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Parodia schwebsiana

ball cactus

P. schwebsiana has a solitary globose to shortly cylindrical stem to 12cm in height, 8cm diameter, with hooked reddish central spines and shorter radials; flowers to 3cm across, funnel-shaped, deep red

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Ultimate height

Up to 10cm

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

0–0.1 metre

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Drought resistance

Yes

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Cactaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Parodia are cacti with either solitary or clustered, many-ribbed, globose, spiny stems, with funnel-shaped flowers near the apex
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Bolivia

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in a loam-based potting compost with added extra grit. Water moderately when in growth sparingly when dormant. Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser 2 or 3 times in the growing season

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in spring or summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Aphids and mealybugs may cause problems

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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