The Stenocactus Multicostatus variegata is native to Mexico and belongs to the Cactaceae family. The entire plant is covered with wavy ridges, giving it a highly stylized appearance. In summer, it produces pink flowers with stripes. It is an easy-to-grow variety that requires well-draining soil. Watering should be done after the soil has dried completely. During summer, avoid direct sunlight in the afternoon, while in winter, ensure good ventilation and reduce watering to keep the soil slightly dry to prevent frost damage.
The plant is solitary, flattened to spherical, with a diameter of 6-10 centimeters, and is bright green. It has 80-100 thin ridges with strongly undulating edges, and the areoles are sparsely arranged. It has 6-8 white short central spines; there is one upward long central spine, which is flat and ringed, either purple-brown or yellow-brown. In summer, it produces pink flowers with stripes, bell-shaped, and the fruit has papery scales, longitudinal fissures, and black seeds.
Stenocactus Multicostatus variegata is a low-maintenance cactus species that essentially requires no care. It prefers well-draining soil and does not require frequent watering. It can be grown outdoors or in the wild but requires high light exposure; even 5 hours of direct sunlight can cause it to reorient itself. It grows relatively slowly (due to its small size when mature). It can withstand temperatures as low as -5 degrees Celsius in dry winters but requires shade in extremely hot summers.
It is essential to use well-draining soil for planting. Watering should be done after the soil has dried completely. During summer, avoid direct sunlight in the afternoon, while in winter, ensure good ventilation and reduce watering to keep the soil slightly dry to prevent frost damage.
Light: Most cactus plants prefer environments with abundant sunlight, and some varieties can even tolerate intense sunlight, such as those in the Stenocactus Multicostatus variegata, Echinocactus, and Stenocactus Multicostatus variegata genera. However, some delicate varieties need protection from intense sunlight in hot summers, such as those in the Mammillaria and Stenocactus Multicostatus variegata genera. Regardless of the variety, during the intense afternoon sunlight of summer days, they should be placed in semi-shaded areas to prevent sunburn. In cold winter days, the plants should be exposed to as much sunlight as possible.
Temperature: Cacti prefer warm environments, so they should be planted indoors in cold winters, with temperatures maintained above 10 degrees Celsius, and above 5 degrees Celsius at night to prevent root rot.
Water: "Dry before watering, and water thoroughly when watering" is the golden rule for watering succulent plants, including cacti. However, during summer, when cacti are still in the growing season and require a certain amount of water in high-temperature environments, watering should be sufficient. Morning and evening are the best times for watering, and care should be taken to avoid splashing water on the plant body to prevent spotting.
Stenocactus Multicostatus variegata begins to show signs of growth in spring, and buds appear shortly after watering. When flowering, it requires cross-pollination for fruiting (the fact that the pistil is slightly higher than the stamen indicates its noble and aloof attitude).
The spines are very hard and bent, so handling should be done with care, and the plant should be placed out of reach of children and warm-blooded pets (preferably on the outside of the balcony!). The pot should not be moved unnecessarily.
Varieties with different changes in areoles are considered rare.
Propagation and cultivation:
Stenocactus Multicostatus variegata can be propagated by seeds or cuttings. After flowering in spring, collect the full black fruit, and sow them when the temperature reaches 20-25 degrees Celsius. Alternatively, propagation by cuttings can be done at the same temperature as sowing. Select a well-grown part from the top of the sphere for cutting. When the cut part grows into a small ball with a diameter of about 1 centimeter, it can be transplanted into a new pot.