Red spiders: Red spiders may be effectively rubbed up by watering the plants from above.
- Mealy bugs: Mealy bugs occasionally develop aerial into the new growth among the wool with disfiguring results, but the worst types develop underground on the roots and are invisible except by their effects.
- Scales: Scales are rarely a problem.
- Rot: This species is particularly easy and accommodating, seldom suffer of cryptogamic diseases. Rot it is only a minor problem with gymnocalyciums if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won't help all that much.
Propagation: Seeds (seldom produces offsets). Seeds germinate in 7-14 days at 21-27° C in spring, remove gradually the glass cover as soon the plants will be well rooted (ca 1-2 weeks) and keep ventilated, no full sun for young plants! Colour mutants and variegates cultivars are propagated by graft.
Images
G. mihanovichii #1
G. mihanovichii #1
G. mihanovichii #2
G. mihanovichii purple variegate #3
Bonus
Macro shot of a green grasshopper nearby.
Thanks for reading guys
Cheers.
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