Gymnocalycium alboareolatum is only one known population of the Belorussian Gyrnokalitsium, which covers an area of less than 100 km 2 in the vicinity of the town of Villa Bustos in the province of La Rioja, Argentina. The species is locally numerous, but the number of adult plants decreases. This cactus lives in thickets of bushes growing on mountain slopes at altitudes of 800-1100 (up to 1500) m above sea level...
Gymnocalycium alboareolatum also called as Gymnocalycium albiareolatum, Gymnocalycium alboareolatum var. ramosum, Gymnocalycium kieslingii var. ramosum, , is a species of the genus Gymnocalycium. This species was described by Rausch in 1985.
IDENTIFY GYMNOCALYCIUM ALBOAREOLATUM
Gymnocalycium alboareolatum is only one known population of the Belorussian Gyrnokalitsium, which covers an area of less than 100 km 2 in the vicinity of the town of Villa Bustos in the province of La Rioja, Argentina. The species is locally numerous, but the number of adult plants decreases. This cactus lives in thickets of bushes growing on mountain slopes at altitudes of 800-1100 (up to 1500) m above sea level.
It is a small sized cactus that has single or bushy, spherical, oblate, 6-10 cm in diameter, dull gray-green stem that hardly rising above the soil surface, with developed root system and has 8 to 13, straight, with clearly marked protrusions up to 1 cm in height ribs. The areoles are quite large, with thick white hair, rounded to oval, up to 5 mm thick. The 6-7 radial spines are bent towards the body of the cactus, stiff, brown, 1 cm long.
This cactus flowers from June to September with funnel-shaped, elegant, up to 6.5 cm in length and 4.5 in diameter (rarely up to 6 cm), silvery-white on the outside, pink inside (with a reddish throat), outer segments of the perianth with green strips flowers. It produces oval, clavate, blue-green, with a gray bloom, 25-35 mm in length. and up to 1 cm in diameter fruits and black, matte, hat-shaped, 1 mm in diameter seeds.
GYMNOCALYCIUM ALBOAREOLATUM CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Gymnocalycium alboareolatum tolerates very bright light, but prefers scattered sun or shade at noon time. If it grows in a room, then it needs bright light and some direct sun. In bright light acquires a bronze hue, blossoms better and forms more powerful spines, but can get sunburn or stop in growth from the excess of direct sun on the hottest summer days.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
This cactus prefers a loose, standard soil mixture for cacti with low PH. The plant can not be planted in a soil rich in limestone, otherwise it will stop growing. It needs a lot of space for roots, it should be repotted every two years or when it grows out of pot. Good drainage is required.
Watering:
In summer, the watering should be moderate to abundant, but you can not overwater the cactus, as it is prone to decay. In winter, the content is dry at a minimum temperature of 0 ° C.
Fertilizer:
In the summer, the Gymnocalycium alboareolatum must be fed with a high-pot fertilizer. In winter fertilization should be limited.
Rest period:
This cactus is frost-resistant, if it is kept in a dry state, it can withstand a short-term drop in temperature to -5 ° C or lower. But the optimal temperature in winter is 8-10 ° C. Wintering is dry.
Grow from seeds:
Cactus seedlings are very fragile on the first weeks and survival depends on how they are treated on that crucial stage; out of 100 of seeds in the wild only a few survive to an adult plant to produce seeds and start the cycle again. Obtaining a high percentage of adult plants from a batch of seedlings, depends on how each collector takes care of their seedlings.
Water for seedlings is the most important item to keep them growing for first few weeks. Generally, most seedlings, which are 1 week old will die after 3 days of dryness. 2 month-old seedlings can survive for 1 week if allowed to dry. 6 months-old seedlings can survive for 2 months if allowed to dry. 1 year-old seedlings can survive for 5 months if allowed to dry.
Planting instructions for 4”pot kit: First, clean with water and chlorine plastic pot, clear cover and label and wash with fresh water. Second, the soil can be sterilized for 2 hours at 120º C in an oven or a microwave but can be used without sterilization. Third, fill the pot with soil and spray with distilled, reverse osmosis or pure rainwater to let soil flatten at the top. Fourth, place to 1/8 to 1/4 inch layer of Dyna Rock or crushed sea shell extra fine on top to cover the soil making a layer between soil and seeds. Fifth, place seeds over the Dyna Rock and fine spray water the seeds well and cover with a clearcover.
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