4. Astrophytum

These particular and beautiful plants of the Cactaceae family belong to a specific genus called Astrophytum. 

Their natural habitat is found in the areas between Mexico and Texas and, given the characteristics of these environments, they need a lot of direct light. The soil must not be too calcareous and must be kept dry, paying particular attention to the watering water. Its name derives from the Greek word "Aster", meaning star, and is given by the presence of different sections that form the tips (from four to eight tips) that these plants present and which is particularly suggestive if looked at from above. 

Characteristics of the plant

The Astrophytum They are one of the most appreciated varieties of cactus plants thanks to their particular star shape and the beauty of their blooms.
They have been studied and catalogued since the first half of the 19th century. They have a globular stem divided into sections, each of them is divided by more or less deep grooves which give them their characteristic appearance. 

The stem generally grows in height, and they have the characteristic of being low when young and with slow growth. During their growth the stem will have the tendency to widen while maintaining a slightly slender shape. The blooms occur during the summer season, and are large and often very brightly colored, generally yellow or yellow-red. 

Cultivation

This variety of succulents has an excellent resistance to temperature changes, but in any case it is necessary to avoid exposing them to rigid temperatures that go below 4°C. It generally needs a very bright position, apart from rare exceptions, such as theAstrophytum Asteria which instead requires light shade. 

They do not like humidity very much. Watering should be done once every 15 days in spring and about two or three times a week during the summer, and then suspended completely in winter. Watering should be moderate, avoiding water stagnation. During the hottest months, watering should be avoided early in the morning to avoid thermal shock to the roots when the soil is still warm.

The soil that hosts them must be light and draining, fertilize with liquid products and poor in nitrogen but rich in potassium and phosphorus once every 15 days or so in spring and summer. Since they are slow-growing plants, they should be repotted on average once every 3-4 years.

Variety

Astrophytum includes four different species, including:

– Astrophytum asterias
– A. capricorn
– A. myriostigma
– A. ornament
– A. caput-medusae (this species is considered only by some experts)

However, it is also possible to find many other plants of the Astrophytum genus on the market, but they are mostly hybrids as it is a very simple genus to “hybridize”. The major producers who dedicate themselves to this practice are found in Japan, Thailand and China. Thus, some varieties with very suggestive names have emerged on the market such as: Super Kabuto, V-type, Snow Type, Mirakuru Kabutu, Hanazono, Hercules and many others.

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