Rebutia mentosa

Rebutia mentosa

Synonym: Sulcorebutia mentosa
Family: Cactaceae
Common Name: crown cactus
Origin: Rebutia mentosa originates from Cochabamba, Bolivia, within the Campero province.
Description: R. mentosa is a small globular cactus that can be solitary or clustering. It is tuberculate with chinned protrusions, elongated areoles, and yellow-brown central and radial spines. During spring, showy magenta flowers will cluster from the bottom stem, being almost as large as the cactus itself.

Interesting Features:
- Given enough time, even solitary specimens will create a large patch of cacti.
Uses: The crown cactus is extremely drought tolerant, allowing it to be cultivated in xeriscape and desert landscapes.

Cultivation and Care:

Watering: Low
- From spring to autumn, provide regular watering, but cease irrigation in winter. Additionally, be careful not to overwater or allow to stand in moisture, as this species is prone to root rot.
Soil: Plant in very coarse mineral cactus soil, but do not provide overly rich compost, as this can lead to elongation. Soil must be well draining to avoid root rot.
Lighting: R. mentosa requires full sunlight for most of the day, permitting light shade during the summer.
Propagation: The crown cactus will readily produce pups from the base of mature plants. Other methods of propagation include from woody stem cuttings, and seed, which is produced in great number during the fruiting season.
Cold Tolerance: 25°F, USDA hardiness zones 9b – 11.
Special Accommodations: Root rot can be prevented by surrounding the base of cacti with very rough sand or grit. Another prominent issue is parasitism by Sciara flies, which commonly prey upon seedlings. However, if young cacti are mulched with a layer of grit, this pest can be discouraged.

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