Rebutia albiflora
| Light | Bright light with a little protection from the harshest midday sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Regularly in the growing season once the mix dries; keep dry and cool in winter |
| Soil | Fast-draining, gritty mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; a cool, dry winter rest suits it best (roughly USDA zones 9–11) |
| Propagation | Offsets (easy) and seed |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Rebutia albiflora is a tiny, clustering South American cactus best known for its fine, hair-like white spines and its unusually pale flowers. Where most Rebutia bloom in fiery reds and oranges, this little species opens delicate white to soft pink flowers, an oddity that has made it a favourite among collectors of miniature cacti. It is sometimes listed under the name Aylostera albiflora.
Description
Rebutia albiflora forms low, spreading mats of small, soft-bodied heads, each only a couple of centimetres across. The stems are clothed in dense, thread-like white spines so fine and numerous that the green body is nearly hidden beneath them, giving the whole clump a soft, cobwebby look. New heads bud freely from around the base and sides, so a healthy plant quickly becomes a loose cushion of interlinked stems.
The flowers are the species' signature feature. Borne low on the stems, as is typical for the genus, they are relatively large for such a small plant and open white to pale pink — a striking departure from the vivid reds and oranges of most of its relatives. Flowering is generous, and an established clump can carry a scatter of blooms over several days in spring and early summer.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to southern Bolivia, in the eastern Andes near Tarija, where it has been recorded from a rocky gorge of the Rio Playa. Like other members of the genus it grows at altitude, tucked among rocks and in gritty, well-drained ground where its mat-forming habit lets it cling to slopes and crevices. Plants there experience bright sun, sharp drainage and a distinctly cool, dry winter.
Cultivation
Rebutia albiflora is an easy and forgiving miniature, a good choice for a beginner wanting something a little unusual. Grow it in a shallow pot in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix, in bright light with only light shade from the fiercest summer sun; too much shade makes the growth soft and shy to flower.
During the growing season water it fairly generously whenever the mix has dried out — rebutias are thirstier than many desert cacti and dislike being baked bone-dry for long spells in summer. The key to good flowering is a cool, dry winter rest: keep the plant nearly dry and cold (but frost-free) from late autumn, and it will set buds reliably in spring. As the clump crowds its pot, lift and divide or repot it in spring; see Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Propagation could hardly be simpler. The plant offsets so readily that the easiest method is to detach a rooted or unrooted head, let any cut surface callus for a day or two, and pot it up in the same gritty mix — see Propagation — offsets and Propagation — cuttings. The species also grows easily from seed, which germinates well on a warm, humid mineral surface; see Propagation — seed for a full walkthrough.
Common problems
- Rot — the usual cause of loss, from overwatering, a slow-draining mix, or standing wet and cold in winter; soft, browning heads are the warning sign.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the heads stretch and soften and discourages flowering.
- Poor flowering — almost always down to a winter kept too warm or too wet; give the plant a genuinely cool, dry rest.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff among the spines and roots) and red spider mites are the ones to watch for; see Pests and diseases.
See also
- Rebutia — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting · Propagation — offsets · Propagation — seed