Turbinicarpus swobodae
| Light | Bright light with a little shade from the fiercest afternoon sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Sparingly; dry out fully between waterings, keep bone-dry in winter |
| Soil | Very gritty, mostly mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; a cold, dry winter rest suits it |
| Propagation | Seed |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Turbinicarpus swobodae is a tiny, slow-growing cactus from the arid mountains of northeastern Mexico, prized by collectors for its fine curving spines and bright pink flowers. Like many members of the genus it is a true miniature. It is a species in its own right, though it has at times been shuffled into other genera — appearing in the literature as Neolloydia swobodae and Pediocactus swobodae — reflecting long-running disagreement over the limits of Turbinicarpus.
Description
Turbinicarpus swobodae forms a small, solitary body rarely more than a few centimetres across, usually rounded to shortly cylindrical. The plant is divided into low tubercles, each tipped with an areole bearing fine, needle-like spines that curve and interlace over the crown, giving the little plant a distinctly whiskered look.
Flowers appear from the growing tip, mostly in spring. They are funnel-shaped and comparatively large for so small a plant, pink to magenta and sometimes paler toward the centre. As with its relatives, the roots are often thickened and taproot-like, storing water against long dry spells.
Distribution and habitat
The plant is native to the arid mountains of northeastern Mexico (Coahuila and Nuevo León), where it grows wedged into narrow rock fissures and crevices in full sun. In habitat it endures strong sun, sharp drainage and a long dry season, retracting into its cracks during drought so that little more than the spiny top remains visible.
The genus Turbinicarpus is listed under CITES Appendix I — a stricter listing than the Appendix II that covers the cactus family as a whole — and wild populations of these small, localised plants are vulnerable to illegal collection. The species is assessed as Critically Endangered. Nursery-propagated plants, however, are widely available and entirely legal to own and trade; plants should never be taken from the wild.
Cultivation
T. swobodae is grown much as the rest of the genus: give it bright light, a snug pot and a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix. Water thoroughly only once the soil has dried out completely, and reduce watering sharply as the days shorten. A cool, dry winter rest is important — it helps trigger flowering and, more importantly, guards against rot, which is by far the commonest cause of loss in these small, tap-rooted cacti.
Because the swollen root is prone to rotting if kept wet, many growers favour a deeper pot and an especially gritty substrate. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Seed is the usual and most reliable method. The fine seed germinates readily on a warm, damp mineral surface, though seedlings are slow and need patience in their first couple of years. The species rarely offsets, so vegetative propagation is uncommon; where quicker growth is wanted, seedlings are sometimes grafted onto a vigorous rootstock. See Propagation — seed for a full walkthrough.
Common problems
- Rot — almost always from overwatering, a slow-draining mix, or water sitting around the swollen root; the plant softens and discolours from the base.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the body stretch and lose its compact, well-spined form.
- Pests — red spider mites and mealybugs (white fluff tucked among the spines and areoles) are the usual offenders, along with root mealybugs on the taproot.
See also
- Turbinicarpus — the genus overview
- Grafting · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — seed · Repotting