Genus-by-genus cultivation guides
Aztekium care needs bright shade, a sharply drained alkaline mineral mix, and a bone-dry winter. These Nuevo Leon cliff cacti are the slowest in cultivation. Watering calendar, substrate recipe, CITES sourcing, and how care differs across all three species.
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.
Lithops care flips cactus rules: these living stones grow in autumn and winter, not summer. The complete guide to the inverted watering calendar, 95/5 mineral substrate, annual leaf-pair cycle, and the five mistakes that kill more Lithops than anything else.
