Cactus Rebutia Muscula

Today I present the Rebutia Muscula, also known by the scientific synonym of Aylostera muscula. It can be found in South America, more specifically in Bolivia. It is a small-sized globular-shaped cactus. During their youth, they tend to lengthen to a height not bigger than six centimeters.

Don’t let yourself be entangled by its smooth and spongy appearance, because under this white oldness hides a few small spikes, usually in groups of fifty and with a size of two and a half centimeters, that if you touch it unintentionally (or wanting because you think it won’t do anything to you) you will be days and days taking invisible spines out of the area where you’ve had the bad luck that the Rebutia had touched you. To remove these spikes, you have two options: You fill yourself with patience and you go by taking them one by one and praying that none of them are left that you haven’t seen and you get clung even more or you can take some oil and go through the area where you have the problem. With this second method, it has to work for you and you shouldn’t have many problems.

Now you’re going to say, but Anna, we can use gloves and that won’t happen anymore! Not my friends, believe me when I tell you that although you wear fully armored gloves, the spikes always find the place to cross the glove and reach the skin. Whether they are small or large spines, they almost always cross.

The best way to work with cactus (I speak generally now, without specifying any class or gender) is through respect. If the plant notices that you don’t want to hurt it, it won’t hurt you. Instead, if you go with bad intentions, it will return. It is clear that not everyone believes in this, and it is fully respectable, but it is my point of view and I am sure that I share it with many of the people who are reading this article.

After this small incision, I continue to explain aspects of the Aylostera. And I’ll continue for flowering. They flower during the spring months, with small flowers and elongated petals, quite numerous, very striking and bright orange in color. It is advisable to have it in a semi-shadow location, although direct light does not dislike it either. In winter, the minimum temperature should not be lower than four positive degrees. If that happens, we could put the cactus in danger of death. They are resistant to pests, but their sensitive point is overwater.

And last but not least, the irrigation: once a week in summer, once every fortnight in spring and completely removing water during winter. All of this must be done while waiting for the substrate to be completely dry between irrigation and irrigation, the only moment to be irrigated in winter is if we have it in our house or in a greenhouse, in which case water can be given every forty days or so.