Chamaelobivia
Family: Cactaceae
Habitat: Central America
Cultivation: They require a sunny or partially sunny exposure, watering every 4-5 days in the summer and a draining soil. They can also survive at temperatures below 0 for short periods.
Curiosity: The Chamaelobivia is a hybrid between Chamaecereus and Lobivia. It is a plant of small size and easy to cultivate, with pink or red flowers.
CHAMAELOBIVIA MAJOR FEATURES
This card will be shorter than those that we generally publish because, unlike others, this is not a proper “genre” but a hybrid that, for its beauty, collects the favor of the fans, and it is becoming more and more famous: Chamaelobivia. The intersection of two small cacti, the Chamaecereus and Lobivia, gives the Chamaelobivia.
It is a plant that tendentially remains of small size (a few tens of centimeters) but with very large flowers (even 5-7 cm). Just like its progenitors, it is a perennial plant. The stem is in the form of column or cone; It is not branched, but often from the same base more stems come out and each one produces an intense pink or bright red flower, which is attached to the plant through a squamous, rather long chalice.
VARIETY AND TYPES
As we have already said, the Chamaelobivia is not a genre but a new species born as a hybrid. However there are some varieties which are mostly tied to the color of the flowers. The most common in the market is the Chamaelobivia Rose Quartz, with a bright red color (almost a deep orange).
TIPS FOR GROWING
The Chamaelobivia are easy to cultivate and small: so they are the ideal plants also for the beginners – and thanks to this feature these plants are becoming very popular. The indications for a proper cultivation, of this plant, are similar to those that are regularly given for its cacti family, but with one major difference: it is not necessarily linked to very hot climates and indeed an excessive exposure to the sun could damage it.
Let’see in detail.
- The exposure must be in full or partial sunlight. The light should be plentiful, but the direct rays of the sun must not be present for more than a few hours a day. To tolerate the direct light, however, the plant has to be sufficiently grown and the passage from the shadow to full sunlight should not be too fast.
- They are very resistant for what concerns the temperature: if the soil is well dry, they can withstand temperatures up to -5 °C for short periods or, for some variants, even up to -10 ° C.
- It is recommended to water regularly in summer (once every 3-4 days or every seven days, according to the sun exposure) but always being careful not to create standing water. In winter, they are dormant, so the watering should be reduced to a minimum.
- The ideal soil is porous, rich but well-drained.
- The plant remains small in size so it is not necessary to fertilize often.
- Repot when necessary at the beginning of the summer. Once put in the new home, the plant must not be watered for about a week.
The Chamaelobivia reproduce either by seeds and, preferably, by cutting. The cuttings should be left to dry for a long time (a week or more) before the wound is dry and can be planted. Put it in an earthy soil and very well-drained. At that point, it will take from 1 to 6 weeks to take root. A Chamelobivia Rose Quartz in a small vase, 6.5 cm².
