Rebutia canigueralii 'Violet'

Identity and natural origin of Rebutia canigueralii 'Violet'

The species is native to Bolivia, where it grows in dry shrubland and highland cactus habitat. It has long been known as Rebutia canigueralii; its current botanical name is Weingartia canigueralii.

How to care for Rebutia canigueralii 'Violet'

• Light: Give very bright light with several hours of direct sun, increasing sun exposure gradually.
• Temperature and rest: Maintain roughly 18–30 °C. If conditions approach 5 °C, move the plant away from the cold source. Keep the plant above freezing and give it a cool, bright, almost dry resting period when it is not actively growing.
• Air humidity: Average room humidity around 40–50% is sufficient; keep the plant well ventilated.
• Water: While the plant is growing, water thoroughly and let the cactus mix dry before watering again. During its cool resting period, keep it almost completely dry.
• Potting mix: Use a gritty, fast-draining cactus mix and a pot with a clear drainage hole. This gives the thickened roots plenty of air between waterings.
• Feeding and propagation: Feed lightly with cactus fertiliser while the plant is growing. Established side shoots can be separated and rooted, and the species can also be grown from seed.
• Repotting: If the potting mix has compacted and no longer drains freely, replace it with fresh gritty mix. Move to a slightly larger pot when roots crowd the container.

Problems to watch for with Rebutia canigueralii 'Violet'

• The stem base or root turns soft and brown: The roots have stayed too wet. Cut affected tissue back to healthy tissue with a clean tool, discard the rot and root the remaining healthy stem if enough healthy tissue remains.
• Stems stretch upward and lose their compact shape: The plant needs stronger light. Move it gradually to a brighter position with direct sun.
• The stems become deeply wrinkled while the plant is growing: The plant may be very dry or the roots may be damaged. Check root condition first, then water thoroughly if the roots are healthy.
• White cottony insects collect around the stems or roots: Check for mealybugs. Isolate the plant, remove visible pests and use a treatment labelled for mealybugs on ornamental cacti, following the label for repeat applications.
• Bleached or rough brown patches appear on the exposed side: Strong sun has reached the stems too quickly. Move it out of strong direct sun while it recovers, then reintroduce direct sun slowly.

Rebutia canigueralii ‘Violet’ has sharp parts

• Keep this plant away from children and pets because its effects after chewing or swallowing are unclear.
• Sharp spines can puncture the mouth, eyes, skin or paws.
• Handle it carefully. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after a serious injury, especially to the eye.

How did the name change from Rebutia canigueralii to Weingartia canigueralii?

Rebutia honours French cactus grower Pierre Rebut. Canigueralii commemorates Juan Cañigueral, whose name is attached to the species.

Karl Moritz Schumann established the genus Rebutia in 1895 in Monatsschrift für Kakteenkunde, volume 5, page 102.

Martin Cárdenas first described Rebutia canigueralii in 1964 in Cactus and Succulent Journal (Los Angeles), volume 36, page 26.

Kew’s World Checklist treats Rebutia canigueralii as a synonym of Weingartia canigueralii. Fred Hermann Brandt placed the species in Weingartia as Weingartia canigueralii in 1978 in Frankfurter Kakteenf, volume 5, issue 2, page 17.