How to Grow Great Acanthocalycium

Succulent and cactus plants are a lovely, unique addition to any garden. In some places they can be grown in the ground. But, in many places they need to be in containers that can be brought in during the colder months. One type of cactus is called acanthocalycium. Here are some tips to help you grow this cactus in your home garden.

Acanthocalycium is pronounced ah-KAN-tho-kah-LEE-see-um. It is a member of the Cactaceae family and the Echinopsis group. This group of cacti are natives of Argentina.

When it is mature, the acanthocalycium will measure only about 4 to 5 inches in diameter and 8 inches in height. The plant is globular in shape and the color is green to blue. It has 10 to 15 vertical ribs. These ribs are covered with spines that are about 1 and ½ inches long. The spines are horn colored.

The acanthocalycium will have a funnel like flower. They are mostly white or pink, but occasionally there will be a yellow flower that will show up. The flowers are about two inches, or more, across. They will appear on the cactus during the summer months on the top of the plant.

You will need to keep your plant pretty dry during the winter months. However, during the hot summer months, it can stand over-watering. All cacti need soil that is well-drained and has lots of humus.Acanthocalycium prefers soil that is gritty and rich. It should be planted in direct sunlight and kept moist during the summer months. Be sure to let the soil almost dry out before watering. Any plant in this family does very well in a container and is quite easy to grow.

There are two species of acanthocalycium that are recommended. The A. glaucum is a blue that is attractive even when the plant is not in bloom. The flowers are the rare yellow and the spines are black instead of the normal horn color of most of the cacti in this family. It does, however, have the same columnar growth.

Another recommended species of acanthocalycium is A. violaceum. The nickname for this species is violet sea-urch. This is because the flowers are lilac colored. The plant will, also, have columnar growth and will reach 8 inches in height. The spines of the A. violaceum are brown. This is the most satisfying type of this family to grow, because of the appearance and ease of keeping it healthy.

There is a fine art to successfully growing cacti and succulents. For some, it is difficult, if not impossible. But, for others, it is a wonderful, satisfying hobby. Hopefully, these tips will help you grow a lovely specimen of acanthocalycium. Or maybe more than one.