Step By Step Guide To Care For Crown Cactus (Rebutia)

Hello and welcome to Brainy Gardener! In this video I'm going to show you how to take care of your Crown Cactus (Rebutia). Now if you're like me, you probably got this cactus as a gift or maybe you just found it at the store and decided to bring it home. Well, don't worry because I'm going to show you how easy it is to take care of this little guy and have him looking healthy and happy in no time. So let's get started. ********************* RESOURCES & LINKS: ********************* Step By Step Guide To Care For Crown Cactus (Rebutia) https://brainygardener.com/crown-cactus-re... ********************* Video Timestamps ********************* 0:00 - Introduction 0:57 - Light and Location 1:23 - Watering 1:54 - Temperature 2:22 - Humidity 2:32 - Fertilization 2:45 - Propagation 3:40 - Potting and Repotting 4:22 - Toxicity and Common Pests ********************* Summary The Crown Cactus also called Rebutia is a cacti genus native to Bolivia and Argentina. They can usually be found growing on high-elevation mountains. These plants are characterized by their globular stems, generally quite small, with large, showy flowers. The flowers can range from shades of red to white, and they typically bloom from late winter through early summer. 1. Light and Location Rebutia grows well in a variety of environments with bright light. Many species can be cultivated in either full sun or partial shade. Because they are mountain species, extreme temperatures should be avoided as they do not like these. These plants will do their best in a bright, sunny spot. 2. Watering Allow the potting soil to almost fully dry out between watering throughout the growing season of spring and summer, and then water deeply. Rebutia only wants to be watered when the soil feels dry to the touch. Exercise caution and wait until the top 2 to 3 inches of soil are dry before watering. 3. Temperature Crown Cactus can thrive outside in summertime temperatures of at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit and is best suited for USDA hardiness zones 9a or higher. It should never become colder than 50 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. It is recommended to grow it indoors at regular room temperature if the outside temperature falls below 50 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter or 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. 4. Humidity This cactus does not like humidity and will show signs of distress if the humidity is too high. Aim for a relative humidity of 40 to 50%. Keep them in a dry environment for the best results. 5. Fertilization Fertilize with a cactus fertilizer in the spring and summer months when the plant is actively growing. Suspend fertilizing in winter. Like many of their cousins, these plants go dormant in the winter season. 6. Propagation Crown Cactus can be propagated by dividing offsets in the spring and summer months. You can use a knife to cut off the offset from the parent plant or twist and pull it out in one smooth motion. Once you have your offset separated, you will notice that the cut end has a weeping wound that’s constantly moist. Once you’re confident it’s callused over, plant the offset in a fresh pot filled with a cactus mix. Water thoroughly and drain well. Place it somewhere in a sunny place and wait for it to take root. You can also propagate by seeds, but it can be a slow process. Seeds should be sown in a sandy soil mix and kept warm and moist until germination. 7. Potting and Repotting When potting, choose a shallow pot. The root system of this succulent is fairly short, and they don’t need all that much space to function. Ensure the pot has drainage holes. These plants are slow growers, so don’t be in a hurry to move them to a new pot every year. It usually takes a couple of years for them to outgrow a pot and sometimes even longer. Identify your plant’s needs before proceeding. When the plant does outgrow its current pot, gently lift it out and shake off the old soil. Make sure the new pot is only slightly bigger. 8. Toxicity and Common Pests Faucaria tigrina is non-toxic to both people and pets. But, as with any plant, take care not to ingest any of the leaves or sap. It won’t do you any good. It is generally a pest and disease-free plant. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for watching (and reading!). If you've found this video to be useful, please give it a thumbs up or leave a comment below. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ► Subscribe to Brainy Gardener: https://bit.ly/3EsWsiE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ► Our Website: https://brainygardener.com Get tips, ideas and inspiration to help make your home greener