Parodia warasii
| Light | Bright light with some direct sun; a little shade from harsh summer afternoons |
|---|---|
| Water | Regularly in the growing season once the mix has dried; keep dry in winter |
| Soil | Fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep frost-free; a cool, dry winter rest around 5–10 °C suits it |
| Propagation | Seed (primary); offsets only from the occasional branched plant |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Parodia warasii is a globular-to-shortly-columnar cactus from southern Brazil, clothed in stout golden spines and crowned with large, satiny yellow flowers. It belongs to the group of robust, woolly-crowned South American cacti once separated as the genus Eriocactus, and like its relatives it is prized for its warm golden armament and generous summer blooms. It is now placed in the genus Parodia.
Description
Parodia warasii begins life as a solid green globe and elongates with age into a short column that can reach around 40–60 cm tall and 15–25 cm across, though plants in cultivation are usually smaller. The body carries a moderate number of broad, rounded, slightly spiralled ribs studded with areoles, from which radiate golden to honey-coloured spines; the stout central spines are stiff and rigid rather than soft, so more of the ribbed body shows than in the plant's densely soft-spined relatives. The crown is capped with pale wool, a hallmark of the old Eriocactus group.
Flowers appear from the woolly apex in the warmer months: broad, glossy yellow blooms that open in succession over the summer. Older specimens occasionally branch or offset from the base, though the species is more often solitary than some of its clumping relatives, and the golden spination deepens and thickens in strong light.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil, where it grows in the rocky grassland and hill country of the region. Plants tend to root in gritty, well-drained pockets among rock, often on slopes where water drains away quickly after the frequent rains of the subtropical climate. This background — rainy, bright, but sharply drained — is a useful guide to how the plant likes to be grown.
Cultivation
Parodia warasii is an accommodating cactus by the standards of the family, and a rewarding one for its fast, golden good looks. Grow it in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix in bright light with some direct sun, which keeps the spines well-coloured and the body compact. Unlike many desert cacti, the Eriocactus-group species enjoy fairly generous water while in active growth: water thoroughly once the mix has dried, and do not let a healthy growing plant bake bone-dry for long stretches in summer.
Reduce watering sharply as light and temperature drop, and keep the plant dry and cool (but above freezing) through winter to prevent rot and encourage flowering. Repot young, fast-growing plants every year or two into a slightly larger pot; see Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Seed is the usual and most reliable method. The seed germinates readily on a warm, humid mineral surface, and seedlings grow relatively quickly for a cactus. On the occasional plant that has branched or offset, an offset can be removed, left to callus, and rooted in a gritty mix. See Propagation — seed for a full walkthrough.
Common problems
- Rot — the main risk, usually from a slow-draining mix or from water sitting on the plant while it is cold; the body softens and discolours from the base.
- Etiolation — too little light makes growth pale, thin and stretched, and the golden spines come in sparse and dull.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the areoles and among the wool) and red spider mites (fine webbing, bronzed skin) are the usual offenders; see Pests and diseases.
See also
- Parodia — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting · Propagation — seed · Propagation — offsets