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A. asterias cv. line
areole
This is not a true variety, but
is a nice
selection with densely packaged areoles (usually orangish) on the rib
edges. The areoles tend to merge, forming an almost continuous line.
Cultivation is not too difficult in a
greenhouse, although plants grow quite slowly. The plants need a
loose well-drained
mineral soil., and a good amount of
light. Watering can be done weekly during
the
summertime, if the weather is sunny enough, with a little
fertilizer added. Kept this way, plants will show a
healthy, though slow
growth. They are
frost hardy to -4° (-10°) C
Propagation:
By
seeds, remembering that
seedlings dislike strong
light and
dry conditions, and need to be
repotted frequently. Eventually, as they become mature, they
reach a maximum diameter of 8-10 cm (20) cm.
However, old plants become
senile and have a tendency to succumb to
disease, with a weak
root system. At this
stage, as is well known, they
die suddenly. So, after they reach 10 cm in diameter grow them
slowly, and repot them less frequently, using intervals of 2 - 3
years. Furthermore grow them under drier conditions or with stronger
sunlight. Plants are often
grafted to accelerate growth, as they would generally
require at least
five years to reach
maturity on their own, but the grafted plants are typically rather
tall growing, compared with plants on their own roots (that usually
lie flatter to the
ground).
Photo of conspecific
taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of Astrophytum asterias:
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