Rebutia perplexa
| Light | Bright light with some direct sun; a little shade from the harshest summer afternoon |
|---|---|
| Water | Regularly in the growing season, letting the soil dry between waterings; keep dry in winter |
| Soil | Fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; a cool, dry winter rest suits it well |
| Propagation | Offsets and seed |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Rebutia perplexa is a small, freely clustering South American cactus prized for its abundant pink flowers. One of the most floriferous and forgiving of the crown cacti, it is a firm favourite for beginners: even young plants bloom generously, and a mature clump can disappear beneath a ring of blossoms in spring. It belongs to the genus Rebutia, and is sometimes still sold under the name Aylostera perplexa.
Description
Rebutia perplexa forms low mounds of many small, globular to slightly flattened stems, each rarely more than about 2 cm across. The stems are soft green, patterned with numerous low spiralling tubercles, and clothed in fine, short, pale to golden bristly spines that sit close to the body rather than projecting fiercely. Individual heads offset prolifically from the base, so that a well-grown plant quickly becomes a dense cushion of small crowns.
The flowers are the plant's chief attraction: funnel-shaped and a rich pink to lilac-pink, borne low around the sides of the stems near the base rather than at the top, as is typical of the crown cacti. They open widely in sunshine over a long spring flush, and a single small clump can carry a startling number of blooms at once relative to its size. Flowering is reliable even on modest, young plants.
Distribution and habitat
Like most of its genus, R. perplexa is a native of Bolivia, from the high country of the South American Andes. Its exact wild locality is uncertain — the plant is known chiefly from cultivation, and its original collection was never firmly tied to a habitat — but, like its relatives, it comes from montane ground where days are bright and warm, nights are cool, and the winters are dry. These montane origins explain its liking for strong light, sharp drainage and a cold, dry rest — conditions that also trigger its heavy flowering.
Cultivation
Rebutia perplexa is among the easiest of all cacti to grow and flower, which is much of why it is recommended to newcomers. Plant it in a free-draining, mostly mineral mix in a pot that gives the spreading clump a little room. Give it bright light with some direct sun to keep the growth compact and encourage bloom; too little light produces soft, etiolated stems and fewer flowers.
Water regularly through the warm growing season, always letting the mix dry out before watering again. The key to abundant flowering is a genuinely cool, dry winter rest: keep the plant almost completely dry and cold (but above freezing) from late autumn, and the flower buds will set for a generous spring display. Resume watering as the days lengthen and buds appear. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Because the plant offsets so freely, the simplest method is division: gently detach a rooted or unrooted head, let any cut surface dry for a few days, then pot it into the same gritty mix, where it roots readily. This is the quickest way to build up or share a plant. R. perplexa also comes easily from seed, which germinates well on a warm, mineral surface kept humid, and seedlings reach flowering size quickly. See Propagation — offsets and Propagation — seed for full walkthroughs.
Common problems
- Rot — the usual cause of loss, almost always from overwatering, a slow-draining mix, or watering during the winter rest; heads soften and discolour from the base.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the stems pale and stretch upward, spoiling the compact habit and reducing flowering.
- Shy flowering — nearly always the result of a warm or wet winter; the plant needs a cool, dry dormancy to bloom well.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff among the crowded stems and roots) and red spider mites are the most likely visitors. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Rebutia — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — offsets · Propagation — seed · Repotting