Species library › Parodia › Parodia gaucha
Succulents Partly documented

Parodia gaucha

Parodia gaucha is a small globular cactus from the rocky grasslands of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil. It wants strong sun, hot summers and a cool winter, but unlike desert cacti its home stays humid all year and has no real dry season.

At home, aim for
Day Cool-growingTargets in Plantistry
Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry
Humidity Dry airBand in Plantistry
Light Full sunDLI and PPFD in Plantistry
Expects a seasonal restGrows on rock (lithophyte)

Where it grows wild

It grows in rock crevices and on outcrops in open grassland (campos) in the low hills of southern Brazil, wedged in thin soil between grasses and stones. This is based on the few records and on how related Notocactus-group Parodia grow.

The three records all come from about 88 m in the lowlands. Related plants occur up to a few hundred metres.

Brazil South

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates
✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it
✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light
✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it
✓ Substrate and airflow
✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app.