What is the difference between Gymnocalycium baldianum and Gymnocalycium multiflorum? Learn to tell them apart easily

Gymnocalycium baldianum is native to the Andes Mountains of Argentina. Its globe shape is neat and upright, its flowers are beautiful, and it has very few pests and diseases, making it very suitable for ordinary household cultivation, displayed on balconies, windowsills or courtyards. But flower shops also sell Gymnocalycium multiflorum, so where is the difference between Gymnocalycium baldianum and Gymnocalycium multiflorum?

1. The difference between Gymnocalycium baldianum and Gymnocalycium multiflorum

Gymnocalycium baldianum and Gymnocalycium multiflorum are two different species in the same genus. Gymnocalycium baldianum has slightly shorter and softer spines, and its flower colors are mainly pink and red. Gymnocalycium multiflorum has slightly longer and harder spines extending flat to both sides, and its flower colors are mainly white. In addition, Gymnocalycium baldianum likes sunlight, but also tolerates short periods of partial shade. It has low requirements for soil, is drought-tolerant, needs proper moisture during the flowering period to supply the flower buds, and is cold-tolerant in winter.

2. How to grow Gymnocalycium baldianum

1. Soil: Gymnocalycium baldianum needs to be repotted about once every two years, carried out in spring. Take the plant out of the pot, shake off the old soil from the roots, cut off rotten old roots, shorten overly long roots to encourage new root growth. Plant it in fresh growing medium, which should be loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam with a certain degree of granulation. It can be made with 2 parts garden soil, 2 parts leaf mold or peat soil, 1 part furnace slag, and 1 part each of coarse sand or vermiculite.

2. Pot selection: Flower pots for household cultivation need relatively good breathability, keeping the soil loose. Do not water frequently; maintain the soil's permeability. Repot at intervals, which benefits the root growth of Gymnocalycium baldianum, helps it grow larger, and changing the soil can better increase the nutrients in the soil.

3. Light: Gymnocalycium baldianum has the habit of growing in warm seasons and going dormant in cold seasons, and is a “summer-growing type” among succulents. From April to October, during the growing period, place it in a spot with sufficient light; if light is insufficient, the globe will become leggy and the flower buds will be difficult to open. In summer, when temperatures are high, shade it appropriately to avoid strong sunlight scorching the surface of the globe. It can withstand low temperatures of 0°C. In winter, place it indoors in a spot with sufficient sunlight, keep the temperature below 10°C, strictly control watering, and let the plant go dormant, so that it can bloom more the following year.

4. Watering: If the ribs of Gymnocalycium baldianum become soft, the plant is definitely in a dry state, which means it needs watering. When watering at this time, water thoroughly; within one to two days the globe will slowly become firm again, which shows that Gymnocalycium baldianum is already in a state where it no longer needs watering.

5. Fertilizing: During the seedling stage, apply a once-rotted dilute liquid fertilizer or a “low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus and potassium” compound fertilizer about once every 20 days to promote growth; for mature large flowering globes, only apply a fertilizer mainly of phosphorus and potassium once or twice during the flowering period to promote flowering.

6. Pollination: After Gymnocalycium baldianum blooms, it needs to be pollinated. About one week after flowering it withers, and the flower stem falls off. When the flowers are in full bloom and the stamens are all exposed, use a writing brush to scrape a few times and collect the seeds, and cross-pollination is complete. If pollination is successful, the ovary will begin to swell, and it can be picked after about a month. Of course, scraping with a writing brush does not necessarily mean seeds can be collected; this is related to the survival and viability of the pollen.

7. Flowering period: The flowering period of Gymnocalycium baldianum is generally from early May to mid-December. May is the peak flowering period of Gymnocalycium baldianum, and Gymnocalycium baldianum has also been given the title of “flowering machine” by netizens. Many flower lovers choose it because its flowering frequency is simply too high.