Ariocarpus KOTSCHOUBEYANUS 'SLADKOVSKYI'

Ariocarpus KOTSCHOUBEYANUS 'SLADKOVSKYI' - Kotschoubey's ariocarpus 'Sladkovskyi', Living rock cactus, Roseocactus.

Ariocarpus is a genus of distinctive and very original plants in the family Cactaceae, whose flattened-globose stems, covered with triangular spineless tubercles, resemble leafy rosettes. They develop stout turnip-like taproots. The diameter and height of the plants vary from 2-5 cm (0.8-2.0 in) to 25-30 cm (9.8-11.8 in).

All Ariocarpus species are included on protected lists, and some are very rare in nature. The plants inhabit rocky hillsides in the partial shade of shrubs and grasses at elevations of 200 to 2400 m (656-7874 ft) above sea level. Infrequent but usually torrential rains fall here from June to September; occasionally precipitation is possible in late autumn, while winter and early spring are dry. Abundant dew helps the cacti survive the arid period. Adult ariocarpus are the ornament of any collection, and moreover they develop quite well in culture - on sunny windowsills or in a greenhouse. However, these cacti grow very slowly, so to accelerate development they are most often grown grafted.

Kotschoubey's ariocarpus is a miniature species with a globose stem of green color. The stem has large, pointed, triangular tubercles. Along the middle of the tubercles are white or cream woolly grooves. The flowers are white or pink, large, funnel-shaped.

Usually, when sowing ariocarpus, no special tricks are required, although some experts recommend cold stratification for 2-3 weeks at a temperature of 5-6 °C (41-43 °F). During cold treatment, seed after-ripening occurs, as underdevelopment of embryo tissues is often observed in them.

The seeds are mixed with moist sand (3 parts sand to 1 part seeds) and the container is placed in the refrigerator without covering it with a lid. The substrate for seedlings, unlike that for adult plants, should be more nutritious and can consist of leaf soil and sand, or peat and sand (1:1). The top layer (about 0.5 cm (0.2 in) thick) is more expediently made of coarse sand, brick, or expanded clay grit. Substrate sterilization is a mandatory condition before sowing. Seed containers are soaked with water, and the seeds are lightly pressed into the substrate without covering them on top. The flat container with sowings is covered with glass or film and kept in a semi-shaded place at a temperature of 20-25 °C (68-77 °F). It is good if the temperature drops to 18-20 °C (64-68 °F) at night. The first sprouts of ariocarpus appear after a week, and mass germination is observed over the next 10 days, although individual seeds can germinate over the course of a year.

Young seedlings develop relatively quickly and after 3-4 months already form 2-3 tubercles each. In these first months of seedling life, their development must be watched very closely to prevent rot or mold. If this nevertheless happens, seed containers should be opened urgently and the substrate completely dried out before the next watering, or the seedlings pricked out into new soil. If the sprouts develop without problems, it is recommended to keep them hermetically sealed from one to one and a half years, as young ariocarpus respond very favorably to being kept in a stuffy humid environment at room temperature and diffused sunlight.

After 12 or 18 months of maintenance in a closed container, ariocarpus seedlings should be gradually accustomed to dry air. The seedlings are pricked out into a loose, permeable substrate consisting, for example, of leaf soil, turf soil, and sand with the addition of fine gravel or expanded clay (1:1:1:2), pH around 6. Usually ariocarpus are undemanding in care; in summer they are watered on par with other cacti, in winter they are kept dry at a temperature of 6-10 °C (43-50 °F). Depending on the species, ariocarpus flower from late summer to late autumn, and the fruits ripen in early spring of the following year. Fruits are smooth, fleshy berries of rounded or elongated shape, 0.5-2 cm (0.2-0.8 in) long. They are white, greenish, or reddish, juicy at first, wrinkling and breaking apart upon ripening, scattering seeds in the apical wool.

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Ariocarpus is an unpretentious plant whose care will not cause problems even for beginner growers. This cactus needs bright diffused lighting. At the same time, the day length should be at least 12 hours a day. The growing temperature in summer does not play a big role. In winter, it should be reduced to 12-15 °C (54-59 °F), but not lower than 8 °C (46 °F), as the plant dies at that temperature. Watering is almost not needed. It is carried out only when the soil in the pot dries out completely. During the dormancy period, watering is not carried out at all. Settled room-temperature water is used. Watering is done directly onto the soil so that water does not fall on the shoot. Spraying is also contraindicated, as it can cause rot.

For planting, sandy soils with virtually no humus are chosen; sometimes coarse river sand is simply used. To protect against rot, charcoal and fine pebbles or crushed brick are mixed into the substrate. Planting in a clay pot is desirable, as fewer problems with humidity arise that way. The top of the soil should also be covered with small pebbles. Fertilizers are applied a couple of times a year during active growth. It is best to use a mineral fertilizer for cacti and succulents. If space in the pot becomes limited, repotting is carried out. But this must be approached very carefully, as ariocarpus has a delicate root system. Before repotting, the soil is dried out, and the procedure itself is carried out together with the root ball.