Grow Great Astrophytum

Growing succulents in your garden can be a very enjoyable hobby. Most of them can be grown in containers, which makes them versatile and adaptable. Their unique shapes and textures will add a wonderful variety to your collection. The cacti that are known as astrophytum are no exception. Here are some tips to help you grow these lovely plants in your home garden.

Astrophytum is pronounced as-tro-FIE-tum. It is in the family Cactaceae and the group Echinocactus. This plant is a native of Mexico.

All of the plants in this group are cylindrical and are green in color. They are globular in shape and will have 4 to 10 ribs on each plant. The different species will vary in height from 6 inches to 3 feet. Only two species have spines. These are A. ornatum and A. capricorne. There are several of the species that grow small tufts of hair over the entire surface of the plant.

Each astrophytum produces a yellowish flower. They will grow from 1 to 4 inches across. The flowers will appear on top of the poant and will be either funnelform or wheel-shaped.

The astrophytum can be propagated using seeds. Using seeds to start your own astrophytum is much easier that trying to successfully grow a specimen found in the wild.

There are several species of astrophytum that are recommended. These are the easiest to grow and the most readily available. You should be able to find them at any nursery. Although, you might try searching for seeds online.

A. asterias is also known as the sea-urchin cactus. It is dome-shaped and has 8 ribs that are deeply grooved. This type of astrophytum is has no spines growing on it.

Another species that is recommended is A. capricorne "Aureum". It has very sharp yellow spines. This cactus can grow up to 10 inches in height.

The species A. myriostigma, or bishop's cap is another that is recommended. This type has white, starlike scales over most of it's body. The body of the plant is grayish in color. Most of these have 5 ribs but no spines.

A. myriostigma 'Nudum' is dark green and has a ribbed body. The difference between it and the other myriostigma is that it has none of the white scales. It is also a dark green color.

A. ornatum, or star cactus, is also a species to be recommended. It has a cylindrical shape that can grow up to 14 inches. The plant has yellow spines. These will become brown as the plant ages.

Growing succulents will bring a unique quality to your collection. There are so many different shapes and colors to choose from. They also come in many sizes, so there is surely a few that will fit in your chosen spot. Hopefully, these tips will help you grow great astrophytum in your home.