Weingartia lanata
| Light | Bright light; a little shade from the harshest afternoon sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Sparingly; let the soil dry fully between waterings, dry rest in winter |
| Soil | Fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Seed (primary); occasionally offsets |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Weingartia lanata is a small, globular South American cactus grown for its woolly crown, warm golden spines and generous flushes of yellow-orange flowers. Its neat, symmetrical body and dense spination make it a tidy, rewarding subject for the collector of dwarf highland cacti. It belongs to the genus Weingartia, a group of Andean cacti whose boundaries with Rebutia and Sulcorebutia have long been debated — a history reflected in this plant's synonyms.
Description
Weingartia lanata forms a solitary or slowly clustering globe, usually only a few centimetres across when young, becoming somewhat elongated and shortly columnar with age. The body is divided into low ribs broken into spiralling, tubercle-like humps, each tipped with an areole. From these areoles radiate stiff, slender spines in shades of gold, amber and honey-brown, often dense enough to veil the green skin beneath. The crown carries noticeably more wool than the flanks, giving the plant its "lanata" (woolly) name and a soft, felted apex.
Flowers open in spring and summer in a ring around the upper body: short-funnelled, glossy and yellow to orange, they cluster near the crown and open over several days in bright weather. As in related Andean cacti, the flowers arise from the sides of older areoles rather than the very top, so a well-grown plant can ring itself in bloom.
Distribution and habitat
Like other members of the genus, W. lanata is a plant of the Bolivian Andes, growing at altitude among rock and gritty, well-drained slopes. In habitat these cacti endure strong sun, wide day-to-night temperature swings and a sharply seasonal climate — wet, warm summers followed by a cold, dry winter rest. Those conditions are the key to understanding its needs in cultivation.
Cultivation
Weingartia lanata is an accommodating plant for a highland-cactus collection, provided it is never left standing wet. Grow it in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix in a pot that suits its modest root system, and give it bright light — good sun brings out the best spine colour and keeps the body compact and symmetrical. A little shade from the fiercest midday sun in high summer prevents scorching on the crown.
Water thoroughly through the growing season once the soil has dried, then allow it to dry again before the next drink; see Watering for general technique. Through winter keep the plant cold and completely dry — a genuine dry rest not only prevents rot but is what triggers the following season's flowers. The species tolerates cold well as long as it is dry at the root, but it should be protected from freezing. Repot occasionally into fresh gritty mix as described under Repotting.
Propagation
Seed is the usual method, and the genus germinates readily on a warm, gritty surface kept lightly humid; see Propagation — seed. Plants that cluster can also be increased by detaching rooted offsets once they have formed their own roots — a straightforward job covered under Propagation — offsets. Vegetative propagation keeps a particular clone true, whereas seedlings show natural variation in spine colour and density.
Common problems
- Rot — the commonest cause of loss, almost always from overwatering, a slow-draining mix, or moisture during the winter rest; the body softens and discolours, usually from the base.
- Poor flowering — often the result of a warm or damp winter; a cold, dry rest is what sets buds for spring.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the body pale, soft and elongated, spoiling the compact form and washing out the spine colour.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the wool and areoles, and on the roots) and red spider mites are the usual offenders; see Pests and diseases.
See also
- Weingartia — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting
- Propagation — seed · Propagation — offsets