Acanthocalycium spiniflorum – Cactus Plants

Acanthocalycium spiniflorum is one of the most popular cacti, slowly branching through basal shoots. It can become an upright cactus with stems up to 15 cm (6 inches) tall and up to 10 cm in diameter. The spines are arranged neatly in rows down the stem. The showy flowers range from white to pinkish-lilac and are a bell to funnel-shaped erect, up to 5 cm long and up to 4 cm in diameter.

Scientific classification:

Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Trichocereeae
Genus: Acanthocalycium
Species: A. spiniflorum

Scientific Name: Acanthocalycium spiniflorum
Synonyms: Echinocactus spiniflorus (basionym), Acanthocalycium violaceum, Echinopsis spiniflora, Echinopsis violacea, Lobivia spiniflora.
Common Names: Barbed Wire Cactus, Sword Pear, Triangle Cactus, Dildo Cactus, Night-Blooming Cereus.

How to grow and maintain Acanthocalycium spiniflorum:

Light:
It grows well in full sun or filtered shade locations. Plants that do not get enough sunlight will grow more slowly and fail to thrive.

Soil:
It prefers any rich, well-drained soil such us clay, pumice, lava grit, and only a little peat or leaf-mold. Or use a cactus soil mix is ideal.

Temperature:
It prefers average temperatures between 50 degrees Fahrenheit – 75 degrees Fahrenheit / 10 degrees Celsius – 24 degrees Celsius are ideal but not below 40 degrees Fahrenheit / 5 degrees Celsius and avoid frost.

Water:
Water moderately, during the growing season. Allow the top 1 inch of soil to dry out before watering again. During the winter season,
do not water the plants but just keep them moist otherwise they will rot.

Fertilizer:
Fertilize your Barbed Wire Cactus once a month, during the growing season, with a weak liquid cactus fertilizer.

Propagation:
It can be propagated by seed. To seed a cactus, plant the seeds shallowly in a cactus mix and keep them warm and very slightly moist.

Repotting:
It is best to re-pot at the start of the developing season, or summer. To re-pot cacti, ensure the soil is dry before repotting, then gently expel the pot. Knock away the old soil from the roots, making sure to remove any rotted or dead roots in the process. Treat any cuts with a fungicide. Place the plant in its new pot and backfill with potting soil, spreading the roots out as you re-pot. Leave the plant dry for a week or so, then begin to water lightly to reduce the risk of root rot.

Pests and Diseases:
It has no serious pest and diseases problems. Watch for infestations of mealybug, scale insects, and spider mite. Expel mealybugs by dipping cotton swabs in rubbing alcohol and dabbing them or spray the plant thoroughly with insecticidal soap once a week until they’re gone.