Lobivia jajoiana
| Light | Bright light with plenty of direct sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Regularly in the growing season, allowing the soil to dry between waterings; keep dry and cold in winter |
| Soil | Gritty, fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Cold-tolerant when dry; protect from wet frost |
| Propagation | Seed; occasionally by offsets |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Lobivia jajoiana is a small, solitary or slowly clustering globular cactus from the mountains of northwestern Argentina, prized above all for its spectacular flowers — red to orange blooms whose interior is set off by a dramatic dark violet to almost black throat, ringed by a band of deep-coloured stamens. It belongs to the genus Lobivia, a group of Andean cacti celebrated for outsized, brilliantly coloured blooms on modest little plants, and is now often listed under the synonym Echinopsis jajoiana.
Description
Lobivia jajoiana forms a low, rounded to shortly cylindrical stem, usually solitary or offsetting only sparingly, typically a few centimetres across. The body is divided into notched ribs bearing woolly areoles, from which arise stiff radial spines and one or more longer, often hooked or curved central spines. Spine colour ranges from pale amber to dark brown, and varies noticeably from plant to plant.
The flowers are the reason the species is so widely grown. Borne near the top of the stem in late spring and summer, they are broadly funnel-shaped and typically red to orange, though the colour varies across the species' range. What sets them apart is the throat: a striking dark violet-black zone at the flower's centre, encircled by a ring of similarly dark stamens, giving each bloom a vivid, almost jewelled contrast. As with most Lobivia, individual flowers are short-lived, but a healthy plant produces them in flushes.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to the high country of northwestern Argentina, in the province of Jujuy, where it grows among rocks and grasses at considerable altitude in the eastern Andes. Plants there experience strong sun, sharp drainage, a warm growing season with summer rain, and cold, dry winters — conditions worth keeping in mind in cultivation. Like many high-Andean cacti it endures a wide daily swing in temperature and is well adapted to lean, gritty ground.
Cultivation
Lobivia jajoiana is an accommodating, rewarding plant for anyone with a bright, sunny spot. Grow it in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix and give it as much direct light as you can — good light brings out the best spine colour and encourages the plant to flower. During the warm months water generously whenever the soil has dried out, then let it dry again before the next drink; see Watering for general technique.
The key to both flowering and long-term health is a proper winter rest: keep the plant completely dry and cool from late autumn through winter. Kept dry, the species tolerates considerable cold and even light frost, and this cold-dry dormancy is what triggers the following season's buds. Wet roots in cold weather, by contrast, are the quickest route to rot. Repot young plants every year or two into fresh gritty mix; see Repotting.
Propagation
Seed is the usual and most reliable method, and it is how most collection plants are raised. Sow onto a warm, gritty, mineral surface kept humid until germination, then grow the seedlings on with careful watering; see Propagation — seed. Plants that cluster can also be increased by removing rooted or unrooted offsets and letting the cut surfaces callus before potting them up.
Common problems
- Rot — nearly always from watering while cold or from a slow-draining mix; the stem softens and discolours from the base.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the body pale and stretch upward, and discourages flowering.
- Shy flowering — usually the result of skipping the cold, dry winter rest the plant needs to set buds.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the areoles, and on the roots) and red spider mites are the most common; see Pests and diseases.
See also
- Lobivia — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting · Propagation — seed · Propagation — offsets