August 2008 Gymnocalycium baldianum

A more in depth look at individual cactus species, a new one is added each month -managed by Hob
Locked
User avatar
hob
Posts: 4425
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2006 8:22 pm
Location: sfk england z 8

August 2008 Gymnocalycium baldianum

Post by hob »

Gymnocalycium baldianum Spegazzini

Image


Growth Habits: generally solitary but will produce offsets with age in cultivation, dark green stems each head is up to 3 inches (7.5 cm)

Scientific name; Gymnocalycium baldianum

Common names: Dwarf chin.

Synonym: Echinocactus sanguiniflorus, Gymnocalycium venturianum, Gymnocalycium platense var. baldianum, Echinocactus baldianus, Gymnocalycium sanguiniflorum

Etymology: Gymnocalycium, From the Greek words gymnos meaning naked and kalyx meaning bud.
The species name "baldianum" Named after Baldi (a colleague of Spegazzini).

Origin:Argentina (Catamarca)

Light: Full sun to light shade.

Compost. A free draining standard cactus mix.

Water: Regular water in spring to autumn.

Flower: The normal flower colour is pale pink to bright red i have also found white flowered ones while compiling this reference.

Min temp: Hardy to 15°F (-10°C), for short periods.

Cultivation: Easy to grow and remains quite a small plant.

Habitat. Grass and scrub covered ground at around 1800m (6000 ft) elevation.

Comments: A good plant for beginners as it is not very demanding and takes up little room.i find it flowers better if allowed to go below 5 deg C (42F) in winter and will flower several times in a season.One of these plants quite happily survived in my unheated greenhouse last winter with minimum temp of -8 deg C.(to survive these conditions the soil and roots must be dry)

Additional images:
Image
Image

image with a better view of the plant and buds
Image
Locked