Tephrocactus articulatus

A dwarf chain-of-balls cactus from the dry scrub of northwestern Argentina, its rounded segments falling off and rooting where they land. It wants full sun, hot summers with some rain, and a long, cold, bone-dry winter, which is the key to keeping it compact and getting it to flower.

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 in the ground

Where it grows wild

Grows in open, arid shrubland and on stony slopes of the Monte and dry Chaco, fully exposed among low shrubs.

Few records carry an elevation. The genus spans lowland plains to the foothills of the Andes.

Argentina NortheastArgentina Northwest

🔒 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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More Tephrocactus

Tephrocactus bonnieae Tephrocactus abditus Tephrocactus alexanderi Tephrocactus aoracanthus Tephrocactus aulacothele Tephrocactus fiambalensis Tephrocactus geometricus Tephrocactus halophilus Tephrocactus molinensis Tephrocactus nigrispinus Tephrocactus recurvatus Tephrocactus verschaffeltii

Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, used under its CC BY 2.0 licence, unmodified.