Notocactus magnificus - Balloon Cactus

Notocactus magnificus

Family

Cactaceae

Native

Brazil

Description

Balloon Cactus is a bluish-green geometric globular cactus with wool that grows in clusters and produce absolutely brilliant yellow flowers. These cacti develop a slight depression on the crown, which may become distorted with age, becoming short cylindrical with age, blue- green, glaucous, oblique apically. It grows 30 (or more) cm high and 7-15 cm in diameter.
White at first, later yellowish close together or almost contiguous.
Flowering occurs in summer through early fall and will bloom several times during warm weather.

Environment

This species grows in hilly grassland and on walls between cracks in the rocks or in the shade of larger growing Cactus in deciduous forest. It grows in one of the most temperate region of the countries with warm and cool seasons and weather can become very cold during the winter nights. It likes deep pot with generous drain holes, needs a very airy potting medium very permeable to water which mainly consists of non organic material, slightly acid, pH-value between 4-6. Re-pot every two years.

Landscape Uses

Makes an attractive landscape plant and grasslands or pampas, on plains and walls It is an excellent plant for container growing. It always looks good and stays small.