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Ariocarpus fissuratus cv. GODZILLA
This famous and
unmistakable Japanese cultivar has dark purple-green "leaves"
with a characteristic rough or wrinkled epidermis. Flowers are rich-pink to magenta and last for 3 to 4 days.
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Description: The "GODZILLA" has been probably developed by Japanese growers from Ariocarpus
fissuratus, and there are several slightly different types (the Thais
speaks of cloning) in circulation. The strongly structured surface and
the deep colour of the plants are typical, but greener or woollier
plants are in the variation range of this cultivar.
There are also some variegate and even crested forms of Godzillas.
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Photo of conspecific taxa,
varieties, forms and cultivars of plants
belonging to the Ariocarpus fissuratus/bravoanus
complex
(This
Taxon has lots of synonyms whit
several controversial varieties and subspecies):
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Family:
Cactaceae (Cactus
Family)
Scientific name:
Ariocarpus fissuratus (Engelm.) K. Schum.
CV. GODZILLA
Origin:
Japan (Nursery produced
cultivar)
Conservation status: Listed in
CITES appendix I.
Sought by collectors seedling can up to 50 years to reach full growth of
15cm in diameter. For this reason the plants are frequently grafted to
speed up the growth.
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Cultivation: It is not too difficult in a
greenhouse, although grows extremely slowly. The plants need
deep
pots to accommodate the
napiform unit formed by the
stem base and the
rootstock (or they will often simply crack your pots), , and a loose
mineral soil with a well-drained
substrate. They need a good amount of
light. Watering can be done weekly during
summertime, if the weather is sunny enough, with a little
fertilizer added. Kept this way, plants will show a
healthy, although slow
growth.
Propagation: By
seeds, remembering that
seedlings dislike strong
light and
dry conditions and need to be
repotted frequently. Eventually, as they become mature, they attain
a maximum size of 20 to 25 cm. But plants are often
grafted to accelerate growth as they would generally take at least a
decade to reach
maturity on their own, but the grafted plants are typical rather
tall growing, compared with plants on their own roots that are usually
more flat to the
ground. It starts blooming at the age of 8-12 years.
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