Discocactus
Family: – Cactaceae
Habitat: – Southern Brazil, eastern Bolivia, northern Paraguay
Cultivation: – Cactus are usually hardy plants, but Discocactus need some special attention: they need protection from cold and rot. Water only when the soil is completely dry and avoid temperatures below 10 degrees.
Curiosity: – Its name comes from the Greek “diskos”, it refers to these plants’ shape. Discocactus is an endangered genus.
– KEY FEATURES
Discocactus are plants characterized by their flattened shape, similar to a disc. These plants are small, with their stem segmented by vertical ribs. The spines are robust, long and light colored. From the generally flat surface appears, in 10-years-old plants, a white cephalium: out of which the flowers will rise in summer. Some species develope the cephalium after only 3-4 years. Their white flowers will only last for a few hours, but every plant will produce so many flowers that the blooming is still enjoyable!
– VARIETY AND TYPES
-Here are some of the most important species of Discocactus:
- Discocactus albispinus
- D. araneispinus
- D. bahiensis v. gracilis
- D. buenekeri
- D. cangaensis
- D. catingicola
- D. cephaliaciculosus ssp. nudicephalus
- D. crassispinus
- D. crystallophilus
- D. estevesii
- D. ferricola
- D. hartmannii
- D. heptacanthus v. semicampaniflorus
- D. horstii
- D. insignis
- D. magnimammus
- D. pachythele
- D. petr-halfari
- D. placentiformis
- D. placentiformis ssp. multicolorispinus
- D. prominentigibbus
- D. pugionacanthus
- D. pulvinicapitatus
- D. rapirhizus
- D. silicicola
- D. subviridigriseus
- D. zehntneri
- D. zehntneri v. araneispinus
– TIPS FOR GROWING
SUN EXPOSURE:
Discocactus prefers full sun exposure, especially during winter. It’s important to repair these plants from the summer sun (during the hottest hours of the day).
TEMPERATURE:
Maintain the temperature above 10-15ºC: Discocactus are very cold-sensitive!
WATERING:
Water only every 3-4 days but make sure the soil dries up before each watering, these plants are subject to root rot!
SUBSTRATE:
Use a substrate that allows a good draining, with perlite or pomice.
REPOTTING:
Choose not so large and medium deep pots: repotting is necessary during the first years, when the plant is growing.
PROPAGATION:
They can be propagated only by seeds. Seeds have to be planted in sandy, humid soil, protect against direct light. Mantain the temperature between 21-25 degrees.
