Blossfeldia LILIPUTANA

Blossfeldia LILIPUTANA - Miniature blossfeldia, Liliput cactus, Blossfeldia liliputana.

Blossfeldia is a monotypic genus of tiny cacti in the family Cactaceae, represented by a single species native to the highlands of Bolivia and northwestern Argentina. In nature, it grows on vertical cliffs, precipices, and in deep rock crevices at elevations from 1,000 to 3,600 m (3,300-11,800 ft) above sea level, where there is almost no soil and water is retained for only a matter of hours.

The stems are dark green, spherical, only 1-2 cm (0.4-0.8 in) across, completely devoid of ribs and spines. Areoles are pubescent predominantly at the stem apex and arranged spirally. Lateral shoots develop under the epidermis and do not appear immediately; over time, the plants form densely compacted clusters.

Flower buds are initiated long before flowering, and already in autumn their bright beads are visible on the surface of the stems. Under good lighting, numerous small creamy-white funnel-shaped flowers open. The fruits are yellowish-green, spherical, 0.2-0.8 cm (0.08-0.31 in) across, with short pale bristles. The seeds are dust-like, light brown, forming without cross-pollination.

Miniature blossfeldia is a tiny cactus 3-5 cm (1.2-2.0 in) tall and about 6 cm (2.4 in) wide, forming clusters of small spherical stems without ribs and tubercles. An individual stem rarely exceeds 1-1.2 cm (0.4-0.5 in) across. The stems branch in the lower part, areoles look like microscopic white specks, and there are no spines at all.

The flowers are very small, creamy-white, funnel-shaped, opening at the stem apex. The fruits are small, spherical, with dust-like seeds inside.

Blossfeldia seeds are dust-like, light brown, among the smallest in the family Cactaceae. Soaking them is impossible and unnecessary, so the substrate itself is disinfected: before sowing, it is drenched with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and dried. To break seed dormancy, they are placed in a cold environment at a temperature of 5-8 °C (41-46 °F) for a week.

Sowing is carried out on the surface without burying, into cactus substrate diluted half-and-half with fine sand. The sowing is moistened from a spray bottle with a growth stimulant solution: SUPERthrive, HB-101, Aminozol, Epin, or Zircon, covered with plastic wrap or placed in a mini-greenhouse, and germinated in light, but not in direct sun.

The germination temperature is maintained in the range of 25-30 °C (77-86 °F): at temperatures below 27 °C (81 °F), the risk of developing rot - the most dangerous enemy of cactus seedlings - increases markedly. Crops require daily ventilation; both overwatering and drying out of the surface are unacceptable.

Under favorable conditions, the first sprouts appear after 1-2 weeks, main germination is usually completed within a month, while individual seeds can take longer. Blossfeldia seedlings are extremely small and grow very slowly, so pricking out is carried out no earlier than when they have noticeably strengthened, with minimal damage to the roots.

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In summer, blossfeldia needs a slightly shaded spot - in nature it grows in rock crevices protected from direct sun, and in open bright light it easily suffers sunburn.

In winter, the plant is kept almost dry at a temperature of 10-12 °C (50-54 °F).

Watering in summer is moderate or restricted, only after the substrate has completely dried out. An excess of moisture is more dangerous for this cactus than drought.

The substrate is composed of leaf mold (20%), turf soil (40%), and a mineral fraction (40%) - coarse sand, gravel grit, and brick grit, with an acidity around pH 5.8. Drainage is placed at the bottom of the pot.

Fertilizer is applied very moderately during the period of active growth, using strongly diluted cactus fertilizer. During the dormant period, fertilizers are not applied.