Ariocarpus AGAVOIDES

Ariocarpus AGAVOIDES - Agave-like living rock cactus, Ariocarpus agavoides.

Ariocarpus is a genus of distinctive and very original plants in the cactus family (Cactaceae), whose flattened-globular stems, covered with spineless triangular 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 species of Ariocarpus are included in lists of protected plants, and some are very rare in nature. The plants inhabit rocky hillsides in the partial shade of shrubs and grasses, at an altitude of 200 to 2,400 m (656 to 7,874 ft) above sea level. Infrequent but typically torrential rains occur here from June to September, with precipitation occasionally possible in late autumn, while winter and early spring remain dry. Heavy dew helps the cacti survive the arid period. Mature ariocarpus plants 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 speed up development they are most often grown grafted.

Agave-like living rock cactus has a rounded, spherical stem covered with unribbed smooth skin. The tubercles are flattened and thick. From above, the shape of the cactus is more star-like. Large flowers are colored dark pink.

Usually when sowing ariocarpus, no tricks are required, although some specialists recommend cold stratification for 2-3 weeks at a temperature of 5-6 °C (41-43 °F). During cold treatment, after-ripening of the seeds occurs, as they often exhibit underdeveloped embryo tissues.

The seeds are mixed with moist sand (3 parts sand to 1 part seeds) and the container is placed in a 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 mold and sand, or peat and sand (1:1). The upper layer (approximately 0.5 cm (0.2 in) thick) is more expediently made of coarse sand, crushed brick, or expanded clay grit. Substrate sterilization is a mandatory condition before sowing. Sowing dishes are soaked with water, and the seeds are lightly pressed into the substrate without covering them with anything from above. The flat with sowings is covered with glass or film and kept in a semi-shaded spot at a temperature of 20-25 °C (68-77 °F). It is good if the temperature drops at night to 18-20 °C (64-68 °F). The first ariocarpus seedlings appear after a week, and mass germination is observed over the subsequent 10 days, although solitary seeds can germinate for up to a year.