Turbinicarpus pseudomacrochele
| Light | Bright light with a little shade from the fiercest afternoon sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Sparingly; let the mix dry fully between waterings, kept dry in winter |
| Soil | Very gritty, fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; a cool, dry winter rest suits it well |
| Propagation | Seed (primary); occasional offsets from clustering plants |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Turbinicarpus pseudomacrochele is a small, often clustering cactus from central Mexico, prized for its distinctive long, thin, twisted and curling spines that are soft and papery rather than sharp. It is one of the most commonly grown members of the genus Turbinicarpus, valued for its easy nature, compact size and freely produced pale pink flowers.
Description
Turbinicarpus pseudomacrochele forms small, soft-bodied stems only a few centimetres across, usually solitary when young but tending to cluster into low cushions with age. The tubercled green body is topped by woolly areoles that give rise to the plant's most striking feature: long, flexible spines that are thin, papery and curl or twist irregularly, sometimes almost obscuring the stem. Unlike the rigid spines of many cacti, they are soft to the touch and easily bent.
Flowers appear from the woolly crown mainly in spring, sometimes continuing into summer, opening pale pink to whitish with a slightly darker midstripe on each petal. They are relatively large for so small a plant and open readily even on young specimens, one of the reasons the species is such a rewarding beginner's Turbinicarpus.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to central Mexico, where it grows on limestone rock and in gritty crevices, often tucked among rocks or low vegetation that offers a little shade and protection. Like most of the genus it is adapted to sparse, rocky ground with sharp drainage and a pronounced dry season.
As with the whole cactus family, Turbinicarpus is listed under CITES (the genus receives particularly strict protection at Appendix I), so international trade in wild-collected plants is prohibited. Nursery-propagated plants are widely available, inexpensive and entirely legal to own and trade; only wild-collected material is a concern.
Cultivation
Turbinicarpus pseudomacrochele is among the easier members of its genus and a good introduction to the group. Grow it in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix in a small pot, in bright light with a little shade from the most intense summer sun. Water thoroughly once the soil has dried out completely during the growing season, then allow it to dry again; overwatering and a slow-draining mix are the usual causes of loss.
Keep the plant dry and cool through winter. This dry rest not only prevents rot but also encourages the plant to flower well the following season. See Watering and Repotting for general technique. The species is small and slow, so it rarely needs a large pot or frequent repotting.
Propagation
Seed is the standard and most reliable method. The fine seed germinates readily on a warm, gritty surface kept humid, and plants can flower within a few years from sowing. Clustering specimens can sometimes be divided or their offsets removed and rooted, though vegetative propagation is less common than raising plants from seed. See Propagation — seed and Propagation — offsets for details.
Some growers graft seedlings onto a vigorous rootstock to speed early growth, then return them to their own roots later, though this species grows well enough on its own roots that grafting is optional.
Common problems
- Rot — almost always from overwatering or a mix that holds too much moisture; the soft body discolours and collapses, often from the base.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the stem pale and elongate, distorting its natural compact shape.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the areoles and among the spines) and red spider mites are the most frequent nuisances. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Turbinicarpus — the genus overview
- Grafting · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — seed · Propagation — offsets