Description
Normally Astrophytum asterias seedling have the standard 8 ribs, while only a small number of them have few or more ribs. The normal rib number (eight) is very stable in wild specimens, independent of the age of the plant, but in cultivation selected cultivars and hybrids can have from 4 to 13 ribs. The form with thirteen ribs is quite exceptional. This form however looks suspiciously hybridized with other species and probably is not a pure 100% asterias.
Origin and Habitat
Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar).
Cultivation and Propagation
It is not too difficult in a greenhouse, although 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 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°) C
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.
