Publication: Darwiniana 34(1-4): 404 (1996)
Description
Gymnocalycium spegazzinii subs. cardenasianum is a solitary, slowly growing cactus, densely covered with incredibly strong twisted spines pointing sidewards and downward.
Stem: Grey green, compact, globular up to 12 (-15) cm wide 10 cm tall in cultivation (in nature it is partially underground) with a slightly concave woolly apex. Will not (usually) offset.
Spines: Long, stout, eagle claw-shaped, typically-twisted, up to 6cm long. Usually whitish or pale brown.
Flowers: Open petaled, funnel-shaped, about 4(-7) cm in diameter, 3(-5) cm tall and pinkish in colour. They grow near the apex. The flowers of Gymnocalycium cardenasianum have a tough time trying to force themselves through the fierce spines, and is quite rare to see an open flower because the spines prevent the flowers from opening properly.
Blooming season: They will bloom at an early age and bloom sparingly in mid-summer.
Origin and Habitat
Bolivia (Tarija and Chuquisaca)
Altitude: 1800 to 3200 metres above sea level.
Habitat: This cactus grows on rather rich and water-absorbing sandy, gravelly and rocky terrains among scrubs predominantly on plain ‘meadows’ rather than slopes, though without a trace of grass. In the same area it is possible to find other cactus and succulent species like: Parodia carrerana and Parodia fulvispina. This species is scarce in several locations, but in others it is abundant. The major threat is the expansion of agricultural land and cattle ranching, the animals eat and trample on the plants. Illegal collection poses a threat to a lesser extent.
Cultivation and Propagation
Gymnocalycium spegazzinii is a summer grower species that is easy to cultivate.
Growth rate: It is a slow growing and easily flowering species.
Soils: It likes very porous standard cactus mix soil. Prefer a low pH compost, avoid substrata rich in limestone; otherwise growth will stop altogether.
Repotting: This plant needs plenty of space for its roots, repotting should be done every other year or when the it has outgrown its pot. Use pot with good drainage.
Watering: Needs moderate to copious waterings in summer, but do not overwater (Rot prone), keep dry in winter at a minimum temperature of 0°C.
Fertilization: Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer.
Hardiness: Reputedly resistant to frost if kept on the dry side prior to, and during, cold weather (hardy to -12 C ° C, or less for short periods), but for safe cultivation it is best to avoid freezing temperatures.
Exposition: The plant tolerates extremely bright situations but enjoys filtered sunlight or afternoon shade, inside it needs bright light, and some direct sun. Tends to bronze in strong light, which encourages flowering and heavy spine production, but is likely to suffer from sun scorch or stunted growth if over exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day in summer.
Uses: It is an excellent plant for container growing. It always looks good and stays small. It look fine in a cold greenhouse and frame or outdoor in a rockery.
Pests & diseases: It may be attractive to a variety of insects, but plants in good condition should be nearly pest-free, particularly if they are grown in a mineral potting-mix, with good exposure and ventilation. Nonetheless, there are several pests to watch for:
- Red spiders: Red spiders may be effectively rubbed up by watering the plants from above.
- Mealy bugs: Mealy bugs occasionally develop aerial into the new growth among the wool with disfiguring results, but the worst types develop underground on the roots and are invisible except by their effects.
- Scales: Scales are rarely a problem.
- Rot: This species is particularly easy and accommodating, seldom suffer of cryptogamic diseases. Rot it is only a minor problem with gymnocalyciums if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won’t help all that much.
Propagation: Division, direct sow after last frost. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days at 21-27° C in spring, remove gradually the glass cover as soon the plants will be well rooted (ca 1-2 weeks) and keep ventilated, no full sun for young plants! To make a cutting twist off a branch and permit it to dry out a couple of weeks, lay it on the soil and insert the stem end partially into the soil. Try to keep the cutting somewhat upright so that the roots are able to grow downward.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
-
Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
-
James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey “The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass” Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
-
David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. “The New Cactus Lexicon” dh books, 2006
-
N. L. Britton, J. N. Rose “The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family.” Volume 4, The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1923
-
Curt Backeberg “Die Cactaceae: Handbuch der Kakteenkunde” Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart New York 1982–1985
-
John Borg “Cacti: a gardener’s handbook for their identification and cultivation” Blandford P., 1970
-
Méndez, E., Kiesling, R. & Ortega-Baes, P. 2013. Gymnocalycium spegazzinii. In: IUCN 2013. “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.” Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 15 January 2014.
From llifle page Gymnocalycium cardenasianum cv. Japanese Selection
Description
This is a special form of Gymnocalycium cardenasianum furnished with incredibly strong dark spines. It has been selected in Japan.
Stem: Grey green, compact, globular up to 12 (-15) cm wide 10 cm tall with a slightly concave woolly apex. Will not (usually) offset.
Spines: Long, stout, eagle claw-shaped, typically-twisted, up to 4 cm long. Black turning dark grey as they ages.
Flowers: Open petaled, funnel-shaped, about 4(-7) cm in diameter, 3(-5) cm tall and pinkish in colour. They grow near the apex. The flowers of Gymnocalycium cardenasianum have a tough time trying to force themselves through the fierce spines, and is quite rare to see an open flower because the spines prevent the flowers from opening properly.
Blooming season: They will bloom at an early age and bloom sparingly in mid-summer.
Origin and Habitat
Nursery selected form (Japan)
Cultivation and Propagation
Gymnocalycium cardenasianum is a summer grower species that is easy to cultivate.
Growth rate: It is a slow growing and easily flowering species.
Soils: It likes very porous standard cactus mix soil. Prefer a low pH compost, avoid substrata rich in limestone; otherwise growth will stop altogether.
Repotting: This plant needs plenty of space for its roots, repotting should be done every other year or when the it has outgrown its pot. Use pot with good drainage.
Watering: Needs moderate to copious waterings in summer, but do not overwater (Rot prone), keep dry in winter at a minimum temperature of 0°C.
Fertilization: Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer.
Hardiness: Reputedly resistant to frost if kept on the dry side prior to, and during, cold weather (hardy to -12 C ° C, or less for short periods), but for safe cultivation it is best to avoid freezing temperatures.
Exposition: The plant tolerates extremely bright situations but enjoys filtered sunlight or afternoon shade, inside it needs bright light, and some direct sun. Tends to bronze in strong light, which encourages flowering and heavy spine production, but is likely to suffer from sun scorch or stunted growth if over exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day in summer.
Uses: It is an excellent plant for container growing. It always looks good and stays small. It look fine in a cold greenhouse and frame or outdoor in a rockery.
Pests & diseases: It may be attractive to a variety of insects, but plants in good condition should be nearly pest-free, particularly if they are grown in a mineral potting-mix, with good exposure and ventilation. Nonetheless, there are several pests to watch for:
- Red spiders: Red spiders may be effectively rubbed up by watering the plants from above.
- Mealy bugs: Mealy bugs occasionally develop aerial into the new growth among the wool with disfiguring results, but the worst types develop underground on the roots and are invisible except by their effects.
- Scales: Scales are rarely a problem.
- Rot: This species is particularly easy and accommodating, seldom suffer of cryptogamic diseases. Rot it is only a minor problem with gymnocalyciums if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won’t help all that much.
Propagation: Division, direct sow after last frost. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days at 21-27° C in spring, remove gradually the glass cover as soon the plants will be well rooted (ca 1-2 weeks) and keep ventilated, no full sun for young plants! To make a cutting twist off a branch and permit it to dry out a couple of weeks, lay it on the soil and insert the stem end partially into the soil. Try to keep the cutting somewhat upright so that the roots are able to grow downward.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
-
Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
-
James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey “The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass” Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
-
David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. “The New Cactus Lexicon” dh books, 2006
-
N. L. Britton, J. N. Rose “The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family.” Volume 4, The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1923
-
Curt Backeberg “Die Cactaceae: Handbuch der Kakteenkunde” Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart New York 1982–1985
-
John Borg “Cacti: a gardener’s handbook for their identification and cultivation” Blandford P., 1970
Source: Gymnocalycium cardenasianum cv. Japanese Selection, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.
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