Description
“FUKURYU” is a Japanese word that means presence of additional ribs (coasts). This plant will develop protuberances (like beginnings of ribs) or small extra ribs (more or less prominent ). Usually these additional ribs will not reach the plant apex. They don’t havet areoles, and they develop on the lateral side, sandwiched between two contiguous true ribs.
Origin and Habitat
Garden origin: JAPAN. (Nursery produced cultivar)
Cultivation and Propagation
It is not too difficult in a greenhouse, although it grows quite slowly. The plants need a loose well-drained mineral soil. They need a good amount of light. Watering can be done weekly during the summertime, if the weather is sunny enough, with a little fertilizer added. Kept this way, plants will show a healthy, although slow growth. They are frost hardy to -4° (-10° if very dry) C.
Eventually, as they become mature, they attain a maximum size of 8-10 cm (20) cm. However, old plants become senile and have a tendency to succumb to disease and a weak root system. At this stage, as is well known, they die suddenly. So, after they reach 10 cm in diameter grow them slowly, and adopt a new repotting period, using intervals of every 2 - 3 years. In addition, grow them under drier conditions or stronger sunlight.
Propagation: By seeds, remembering that seedlings dislike strong light and dry conditions and need to be repotted frequently. But plants are often grafted to accelerate growth, as they would generally take at least a five years to reach maturity on their own. However the grafted plants are typically rather tall-growing, in comparison with plants on their own roots that are usually flatter to the ground.
