Parodia magnifica

How to grow Parodia magnifica cactus – growing and care:

More than -5C (23F), dry soil

What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed (explanation bellow) / 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 easier start to grow from daughter plants, it’s faster and the ratio of success is high

Difficulties or problems when growing:
Doesn’t like too much water, might be problem in the rainy season

Planting season:
Spring to summer in hardiness zone 10, spring to autumn in hardiness zone 11, all 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:
Snails, slugs, fungus colletotrichum

Pruning season:
All year

How to prune:
Usually there is nothing to prune, mostly for pruning is old stems that can’t hold and will fall might be dangerous for the plants next to it or people that stand next to it, need to cut the rotten part before effect on all the plant and if the plant is rotten need to cut all the plant and let the daughter plant to grow instead

Size of the plant:
0.5-1 m, 20-40 inches (1.5-3 feet)

Growth speed in optimal condition:
Slow growing

Water requirement:
Small amount of water, better let it dry between watering

Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun

Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
No

Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers:
Yes, container or clay pot that will be bigger than the root ball 20-50% bigger the plant small the percentage (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, need to switch the soil after few years, removing the cacti from their pots, take paper and put slowly the plant on the paper, possible to “help” the cactus with the hands better to cover with papers or plastic wrap, after that prepare again the “little rocks” in the bottom, put part of the cactus potting mix, take the plant with and locate it in the new place, if it’s small take the soil mix with spoon and organize it (not to get the spines in hands) if it’s bigger use small garden shovel and squeeze the soil that the cactus will be stable and won’t fall, sometimes when it’s not stable better to add some stick that will hold the cactus.

Blooming information

Bloom season:
Spring to summer

General information about the flower
Light yellow flowers, the flower bloom on top of cactus in bowl shape

How to grow from seeds

Sow in in full sun, better sandy soil or well ventilated soil like cactus potting mix and good drainage is important

Saving seeds and care until sowing:
Dry and dark place in room temperature

Sowing season:
Spring but possible in autumn and winter in hot climate, in summer put it in half shade, in hardiness zone 10 spring to summer, hardiness zone 11 spring to autumn, hardiness zone 12 all year

Planting spacing:
10*20cm, (4-8 inches)

Depth of Sowing:
0.5cm, (0.25inches)

Conditions for seeds germinate:
Moist soil but do not over water and don’t let it dry

Watering requires for Seeds:
Small amount of water, lightly moist soil and don’t let it dry

Germination time:
2-6 weeks

Condition of seedling:
Full sun and don’t overwater

Scientific name:

Parodia magnifica