Plant care – Ball Cactus / Parodia magnifica

Features:

• Ball cacti are generally small and globose to cylindroid in shape.
• Many species are deeply ribbed and usually bear clusters of spines surrounded by white or yellow glochids (hairlike spines).
• The flowers are typically yellow to red and borne along the crown. Some species have small flowers of only about 1 cm (0.5 inch) in diameter, while others grow up to about 6 cm (2.4 inches).
• Plants can be singular or may produce offsets at the base.
• The ball cactus doesn’t like direct sunlight.
• It requires more water than many other cacti variety.

Planting:

Ball Cactus comes from the tropical parts of South America. Some of the countries it dominantly originates from are Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Uruguay, Colombia, and Bolivia. This easy-to-grow succulent belongs to the Parodia genus.

Ball Cactus is one of four cactus types available, the other three being Pipe Cactus, Pear Cactus, and Ridgeball. The ball-shaped cactus is referred to as globular cactus. Ball Cactus is a type of foliage that defines a family of plants. Its seeds can be identified by their distinctive appearance. There are four tiers of seeds, each of which can grow to have different flowers. As a Tier 1 family, Ball Cactus plants are quite easy to grow. They will flourish with basic soil and water, requiring only minimal care. 

As a ball-shaped cactus, this houseplant forms a stunning pattern of clustered spines soon as it hits its growth stages. The spines of this drought-tolerant houseplant also come in shades of yellow, gold, and blue-green that deeply on the varying growing conditions.

Maintenance:

Light: Essentially they can take direct sunlight in the softer hours of the mornings and afternoons but should be kept in partial shade throughout the hottest hours of the day. While your Ball Cactus prefers lots of bright light, protecting it from getting scorched would have a profound effect on the foliage quality each and every season. A south-facing window is the most ideal spot, especially during spring and summer. When it’s winter, you won’t need to move the medium indoors since this succulent can survive through the colder months fairly well. During winter, try to keep your Ball Cactus under room temperatures of between 5 and 15˚C.

Water: Ball cacti are drought tolerant but they do like water during their growing season. Provide regular water during the spring and summer months. In the winter, the cactus will go dormant and need very little water. Let the soil almost dry between waterings, but do not let it completely dry out. Make sure there are several holes in the bottom of the pot to aid in drainage.

Soil: The ball cactus prefers a mix of well-aerated, dry soil. Adding coarse sand, perlite, or pumice to the mixture to help aerate the soil. Overall, the soil’s pH level isn’t important to the ball cactus. However, it thrives best in a slightly acidic mixture with a pH between 6.1 and 6.5. Add some bits of sandy soil since it has coarse particles that leave enough gaps and enhance the water absorption capacity. Regular potting soil amended with perlite, pumice, or sand can also allow your Ball Cactus to develop into a physically fit and cheerful plant.

Pruning: Grooming is necessary when the flowers begin to wilt due to harsh surrounding conditions. Pluck off the dead flowers. Use a soft piece of cloth to dust it off, mostly when the temperatures are high at least once a week. Dark spots mean early signs of rotting. Cut off the affected areas but if the damage is extreme, remove the plant.

Propagation: 

• Use the offsets which fall from the mother plant and form clusters around the base of the mother plant, for propagation.
• Carefully remove an offset and allow the cut section to dry on a paper towel for a few days. A callous will form over the cut surface.
• Once the callous has formed, place the new plant in a pot with a cactus or succulent soil mixture and keep it in a warm place until new roots emerge.
• After mulching the soil, keep it fairly moist to make your newly propagated plant develop a rigid rooting system. Being a low-maintenance plant, the Ball Cactus can also grow indoors under suitable temperature, and humidity levels.

Benefits:

Cleanses the indoor air: 

The cacti help in better breathing by purifying the surrounding air. It absorbs carbon dioxide and convert it into breathable oxygen. Besides, cacti also clean the toxins from the indoor air, hence helping in upgrading the indoor air quality.

Health benefits:

The cactus is touted to reduce stress as it minimizes the level of carbon oxide that is the topmost reason for restlessness and anxiety. Also, keeping it around induces calming vibes, making it a great addition to offices and homes. Moreover, the presence of cactus and other plants renders a psychological impact on the patients, helping them in early recovery.

Noise reduction: 

Background noises are the culprit of productivity and concentration. Keeping a cactus plant around can reduce the ambient noise of the surrounding by up to 3-5 decibels.

Adaptive plant: 

The ball cacti can dwell at any place because of its resilient, hardy, and low maintenance nature. Its shallow root system makes it a perfect specimen to thrive in multiple ways for visual interest.

Humidity:

Keeping ball cactus indoors will relieve you from dry skin and itching problems because it has a tendency of contributing extra humidity to the indoor air.

Care of Plants: 

• Place the plant at any bright spot like the south or east-facing window. 
• Water it sporadically, only when the topsoil looks dry. The plant is drought-tolerant, but not overwatering. 
• Use only potting soil specifically designed for cactus and succulents. You can also make it by mixing 3 parts of regular potting, 2 parts of coarse sand, and 1 part of perlite or pumice.
• Feed ball cactus regularly during spring and summer, using a fertilizer for cactus and succulents. Withhold fertilizer during fall and winter.