Product Description:
You’ve probably seen plenty of these cactus. This usually small ball-shaped or barrel-shaped plant is one of the most famous household cacti. These are hence typically referred to by the common name- ball cactus. They are also sometimes called silver ball cactus or just silver ball. Parodia is native to Central South America, where they enjoy somewhat more moisture that most people associate with cacti. They are not full-sun plants, especially during the scorching summer season, they appreciate some daytime shade. Older plants will frequently produce flowers in yellow, red, orange, or pink, depending on the species. It has very pretty, soft, silvery-white, fir-like spines, often with red centrals. The exciting lemon-yellow flowers with pale anthers and scarlet stigma open during the day and close at night. Overall, these are easy and gorgeous beginning cacti.
Light:
Notocactus prefers a lot of full sun. It should get plenty of light and heat throughout the day, especially during the spring and summer. Indoors place plants in a south-facing window without risk of scorching the plant.
Water:
In the summer, water frequently. Keep an eye on the moisture. Do not allow plants to sit in excessively wet soil. This increases the risk of fungal attacks and rot.
Soil:
These succulent plants do not have an extensive root structure. Plant in a cactus mix or regular potting soil mixed with pumice, perlite, or sand. It should offer excellent drainage helping to protect the plant from fungus.
Fertilizer:
Though not necessary, the ball cactus will respond well to fertilizer. During the growing season fertilize with a cacti fertilizer mix and suspend feeding during the dormant winter period.
Temperature and Humidity:
True to their nature, ball cacti prefer warm, desert-like conditions. That being said, they can survive in below-freezing temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit, though it’s not recommended that they’re kept that cold for very long at all.
Dry heat is the key to keeping any cactus, and ball cacti will not do well if exposed to too much moisture—either from watering or in the form of humidity. Therefore, it is unnecessary to spritz them or increase the humidity in their environment.
Propagating Ball Cactus:
Ball cacti can be propagated easily from offsets, which readily form in clusters around the base of the mother plant. Do not repot in the winter because the cold temperatures, even indoors, can shock the roots. To propagate, follow these steps:
- Carefully remove an offset and allow the cut section to dry on a paper towel for a few days.
- Depending on the size of the cut area, a callous will form over the cut surface.
- Once the callous has formed, place the new plant in a pot with a cactus or succulent soil mixture and keep it in a warm place until new roots emerge.
- Once the cactus is established, repot it into a regular-sized container.
Pruning:
Grooming isn’t necessary except for when the flowers begin to wilt due to harsh surrounding conditions. You only need to pluck off the dead flowers and use the offsets which fall from the mother plant and grow at the edges of the container for propagation.
Potting and Repotting Ball Cactus:
Repot your ball cactus as needed, preferably during the warm season. Always place the plant in a pot with a drainage hole. Make sure the soil is very dry and crumbly before repotting, then gently remove the cactus and surrounding soil from the pot. Knock away the old soil from the roots, making sure to remove any rotted or dead roots in the process.
