Description
The “Godzilla” is one of the most priced and widely known Ariocarpus cultivars. It has been probably developed by Japanese growers from Ariocarpus fissuratus, and there are several slightly different types (the Thais speaks of cloning) in circulation. The strongly structured surface and the deep colour of the plants are typical, but greener or woollier plants are in the variation range of this cultivar. The Ariocarpus fissuratus cv. Godzilla (Cotton Flock Type) is a very woolly form in which the rough tubercled epidermis is almost concealed by dense long hairs. There are also some variegate and even crested forms of Godzillas.
Origin and Habitat
Japan? (Nursery produced cultivar)
Cultivation and Propagation
It is not too difficult in a greenhouse, although grows extremely slowly. The plants need deep pots to accommodate the napiform unit formed by the stem base and the rootstock (or they will often simply crack your pots), and a loose mineral soil with a well-drained substrate. They need a good amount of light. Watering can be done weekly during summertime, if the weather is sunny enough, with a little fertilizer added. Kept this way, plants will show a healthy, although slow growth.
Propagation: By seeds, remembering that seedlings dislike strong light and dry conditions and need to be repotted frequently. Eventually, as they become mature, they attain a maximum size of 20 to 25 cm. But plants are often grafted to accelerate growth as they would generally take at least a decade to reach maturity on their own, but the grafted plants are typical rather tall growing, compared with plants on their own roots that are usually more flat to the ground. It starts blooming at the age of 8-12 years.
