Habits: The body of the plant is globular, it can be up to 4in. (10 cms.) in diameter, but is usually somewhat less than that and usually but not always solitary. It has 10 to 15 ribs and what spines there are on the plant are sparse. They are extremely slow in growth and not the easiest cacti to keep in cultivation.
Scientific name: Aztekium hintonii
Common names: None known
Synonym: None known.
Etymology: Discovered and named after George Hinton.
Origin: Mexico (Nuevo Leon)
Light: The plant will accept bright sun through to light shade. With many plants you can gauge the best position for them by how well they grow, but in the case of this plant growth is so slow that it is not possible to do this.
Compost: A sandy calcerous loam would be the ideal for this plant, with extra drainage incorporated into the compost and also at the base of the pot to act as a ‘sump’ for surplus water.
Water: Infrequent watering is the key with this plant. Far more are killed by overwatering than are ever lost through lack of moisture.
Flower: The flower is magenta in colour and usually about 1in. (3cms.) in diameter.
Fruit: The seeds are amongst the smallest known in the cacti world.
Min. temp: Winter temperature of 50°f. (10°c.) is adequate.
Cultivation: The weathered look of plants growing in habitat reflects the harsh conditions they have to endure. In contrast cultivated seedling are extremely attractive to the eye of the collector and this is a much sought after plant. Most of the young plants are grafted and a seedling can be encouraged to flower in only five months from grafting. This is a great bonus, because more seed can then be produced to grow more plants. The tight laws in Mexico regarding the collection and export of plants means that without plants being grafted and encouraged to produce seed, collector’s demands for the plant could not legally be met.
Habitat: The plants grow in the cracks in limestone rocks or gypsum escarpments. They grow in very difficult conditions that are open to the elements.
Comments: This plant together with Geohintonia mexicana caused quite a stir in the cactus world when they were discovered in 1992. Both were found by and named after George S. Hinton, owner of a large ranch in the state of Nuevo Leon, in Mexico. The Aztekium genus consists of only two known species, ritteri and hintonii. Both are extremely distinctive looking cacti and well worth seeking out, although I do not think they are a plant for a beginner, who may face the disappointment and more importantly the discouragement of losing them.