Acanthocalycium violaceum
Family: Cactaceae
Native to Argentina. It is usually solitary or slowly branching through basal shoots, it can become an upright cactus with stems that can reach a height of about 15 cm. The spines are arranged neatly in rows down the stem. The showy flowers range from white to pinkish lilac.
Sowing instructions: Fill a pot with a moist, gritty, loam-based compost, or cacti compost. Gently firm down and level the surface. Scatter your mixed cactus seeds over the surface, taking care not to sow them too thickly. Gently sprinkle a thin layer of vermiculite or fine grit over the seeds, covering the whole surface of the compost. Leave the pot in a greenhouse or on a warm windowsill, covered with a clear plastic bag to preserve soil moisture. Seedlings will develop within a few weeks. Remove the plastic bag and water when the compost becomes dry, but spray the surface with water regularly, to keep it moist.
Locality: Ex Hort. Harvest: April 2024