The nutrients start to play out in soil afyer 2 years BUT if one feeds it, One can buy some more time , I THINK. I like to fertilize my cactus with a 1/4 recommended dilution of a low nitrogen fertilizerat every watering. I have heard that keeping the fertilizer low and constant is better than the shock 'em the full strength method. I do hear of people using a balanced one in that manner. When you do pot it I would think of "staging it a wider pot . Then one can give it a native looking rock and some elevation so the side cactus can grow larger. You know , be artistic. LOL. I love creating dioramas. They are my little worlds and I am the creator...NOT. But I do like to fool around with rocks and levels in the pot. Caudex , is the master at staging. I just have fun.

I had a healthy Gymnocalycium piltziorum. I thought I had it in a soil mix that would drain well enough so I could leave the plant outside during the Spring rain showers. Nope. The roots and main body of the cactus rotted. I was left with a bit of healthy looking top layer of the plant. I doubt I can save the little part left but I'm trying to. Meanwhile I want to get another Gymnocalycium piltziorum. For the next try I should use a different soil mix. I read this cactus natively grows under shrubs. What plants are found with this cactus? Maybe I should try planting another plant in the pot with the cactus. Any ideas for plants that can go without water like a cactus and soak up water when it is there? Maybe something with a fibrous root system would work. I'm not sure which microbe rotted the cactus but are there any plants that produce antimicrobials around their roots that might help? Seems to be a lot of antimicrobial extracts from plant roots.

Hi guys. I've had this Gymnocalycium (unsure of specie) for close to 20 years. It flowered upon acquisition and never did again. It though, is prolific in terms of pups. Do you guys have tips to make this flower? I read it is so ready to bloom so its odd mine wont. Some info on care: Sun: full sun here in an East facing balcony. It gets direct sun up until lunchtime. Water: generally every 7-10 days Medium: 50:50 pumice and soilless potting mix, occassionally top dressed with worm castings.

If this were my favorite plant, I would slice off the bottom, all the way up to fresh healthy flesh, then let it air dry for at least several days, then lay it cut side down in appropriate soil, say a prayer and hope for the best. I have done this with similar cacti and it worked.