Bishop's cap

Bishop's cap Astrophytum myriostigma

What is the plant

Astrophytum is a genus of four North American cacti, all of which are found in Mexico. Known for their beauty, these are quite popular among domestic cacti for their flowering habit; their flowers are usually yellow or white.

Astrophytums grow solitary bodies, but some species will become short columnar later in life if properly maintained. Some also have distinctive white flecks on their bodies. Many of these cacti are prized: for example, A. asterias is extremely valued by the Japanese, especially the ‘Super Kabuto’ strain. However, they are extremely difficult to cultivate and are often grafted onto an echinopsis for best results; most gardeners would be better off sticking with A. ornatum or A. myriostigma, both of which are highly rated.

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Humidity

Dry

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

15°C - 30°C

Hardiness zone

9b - 11b

Difficulty

Easy

Water
Requires careful watering to keep plant compact. Water sparingly from March till October, the thin, fibrous roots suffer if there is humidity, therefore the plant should be watered only when the surrounding terrain is dry. Keep dry as soon as the temperature starts dropping in October and keep it perfectly dry in winter.
Sunlight
The plant prefers very sunny conditions, with hours of direct sunlight every day.
Fertilizer
Fertilize during the growing season with a balanced, diluted fertilizer like a 20-20-20 mixed into their water.

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Soil
Typical cactus potting soil should be fine, ideally one containing some loam or peat.
Propagation
They propagate by seed, and their seeds are fairly fragile: be gentle with them before planting. They also have a fairly short shelf life and need to be planted quickly after harvesting to have a reasonable chance at rooting. When planting them, make sure they’re in well-aerated soil, then seal the newly planted seeds in to help catch moisture and heat. It can help to soak seeds before they’re planted. Repot regularly to help them develop. Astrophytums should be repotted at the beginning of the growing season for best results, allowing them to grow into the impressive specimens for which the genus is known. Protect your hands before repotting due to their stiff spikes and lift the plant out all at once, then replace in a larger pot and backfill with soil. Don’t overwater or overfeed newly repotted cacti, as disturbances can be hard on them.
Temperature
These plants like hot temperatures above 70°F during the summer and then prefer cooler, more temperate winters.

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Container
Choose any container with enough draiange holes.
Popularity
271 people already have this plant 86 people have added this plant to their wishlists