Gymnocalycium horstii VARIEGATED SEEDS

Gymnocalycium horstii is one of the most elegant chin cacti of southern Brazil, described from the state of Rio Grande do Sul, where it grows in open grassland among rocks. Unlike most of its relatives, it forms a low, flattened globose body with broad, softly rounded ribs and very little spination: only a few short, pale spines lie pressed against the smooth, glossy green epidermis. The flowers are the real signature of this species, being exceptionally large for the genus, funnel-shaped and pale pink to soft lilac, opening wide over the top of the plant in early summer.This offer is for a seed lot from variegated plants of Gymnocalycium horstii. In variegated cacti part of the tissue lacks chlorophyll, producing yellow, cream or pink sectors against the normal green body, and on a species with such a smooth, glossy skin the effect is particularly clean and visible. Variegation is not inherited in a fixed way: only a proportion of the seedlings will show variegated tissue, the rest will grow on as normal green plants, and seedlings that come up entirely without chlorophyll cannot survive on their own roots and need to be grafted to be kept alive. Seed lot from variegated plants of Gymnocalycium horstii Flattened globose body with broad ribs and very sparse spination Smooth, glossy epidermis that shows the variegated sectors clearly Exceptionally large pale pink to lilac funnel-shaped flowers Variable offspring: only part of the seedlings will be variegated Gymnocalycium horstii is grown in a gritty, sharply drained mineral mix, in bright light with some shading in the hottest hours, and kept completely dry in winter. Seed germinates readily in warm, humid conditions, and variegated seedlings are usually recognisable within the first weeks, when the pale sectors appear on the young body. For collectors of variegated cacti this remains one of the most rewarding species to raise from seed. IMPORTANT: Pictures show the adult plant, which is not for sale. The offer is only for seeds.