Genus-by-genus cultivation guides
Pseudolithos care turns on one rule: water only when warm. These stone-mimic stapeliads from the Horn of Africa rot within hours if watered cold. Mineral substrate, bright warmth, a dry winter, sourcing, and the differences between the cube, viper-head, and branching species.
Astrophytum care means a mineral, calcium-rich substrate, strong light, and a completely dry winter rest. The genus holds six star-ribbed species, from the flat star cactus to the bishop’s cap. Substrate, rot prevention, trichomes, and species differences covered.
Mammillaria care is the most beginner-friendly in the cactus world: a gritty mineral mix, full sun, and a cool dry winter that brings the genus its signature ring of flowers. Watering, light, propagation, and the rarer geophyte species covered across roughly 150 species.
Gymnocalycium is the most shade-tolerant cactus genus, but it is shallow-rooted and rot-prone, not bulletproof. A care guide to the chin cactus and the grafted moon cactus: watering, bright-shade light, mineral substrate, and the species the site grows.
Ariocarpus care demands a calcium-rich mineral substrate, a hard winter drought, and patience: most seed grown plants take a decade to flower. Watering calendar, substrate recipe, CITES sourcing, and species-by-species differences across all seven species.
