This is one of the most interesting Turbinicarpus, with very large flowers.
Origin and Habitat: Mexico
Description: Turbinicarpus lophophoroides is a dwarfed usually solitary, flattened globose cactus (but sometimes clusters with age). This Turbinicarpus, one of the first discovered, almost a century ago, has remained little known for a long time, due to the difficulty, for a long period, to find it in the wild. It specific name remember us that it resembles the genus Lophophora.
Stem: Greyish-green or bluish-green stem that doesn’t exceed the diameter of (3) 4.5-5 (10 cm) by 4.5 high.
Cultivation and Propagation: It’s a plant adapted to a specific type of soil and quite prone to rot especially after the first flowering. A 10 -30% of natural gypsum could be added to a very well drained soil. Watering should be rather infrequent, but abundant, so that the soil becomes completely soaked. Careful watering away from the body of the plant will allow the areoles to keep their wool. The fact that the plant retracts into the soil and assume a grey-green colouring between watering, is perfectly natural and doesn’t cause any damage. Keep dry in winter or when night temperatures remain below 10° C, it is hardy to -4°C for a short period. Assure a good ventilation. Exposures: Full sun where it obtains a natural-looking flat, or part sun.
Propagation: Seeds, which has good powers of germination, or from shoots which are grafted.
Some of the information in this description has been found at desert-tropicals.com, llifle.com and cactus-art.biz
Blooming Season | Late spring-early fall |
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Common Name | Toumeya lophophoroides |
Dormancy | Winter |
Family | Cactaceae |
Flower | Pale pink |
Frost Tolerance | -4°c For a short period |
Growth Rate | Slow growth |
Hardiness Zone | 9b-11 |
Height | Under 6 in. (15 Cm) |
Origin | Mexico |
Scientific Name | Turbinicarpus lophophoroides |
Shape | Globose |
Sun Exposure | Full sun to light shade |