Parodia rutilans (Parodia mueller-melchersii, Notocactus rutilans) (100 seeds)

Parodia rutilans.  Pink ball cactus. Native to Uruguay.  is a small-growing, usually solitary, cactus species. The numerous stiff, sharp spines are varicoloured and the centrals are reddish-brown. The flowers are very showy, 5 cm long, with much white wool along the tubes, and translucent petals, salmon to carmine-red shading to egg-yolk yellow in the centre. Sowing : 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: January 2023