Gymnocalycium is the botanical name of various desert cactus species. He remains very small even in his old age. The flowers are completely hairless. Gymnocalycium is cultivated not only for its flowers, but also for its often very decorative thorns. Care tips.
What are the most important care tips for Gymnocalycium?
To properly care for Gymnocalycium, water it from below and avoid waterlogging, fertilize every 14 days during the growth phase, repot if necessary in spring, remove dried shoots and protect against diseases and pests. In winter, keep the cactus cool and bright.
How do you water Gymnocalycium correctly?
During the growth phase, the root ball should never completely dry out. However, waterlogging must be avoided at all costs.
Since Gymnocalycium does not tolerate water well on the shoots, water it from below. Place it in a saucer into which you pour lime-free water. If the liquid has not been absorbed into the substrate after ten minutes at the latest, pour it off.
Do you need to fertilize the desert cactus?
It is sufficient if you fertilize the cactus every 14 days from April to August with a little liquid fertilizer (€6.00 on Amazon) with a high potassium content.
When is it time to repot?
- Repotting in spring
- Unpotting the cactus
- shake off old substrate
- fill old or new pot with fresh substrate
As soon as the pot is completely rooted, the Gymnocalycium needs a new container. In spring, check whether the cactus still has enough space. Shake off the old substrate and replace it with fresh.
After repotting, do not fertilize the cactus for several months.
Is Gymnocalycium cut?
The cactus itself is not cut. However, you may remove dried shoots.
If side shoots form, you can cut them to grow new cacti.
What diseases and pests should you watch out for?
When waterlogged, the Gymnocalycium suffers from root rot and dies. Spots on the shoots arise either because the cactus was watered from above or due to fungal attack.
As with all cacti, mealybugs and mealybugs are more common. They can be recognized by small webs and sticky coating.
How to care for Gymnocalycium in winter?
Gymnocalycium is not hardy. In winter, however, the cactus needs a phase in which it is kept cooler. Temperatures around eight degrees are optimal. The winter location must be very bright, preferably sunny.
In winter you can skip watering altogether. If necessary, you should give a few drops of water at longer intervals.
Tip
The variety Gymnocalycium mihanovichii is also called strawberry cactus. This type of cactus is grafted onto other types of cacti because it does not develop chlorophyll and is therefore not viable on its own. It owes its common name to its red color.
