Hard grown astrophytum capricorne var. niveum

     This mature astrophytum capricorne var. niveum is now resting as it's winter time here and temperatures are at freezing point. It does not receive water at all this time of the year and is kept in a well aerated, dry and well lit environment - sunlight only. It is a cold hardy specimen which can withstand temperatures of -10ºC, although in my set-up it rarely gets below 0ºC. In summer time it is kept in full sun at temps often above 40 ºC and flowers profusely if watered abundantly once a week or so. I use exclusively rainwater.

 

    The soil mix is coarse comprising perlite, coco choir,  small gravel, sand and self produced wormcasts. I rarely use nutrients on it - once or twice a year maybe. If so, I use something preferably organic with low N and high PK values enriched with microelements.

 

Mammillaria magnimamma, SB 40

Mammillaria magnimamma, SB 40, Hidalgo, Mexico.

A coarsy soilmix and lots of sunshine will keep this one flowering and offseting. During winter, it should not be watered or be kept at freezing temperatures.

Mammillaria bocasana ssp. eschauzieri

  

This one is easy to flower as long as it is potted in the right substrate, that is a very coarse, gritty sand with chunks of granite and very little humus. It is quite resistant to cold temperatures if kept dry and flowers abundantly throughout the whole growing season. Perfect plant for beginners, as it does not require much space and will accommodate low light. 

Field number: REP 1236

Locality : Mexicó : San Luis Potosí (Ahualulco, 1900m)

 

Acanthocalycium thionatum var. copiapoides in the mood for love

Easy species to grow and flower. If kept in full sun, the colour and the spination gets spectacular. In its dormancy period it shrinks in volume and tolerates low temperatures fairly easy.

Echinofossulocactus multicostatus care

Also known as Stenocactus multicostatus, it is relatively easy to care. It likes a porous, fast draining soil and might tolerate low light levels. If kept in full sun, it develops nice sturdy spines as depicted above.

The wavy ribs offer an ideal shelter for potential pests and bugs so spraying the plants with a light insecticide dilution is advised time and time again. My plants also seem vulnerable to temperature drops during the autumn. Dormancy should be encouraged as soon as temperatures go below 10℃ during night time.

If all things are right, it flowers profusely in the spring season.

Echinofossulocactus grandicornis flowers

Mammillaria standleyi, L086

Mammillaria standleyi, L086.
Collector : Alfred Bernhard Lau
Locality : Mexicó : border Chihuahua - Sonora (Sierra Obscura 200m) 
Fairly easy to grow, requiring typical mammillaria care. Not sure about its frost resistance though as this is the first season it rests at low temperatures.

Echinopsis flower

Easy to grow. Good drainage, ventilation and a cold winter rest ensure next year's flowering.