I have this little one with me for about two years now, but this is the very first time I see the flower. One flower!
Last year I saw more buds forming, but I wasn't home when it bloomed and I completely missed it. I am so glad I didn't kill it in that time. I planted some cacti in those cute little clay pots, but most totally hated it! I had to change it this year. I kept this one as it seemed to grow well in it, but I probably will swap it too. I love clay, but clay hates me and my climate.
Rebutia Albiflora
This cactus is native to Bolivia and likes slightly shaded conditions. My one gets some early morning and a bit of afternoon sun and that seems fine. It is a very small cactus that will spread like a carpeet with time. Each of those little balls is maybe 1cm in diameter and each one of them produces new ones each year. So yea.. I will have to put it in bigger pot next year and maybe split. This is 3 or 4 plants right there growing all together.
The spines are very soft and flexible and do no harm, though might look a bit nasty. It is actually quite pleasant to the touch and and since they grow so close to each other it's nice to just pet it a bit (am I the only weirdo petting cacti?).
The flower is also quite small. But if you imagine the plant spreading more and more and growing more and more flowers... it is quite a stunning view! Google it :)
I though the flower will be completely white, but I see that the petals have some little pink stripes to it. Not all petals, just some. Quite adorable so I don't mind.
I heard that this cactus is impossible to grow from seed. The only way to propagate it from from the cuttings and diving the bigger clumps. That explains the rapid growth of new shoots. I could probably split it every years and each time double or tipple the amount.
I really like it.
But Suzi was obviously not impressed with the flower.
My other blooming cacti:
Click on the image to view full post.
Chamaecereus hybrid | Sulcorebutia Canigueralii | Mammillaria camptotricha | Mammillaria Glassii |
Gymnocalycium baldianum | Mediolobivia mudanensis | Lobivia Arachnacantha | Rebutia hybrid |
Mammillaria Bombycina | Mammillaria Gracilis Snowcap | Mammillaria haageana | Mammillaria backebergiana |
Chamaecereus silvestrii | Mammillaria prolifera | Rebutia Fabrisii var. Aureiflora | Lobivia Wrightiana |
Aylostera Flavistyla FR756 | Parodia concinna | Mammillaria Copper King | Gymnocalycium Brushii |
Mammillaria backebergiana | Gymnocalycium damsii | Echinopsis subdenudata | Rhipsalis pilocarpa |
Mammillaria Prolifera | Lobivia arachnacantha v. vallegrandensis | Mediolobivia atrovirens | Mammillaria magnimamma |
Sulcorebutia langerii | Sulcorebutia frankiana | Chamaelobivia no ID |
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Shot with Nikon D5500 + Sigma 105mm lens
All photos and text are my own.
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