Astrophytum ornatum

How to grow Astrophytum ornatum growing and care:

Better more than -5C, well-drained soil

What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed / Vegetative reproduction

How to propagate:
Daughter plants mostly need to take care when pull it from the ground you take all the roots, take a plastic spatula or something harder depend the soil and uncover the roots, dig around the plant and better to use air blower machine or wash it with stream (but let it dry after)

Cutting – better to take all the cactus and cut it for pieces or else it’s just looks cut in the middle, cut with sterile knife after this let the cut part to stay on the shade to heal it’s might take few weeks and even months, put it on the soil with support (stick or something that won’t fall) cover lightly and lightly from the side and water it small amount of water.

Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction?
No, but it’s easier to start from cutting that to start from seeds

Difficulties or problems when growing:
Spines

Planting season:
Spring to summer in hardiness zone 9-10, spring to autumn in hardiness zone 11, all the year in hardiness zone 12

How to plant:
Main problem it’s the spines get into the skin and it’s hard to get next to cactus, need to relocate the cactus with papers cover enough that the spines won’t get to your hands, to put the soil need to use spoon or small shovel to push and tighten the soil, also possible to do it by hand but don’t squeeze.

Pests and diseases:
Fungal, mealy bugs

Pruning season:
All year

How to prune:
Rotten part of the plant but if not better not to prune

Size of the plant?
0.5-1 m (20-40 inches) (can be kept small 5-10 cm (2-4 inches) for limited time)

Growth speed in optimal condition:
Slow growing

Water requirement:
Small amount of water, better to let it dry between watering, do not overwater

Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun

Is it possible to grow as houseplant?
No

Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers:
Yes, container or clay pot that will be 20-50% bigger (not need deep because the root shallow) for good drainage that important use in the bottom of the container with little rocks like: gravel, lava rocks or pebbles, soil should be cactus potting mix, make holes in the container for good drainage, after few years when the roots fill the container or the soil lose viability, need to switch the soil

Blooming information

Bloom season:
Spring / Summer

General information about the flower
Yellow flowers with multiple petals

Scientific name:

Astrophytum ornatum