Care of the cactus Parodia leninghausii or Yellow Tower cactus |
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The genus Parodia, family Cactaceae, comprises 50 species of cactus native to South America. Some species are: Parodia leninghausii, Parodia haselbergii, Parodia magnifica, Parodia concinna, Parodia werneri, Parodia nivosa, Parodia mammulosa, Parodia ottonis, Parodia penicillata. Common names: Yellow Tower cactus, Golden Ball, Lemon Ball. Scientific synonyms: Echinocactus leninghausii, Pilocereus leninghausii, Malacocarpus leninghausii, Notocactus leninghausii. This species is native to Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. They are cylindrical cacti (globular when young) that have 30-35 ribs and reach 1 meter (3.28 feet) in height. They are green in color and covered with fine yellow spines that appear on the white areolas. The flowers are deep yellow; they can bloom in various seasons of the year. They produce globose fruits. They are used in pots and planters and in rockery that is not too sunny. Parodia leninghausii prefers a semi-shade exposure avoiding direct sun in the central hours of the day. They do not resist temperatures below 7 ºC (44.6 ºF). The soil can be a mixture, in equal parts, of peat moss, coarse siliceous sand, and leaf mulch. The transplant is done in spring. In summer they need more water than other cacti, but it's better to wait for the substrate to dry. In winter do not water because they come to rest. They do not need fertilizers or pruning. If the summer is very hot they can be attacked by aphids and mealybugs. Overwatering can rot the plant. They are propagated by separating suckers placed to root in summer in semi-shade or by seeds sown in spring. |
Images of the cactus Parodia leninghausii or Yellow Tower cactus |
 Parodia leninghausii  Parodia leninghausii  Parodia leninghausii |