Epithelantha MICROMERIS

Epithelantha MICROMERIS - Button cactus, Ping-pong ball cactus, Chilitos, Epithelantha micromeris.

Epithelantha is a genus of succulent plants in the family Cactaceae, distributed in northeastern Mexico and the southwestern United States.

Members of the genus are miniature, unbranched, erect cacti. The stems are spherical, often with a flattened apex. The surface is entirely covered with spines. The tubercles are small and numerous, with areoles at their ends. The color of the spines ranges from white to ash-gray.

The flowers are small, diurnal, with inner perianth segments varying from pink to white. The roots are spreading, and in some species tuberous. The seeds are small and dark in color.

Button cactus is a spherical, small cactus. It grows up to 6 cm (2.4 in) in diameter. Its ribs form beautiful spirals covered with downy spines. In the center, within a tuft of spines, flowers appear in various shades from white to pink. The fruits of this cactus are edible. In nature, the succulent grows on calcareous or volcanic soil.

Seeds are sown on the surface in a mixture of sand and sod soil in equal proportions, moistened with a spray bottle, placed in a mini-greenhouse or covered with film, and germinated in light, but not in direct sun at a temperature of 22-25 °C (72-77 °F). Seedlings need ventilation. It is necessary to avoid waterlogging and drying out of the sowings.

Seedlings appear in about 10-15 days. Seedlings should be pricked out into individual pots as soon as the first small spines form on them.

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The cactus should grow on a sunny windowsill (best of all on a southern one). With a lack of sunlight, it will stretch out and fail to produce flowers. Wintering should be cold and dry at a temperature of 5-10 °C (41-50 °F). If the soil is completely dry, the plant will endure light frosts without damage.

Epithelantha requires careful and infrequent watering, which is carried out only after the substrate has completely dried out throughout the entire pot. Watering should be moderate. Before wintering, it is recommended to provide a single generous watering so the cactus can gain strength. Water should not get on the plant itself and must be at room temperature (not cold) to avoid root rot.

The plant should be planted in small pots with a properly selected soil mix. The soil should contain brick chips and gravel (up to 60%), leaf mold and sod soil, and crushed charcoal. It is advisable to add a little crushed eggshell to the mixture.

The cactus may be affected by mealybugs. To combat the pest, the plant should be sprayed with a soapy solution.