{"product_id":"parodia-leninghausii-cactus-3-pot","title":"Parodia leninghausii - Cactus - 3\" Pot","description":"\u003cp\u003eParodia leninghausii (formerly Notocactus leninghausii), commonly called the Golden Ball or Lemon Ball cactus, is a slow-growing South American cactus prized for the dense, soft golden-yellow spines that cover its ribbed, cylindrical body. Young plants are rounded and become columnar with age, often forming small clusters.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn Indian homes it is a popular, undemanding succulent for bright windowsills, balconies and desktops. Mature plants produce large lemon-yellow flowers near the crown in the warm months. It tolerates heat well and asks only for plenty of light, gritty soil and very sparing water, making it ideal for first-time cactus growers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eFamily\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCactaceae\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eNative region\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSouthern Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eMature height\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUp to 60-90 cm tall over many years; usually 10-30 cm in pots\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eMature spread\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10-15 cm diameter per stem; clusters wider\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eGrowth rate\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSlow\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eFoliage\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLeafless; ribbed green stem densely covered in soft golden-yellow spines\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eFlower colour\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLemon to canary yellow\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eFlower season\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLate spring to summer (warm months) on mature plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eClimate zone\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWarm temperate to tropical; frost-free (USDA 9-11)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare guide\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eSunlight\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBright light; 3-5 hours of direct sun. A sunny south\/east window or balcony; protect from harsh peak-summer afternoon sun.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eWatering\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoak-and-dry. Water only when soil is fully dry; roughly weekly in summer, every 3-4 weeks in winter. Avoid waterlogging.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eSoil \/ mix\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSharply draining gritty cactus mix; e.g. potting soil with coarse sand, perlite and grit. Never heavy or water-retentive soil.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eTemperature\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIdeal 18-32 C. Tolerates heat well; keep above 5-7 C and protect from frost.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eHumidity\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLow to moderate; prefers dry air and good ventilation. Avoid damp, stagnant conditions.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eFertilizer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFeed a dilute low-nitrogen cactus fertiliser once a month during spring-summer growth; none in winter.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003ePruning\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNo pruning needed. Remove offsets only to propagate; clean off dust occasionally.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eRepotting\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEvery 2-3 years in spring into a slightly larger pot with fresh gritty mix and drainage holes.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003ePropagation\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFrom seed, or by removing and drying clustered offsets for a few days before potting in dry gritty mix.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003ePests \u0026amp; problems\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGenerally pest-free; watch for mealybugs, scale and root mealybugs, especially if overwatered.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eToxicity \/ safety\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNon-toxic to humans and pets, but the spines can prick; place out of reach of small children.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEasy\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eUses\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;ul\u0026gt;\u0026lt;li\u0026gt;Decorative indoor and desktop plant for bright spots in homes and offices.\u0026lt;\/li\u0026gt;\u0026lt;li\u0026gt;Balcony, windowsill and terrace-garden accent in containers.\u0026lt;\/li\u0026gt;\u0026lt;li\u0026gt;Component of dish gardens, cactus bowls and succulent arrangements.\u0026lt;\/li\u0026gt;\u0026lt;li\u0026gt;Popular low-maintenance gift plant for beginners.\u0026lt;\/li\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/ul\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eGrowing tips\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;p\u0026gt;In most of India, grow it in a bright spot with morning sun; during the hottest April-June afternoons, light shade or a sheer curtain prevents scorching.\u0026lt;\/p\u0026gt;\u0026lt;p\u0026gt;Keep it almost dry through the monsoon and winter (October-February) when growth slows; the biggest killer is overwatering combined with humid, cloudy weather. Resume regular watering and monthly feeding as temperatures rise in spring. Always use a pot with a drainage hole and a gritty mix so excess monsoon moisture drains away fast.\u0026lt;\/p\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow often should I water my Golden Ball cactus in India?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eUse the soak-and-dry method: water thoroughly only when the soil is completely dry, about once a week in summer and once every 3-4 weeks in winter and the monsoon. Overwatering is the main cause of rot.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCan Parodia leninghausii grow indoors?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes. It does well on a bright south- or east-facing windowsill that gets a few hours of direct sun daily. With too little light it grows weak and pale, so give it the brightest spot you have.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhy is my cactus turning soft or brown at the base?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eSoft, brown or mushy tissue usually means root or stem rot from overwatering or poor drainage. Let the soil dry out fully, repot into a gritty mix with drainage holes, and water far less, especially in winter.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"vedicflora","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51048949645558,"sku":"PLT-PARODIALENIN-P03-NA","price":70.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0805\/4980\/6326\/files\/tXZkCzcPz6MWlLck63QLYjaEkRN1yr5b9tcJSoSu.jpg?v=1782711718","url":"https:\/\/vedicflora.com\/products\/parodia-leninghausii-cactus-3-pot","provider":"vedicflora","version":"1.0","type":"link"}