Deriving from the South American countries of Argentina and parts of Bolivia according to the Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society, Tephrocactus geometricus hails from the cacti family in which it is native to extreme heat and parched conditions.
Appearance-wise, they are quite eye-catching cacti because they look like bulbous balls stacked on top of each other as they are grown in clusters.
Think of how you would buy large green grapes at a market, but thick, fuzzy, and with a few thin spines.
For any cacti enthusiast, Tephrocactus geometricus is perhaps “the” plant to have at home.
It adds a spark of unusualness, especially as some bloom with white or light pink flowers on their heads. These flowers appear in the summer and last for only one day.
For an avid plant owner looking to build on their garden collection, do consider this extraordinary cactus species.
They are interesting to the eye, but also modest to care for.
Throughout its lifetime, you will witness its beautiful growth via its colorful hues – they start off as a blueish-green and mature into a purply shade that goes dark mid-strip.
It is surely a journey to ride along if you want to see this cactus sprout from a baby to adult!
Table of Contents
Tephrocactus Geometricus Care Guide
SOIL
Tephrocactus geometricus requires soil that is very well-drained as it is a desert plant that can thrive in extreme heat. To grasp a better understanding of what type of soil you should get, make sure it is clay-like and sandy.
Most potting soils in the market cater to non-desert plants, as in, not too appropriate for cacti. The soil retain moisture and nutrients that may not be for a cactus plant. Hence, to guarantee the livelihood of plants such as Tephrocactus geometricus make sure to use specific cacti soil.
LIGHT
Plenty of direct sunlight is needed for the prosperity and health of Tephrocactus geometricus. If you live in dry areas with lots of sunlight, leaving the plant outside on its own will do just fine – easy.
Though, one tricky part is despite this cacti species loving sunlight, it might not do so well in the full-blown peak hours of the day when the sun is blazing at its strongest. Position carefully.
If you plan to keep this cactus indoors, place them in a spot that gets the most sunlight at home. It is said that a south facing window is ideal, however, it is ultimately up to your discretion as all homes are built differently!
Just be cognizant of the origins of this plant species and try to mirror similar conditions as best you can at home.
WATERING
For a cactus species, like most plants of this kind, Tephrocactus geometricus needs very little watering. In the summer months, water this plant only when the soil has been completely dried out.
The effects of under-watering is always better than the detrimental effect of over-watering.
In the winter months, you would want to water less – perhaps once every few weeks. Even if the soil has completely dried out, this plant tends to need less care as it somewhat goes into a dormant mode.
Unless there is still plenty of sunshine where you are, then you can water accordingly.
TEMPERATURE
Tephrocactus geometricus can tolerate light frost with temperatures going as low as 23 degrees Fahrenheit (-5 degrees Celsius) just as long as you keep the soil dry.
Ideally-speaking though, it is better to not let temperatures drop below 43 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius).
On the contrary, these desert plants can withstand scorching heat. As a caregiver to them, just don’t go overboard.
While home, keep temperatures consistent, ranging from a low of 23 degrees Fahrenheit as just mentioned to 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius).
HUMIDITY
Humidity levels should be kept at an all-time low for Tephrocactus geometricus. Homes are relatively on the lower humidity side ranging from 20% to 60% thus, it should not be a problem for these cacti species.
Obviously, only adjust humidity levels that cater to both you and the plant. It is better not to risk your own health concerns.
Because Tephrocactus geometricus are just like most cacti with thick skin, being able to retain water levels within, too much humidity can rot their roots and stems.
Therefore, try to stick to moisture levels of about 30%. This would be the safest choice.
FERTILIZER
Interestingly enough, Tephrocactus geometricus doesn’t require fertilizer, that is when they are in nature back in their hometown of Argentina or Bolivia. In your home though, they will need some nutrients to kick start their growth as pot plants.
The best fertilizer for this cacti species would be one that is water-soluble, balanced nutritiously and diluted in half to be applied once a month during its growing season in the warm months.
It would be an equal balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, but slightly adjust so that potassium levels are just a bit higher than the other two nutrients.
In the winter, you can just leave the plant alone as you would with watering. The cactus goes into hibernation mode during the cold, off season.
For your general knowledge, fertilizers contain nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
When purchasing fertilizers, you may notice a three digit number ‘#-#-#.’ This shows how many pounds of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium there are in the mix, respectively.
PROPAGATION
To propagate Tephrocactus geometricus, you can do so in two ways. The more common way is to use the method of root cuttings from the mature part of the plant whereby a callous is created and can be placed in new soil. The roots are easily produced from the areoles.
Another way to propagate this cactus is to use seeds. However, using seeds is a much more time consuming method because it can take up to four years for the seeds to germinate.
Both methods will be discussed further in detail in the propagation section below.
GROWTH
Word of warning, Tephrocactus geometricus are slow growers. Though this depends on how they propagate, which you will soon find out.
In terms of size, they can grow up to six inches tall, which is about 15 centimeters. In diameter, they are about two inches which translates to five centimeters.
Their growing season is in the warmer months of spring and summer.
POTTING
Because Tephrocactus geometricus lives better with well-drained soil, going for pots with holes at the bottom would be best.
Having holes at the bottom of the pot will also ensure sufficient aeration is provided. Water should be able to easily dissipate after each watering using pots made up of porous materials.
In terms of size, it may look more aesthetically appealing to use round pots.
Because they grow in clumps and clusters, choose a pot that is spacious enough in case your cactus unexpectedly grows big! Though as they say, the bigger, the better.
Tephrocactus Geometricus Care
PROPAGATING TEPHROCACTUS GEOMETRICUS STEP-BY-STEP
To go into further detail as to how to propagate Tephrocactus geometricus, there are two ways as aforementioned above:
The first way to propagate Tephrocactus geometricus is by using cuttings. Cut off a piece of the plant at a segment, lower part of the bulbous figure would work nicely, and let the cut end dry completely.
This may take a few days. Once dried, place the cut up part in some fresh, dry soil, but avoid watering them until you seem some growth start to take place. If watered too soon, it may cause the roots to rot.
The second way to propagate Tephrocactus geometricus is by using the seed method, then you must be an absolutely patient person.
It is said that the seeds can take up to four years to germinate, reason being that the seeds have an inhibitor that covers them ( an inhibitor is a substance, or characteristic, of the seed that slows down the growth process).
Using seeds, first fill a clean pot with the soil, add some fertilizer and moisten it up before spreading the seeds. Be cautious not to bury the seeds.
Mist the seeds with water and use a glass cover, or something similar, to cover the pot and place the pot where it gets a healthy dose of sunlight. For the seeds to grow, the environment needs to be warm.
There have been attempts when plant owners of this species try to get rid of the inhibitor that causes slow growth by microwaving the seeds or soaking them in a pot of water.
You can try, but don’t be too disappointed if it doesn’t work. As the saying goes, good things take time – quite true in this case!
COMMON PROBLEMS WITH TEPHROCACTUS GEOMETRICUS
A common problem with Tephrocactus geometricus is not getting enough direct sunlight. This plant species requires from five to eight hours of sunlight daily.
Obviously, depending on what region you live in, it might be hard to provide a sufficient dose of vitamin D to these gems.
If you live in a region that has all four seasons, remember to place them in a spot that receives the most natural lighting.
If you live in a hot climate, ensure that you don’t overdose on the sunshine, especially during peak sun hours. Ultimately, finding balance is key.
Another common problem for Tephrocactus geometricus is the amount of watering given to them. Always check that before each watering, the soil is completely dried. If the soil continuously stays moist for a while, it will lead to root and stem damage.
In this case, consider repotting the plant, which follow the same instructions as potting a new plant.
TIPS TO KEEP WITH TEPHROCACTUS GEOMETRICUS PROBLEM-FREE
To keep Tephrocactus geometricus problem-free, constantly monitor the amount of sunlight is given to them and when it is necessary for more or less.
In addition, check the texture and nature of the soil. If the soil is well-drained, the plant must be healthy enough for another watering. That is, if the soil is dried up.
If you believe that this cacti species is not growing as much as you would expect in a given timeframe, check the pot as well.
Sometimes, the pot might make things stuffy for this cactus. In this case, find a new, airy pot, add some new soil mix to it and perhaps some fertilizer to help kickstart its growth.
Not all hope is lost if you carefully monitor the plant and take precaution measures.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TEPHROCACTUS GEOMETRICUS
What do I do if I over-watered my Tephrocactus geometricus?
If you over-watered your Tephrocactus geometricus, leave it alone until all the water has evaporated and the soil is completely dried up. If the water is not draining from the soil, consider repotting the plant.
Do I need to prune Tephrocactus geometricus?
You do not need to prune Tephrocactus geometricus. This cactus is sturdy enough to sustain as it is able to retain water levels within their thick skin. As for the flowers that may grow on some of them, they normally last for a short lifespan, hence, even if you notice them wilting, you can mist them with water. Just don’t expect the need to prune the leaves.
Why do people also say that Tephrocactus geometricus are opuntia?
To avoid any confusion, Tephrocactus geometricus is in the subfamily of opuntia, which is slightly different from the plant itself. Opuntia is a category of plants that consist of prickly pears in the genus cacti family.
CONCLUSION
Overall, Tephrocactus geometricus make easy houseplants to maintain. They sit well in most home environments and provide an exotic aesthetic to your living space.
They are cute and bulbous, growing in a family cluster.
Hence, I attribute these plants to being grape-like or even like brussels sprout! Anyhow, I will leave it to your imagination to what you think of this cactus. It is definitely one for the books on your bucket list of plants to store at home.